So, are all those yr9 option forms in now, and we wait to see it they get the choices?

[circular]

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster these past few weeks.
DD1 has been going round in circles and ended up with making the same choices she started with.
There were a few changes in the core, and she was not sure whether she would be allowed to take triple science. Then, when she was told she could, thought she may not want to. Nothing made compulsory relating to teh Ebac - just recommendations.

BUT (and I thnk our school is quite late) we have finally submitted the form for the following :

CORE
Eng, Lang
Eng. Lit.
Maths
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
ICT
BTEC Sport (nasty last minute surprise - it was this or Dance)

OPTIONS
French
Geography
Music


No reserves, as they try and cater for everyone. They will contact ASAP if any options cannot be timetabled, but we are told this is rare. If she does have to make another choice, then the triple science is likely to go.
So now it's a waiting game....

[roisin]

Our form doesn't have to be in til 4th April and we have reports next week and parents' evening.

We had options fair last night and I think the choices are clear, but I wanted to wait before sending the form back.

[Kez100]

We didn't find out last year until July!

[soda1234]

I have b/g twins at different schools.
Dd's options were made before half-term , and ds's after. I think it's interesting that their options were very similar
Dd will be doing:
RS has to
Eng/ lit (top set so has to) - I am happy about this
Science x3 (also because being top set)
French (She has to, but would rather do Spanish)
Maths
History
Drama
Art
ICT (I think this is actually done by yr 9)

Ds will be doing much the same, only RS is no longer compulsory at his school and he is keeping Spanish, Drama and History as his options.

These were their choices, they know by now what they like, I can already see their effort grades slipping in the subjects they don't enjoy.
Message to yr 8 parents, unless they are choosing daft stuff, let them choose what they like /do well at, they are much more likely to do well at stuff they enjoy.

My children have told me of "parents who have picked options" and "of course you can't drop Latin". I really think this is the first time our children have had a real choice about their future, wise counsel, is if course appropriate, but please let them make the choice, unless it's obviously bonkers

[circular]

Kez100 - I don't think we find out for certain for about two months.

Soda1234 - Guess we were lucky that DDs choices were sensible. It looks like yours get an extra option as they have managed to fit in a language + 3 as well as triple science. DD wanted to do Drama and wax considering dropping down to double science for it. I did partly persuade her not to. Not sure what I would have done if she had reAlly insisted.

DD"s school also does the ICT early, and they do a short RS course in yr11, but no GCSE for that.

[Sportsmum]

DS and I were horrified to hear a mother at an options info evening announcing to another mother that her DC was only allowed to take those options that the school got the greater number of A*s in

Another mum replied that her DC was going to be allowed choose for themselves - to which my DC replied "thank God you're like her"!

We have our chosen subjects back and DC was only unable to take one option, but happy with back up..

Eng Lang
Eng Lit
Maths
French
Physics
Chem
Biology
Geog
RS
PE

[HattiFattner]

my dd is a brainbox, and had limited "choices" because of the way the school organises things..

SHe has to do:

Fastrack:

RE
Math
which then go on to do:
Philosophy and ethics
Statistics

Core:
Triple science
Double English
Design and technology option (textiles)
basic PE
MFL

Then for EBACC:

History

And finally.....

Art as her only real choice!


Eek!

[Themumsnot]

Having said that DD told her friends that I was making her taking Eng Lit rather than Media Studies, to deflect pressure from them to choose Media - Lit was in fact her own choice.

[Sportsmum]

Funny - we have already had a conversation with the DCs to tell them that if they find themselves in a situation where they don't want to do something, or go somewhere that they're not comfortable with to blame us! They were so relieved.

[busymummy3]

My DD's went in way back in Feb. After much consideration, and the fact that they were left with only 1 option because of being in an RC school (compulsory RE) Technology(compulsory DT) and Language college (compulsory MFL) and then the English Baccalaureate was thrown into the mix (compulsory History or Geography) her Y9 option form was completed as follows:
CORE :
Maths (in top set Higher level will be sitting first paper in June )
English Language and Literature (Top Set )
Chemistry
Physics Top set will be doing separately
Biology
French
RE
DT:Product Design
History
PE
OPTION :
Spanish a second MFL starting from scratch but identified as talented in French it will be a very small group where teaching and learning is very fast paced and we have been assured it is amazing how much they learn and catch up with those have been doing it since Y7. Hope so ! she is thrilled as loves languages and hoping to study at A level with History.
Havent had any confirmations yet DD thinks will not know until September?

[Themumsnot]

Yes, Sportsmum, I am always happy to take the blame in those situations.

[Sportsmum]

Good isn't it Themumsnot?!!! :o

[busymummy3]

Isnt it interesting though when you read through this thread that most DC's are doing pretty much the same subjects there does not seem to be many doing Drama, Media Studies Business Studies etc? Have schools started to switch emphasis back to traditional subjects?

[gramercy]

Ds is in year 8 and has already chosen what he is NOT going to do. Unfortunately the list is long.

[circular]

Mumslife - It sounds like your DD made a good choice NOT to do the triple science.
DD is still quite nervous about it. At her school, they only offered to to some of the top sets, and they had to be expected to be at least 6a by the end of yr9. DD is 6a now, predicted 7c BUT that was also where she was at the end of yr8 which is a bit of a worry.

The PE was a bit of a surprise for her too. We knew there was two hours a week core PE, but the school have made either BTEC Sport or Dance compulsory for ALL pathways. Most of DD's friends have chosen Dance. DD doesn't like either, but saw the sport as the better of the two.

You are right about Art not being easy- everyone I have heard who has taken it has found it to be one of the more difficult and the most time-comsuming.

I have also heard that Music is more difficult than it was, as the syllabus has changed for next year. It is essential to be able to read music now.

[circular]

busymummy3 - just spotted your post in there amonst the longer ones.

DDs school does offer Business Studies, Media Studies etc.
Quite a large number have opted for Business Studies - don't know anyone taking Media. One of her friends who couldn't decide between Art and Business Studies was told by the head of year that Art would be worth more for her.
Many of DD's friends are taking Drama - some at the expense of an MFL.
DD would have loved to have taken it, but just not enough options.

Mumslife - The Music GCE at DD's school is a mixture of performance (solo and ensemble), musical appraisal and composition. The performanceis roughly grade 3 level and CAN be instrument or singing, but they MUST read music as from this year. This could rule out many of the singers - although her school are offereing extra curricular theory classes so any that want to learn to read music do not lose out.
Not heard of BTEC Music, but they do offer BTEC Performing Arts which is 2 option choices. This is recommended for those that don't read music.
From what we have been told, the GCSE is the best route if A'level is expected.

[circular]

Mumslife - I do wish DD1's school offered either French or Drama as a twilight option. DD is a 6a in French and German and 7c in Drama. She doesn't like German but loves France and anything French. For some reason her school wants level 6 minimum for either German or Spanish but not for French.
Not sure about being on stage. She does want to do a music degree with a high element of performance, and then hopes to be an instrument teacher.

I think there will be quite a few at her school doing Performing Arts BTEC, as the less academic pathways make a non-GCSE course compulsory, and the only other options is the Travel & Tourism or the ICT DIDA.

[circular]

Mumslife

I dont think schools are ever that subtle. Although DDs school do have a single options book with all the pathways in, at options evening they were all segregated for an intial talk, depending on pathway. And the lists in each pathway were on the noticeboard for all to see.

One of the pathways is as you describe for those needing extra support with less options and more focus on the core subjects. But they also have another pathway that still has double english and double science, but there is a compulsory BTEC choice, then 2 free options.

DD is not exceptionally clever, and does not always put the effort in either.
She has struggled with English since secondary school, but as her Maths and Science are above average she is put in the top pathway, But she did have the option to move down to the second pathway which does double science, a compulsory language and 3 free options. Not exceptionally clever, and does not always put the effort in either.

Your DD sounds like she is doing well. Interesting she is slightly dyslexic yet good at English and History.

Interesting also that most that posted here chose History for the Ebac over Geography - unless taking both.

[Sportsmum]

DC wouldn't touch history for E Bac - but was always planning to do Geography - wants to do it for A level...

Enjoys history in class, but baulked when looking at the syllabus