Does My DS Have to do the BAC?

[CDMforever]

Just had a letter regarding my Year 8 DS, outlining the details re subject choices to achieve the BAC qualification.
I know absolutely nothing about it, and having touched on a couple of BAC threads on MN am not interested in the League Tables element, but want to know

1. What is the difference btw GSCEs and the BAC?
   
2. Is the BAC widely recognised amongst universities and employers as a worthwhile qualification?
   
3. Why is a foreign language a compulsory part of it?
   
4. Is achieving the BAC qualification the same as GCSE re a mixture of course and exam work?
   

Feel very
The school is holding a "Market Place" evening in a few weeks time. Feel thick about this too, is it where the subject teachers try and sell/big up their subjects?!

[PatriciaHolm]

The EB is simply a certificate awarded to a student who passes 5 or more GCSEs at C or above, including English, Maths, a science, a foreign language and a humanities. It's not an extra exam, and changes nothing about the GSCES; it's simply about encouraging pupils to do a wide range of subjects, including those which have been in decline such as the humanities and languages.

[CDMforever]

Thanx Patricia, it all makes sense now!

[basildonbond]

As far as I'm aware the English 'Bacc' is not a qualification in its own right, just a way of bundling more academic subjects together.

The 'Bacc' IS GCSEs - but in order for a school to do well in the English Bacc league tables, a large proportion of their pupils need to be doing Maths, Eng Lang & Lit, at least 2 sciences, at least one MFL and at least history or geography.

It isn't recognised by employers or universities as such as it was only brought in retrospectively this year. It's a way of seeing how academic a school is as many schools were doing fantastically well in the league tables but most pupils were doing lots of 'soft' GCSEs

at least one MFL is included, as is history or geography as getting a good grade in these subjects, along with good grades in Maths, English and Science is deemed to show a good, broad, traditionally academic education

as far as the mix of course and exam work goes it will depend on the exam board your ds' school uses and whether or not they do IGCSEs (usually no course work)

and yes, the Market Place will be where subject teachers try to convince you that true happiness lies with their specialty ....

[CDMforever]

My DS loves Geography so thats fine and obviously eng and maths are a given, but he seems to have no flair at all for French and grossly resents any homework he has to do for this subject. As far as the sciences go, it seems very young to be having to make that sort of decision - he's only had a year of Chemistry etc!

[Dansmommy]

Most schools won't expect him to make a choice, he'll just do 'double science' which is a combination of all three worth two GCSEs.

[CecilyP]

You don't really do the BAC, you do GCSEs. And if your child then passes the set subjects at grade C or above, they can be said to have passed the English Bacc and be included in their school's percentage in the league tables. There is no change in the subjects that employers or universities are looking for.

[CDMforever]

I see. At present he really doesn't know what he'd like to do though is very interested in animals and belongs to a conservation group. I guess science might be a good idea?
It seems that chn are having to make tough decisions younger and younger when don't really have any strong ideas on their future careers.

[Dansmommy]

You have to do science, there isn't a choice.

IME, what subjects you do for GCSEs doesn't really matter in the long run, as long as you have enough high grade (above C) passes. For example, if your DS decided against history at GCSE, but then later wanted to take it at A level, colleges would probably let him if he had good results in English and other humanities subjects. Most colleges/6th forms expect at least 5 higher grade passes, and most professional training expects C or above in maths, English and science.

[CDMforever]

Thats news to me Dansmommy, thanks.
When I was a young 'un I did O levels and its changed so much since then. I really want to know all the ins and outs and unfortunately I don't feel that well-informed about things by DS's school.

[balia]

I'm really peeved about this new focus on an arbitrary set of GCSE's and calling them 'the Bacc' like it was something special. My DD is sitting her GCSE's this year. She has already taken English Language in November and got an A, and is (according to the school) on track to get A's in all her other subjects - including History, Sciences, Maths, but not a language.

Her school only offers German and she didn't like it, and I'm not about to criticise - the school has been under massive pressure to meet floor targets in A*-C despite being in the top 25% of school in terms of progress. They have a lot of EAL stuents and high student mobility. Actually she's not mad keen on History, TBH, it was just the way her options worked out. She loves RE, though, wants to do PPE at college - but that doesn't count?

I think students will be under enormous pressure to do Bacc subjects in future, despite their wishes or interests - and there's no point blaming the schools who will be judged on this criteria - we are the ones being taken in by the government and judging schools on a floor target that doesn't take into account the progress of the actual students.