Q: I thought that parents had a right to decide what subjects their children study. My child wants to study certain subjects for GCSE but now finds that some are not available. Why is this?
A: Although all schools offer a wide range of subjects and will always comply with the National Curriculum, the constraints of timetabling make a totally open choice for GCSE difficult, if not impossible.
A school will set out those subjects which everyone must study and will then seek to establish what subjects, in addition, the majority of pupils would select as their chosen options. This long and detailed process sets the choices the school can offer. It is impossible for a completely free choice to be available, so, in order to satisfy the majority, it is regrettable, but inevitable, that occasionally pupils may not be able to study every subject they wish.
For more information see 'the curriculum at secondary school' section.
Q: We are a group of parents whose children are in year 10. Our chidren are high acievers and have given the school their best ever set results at KS3. The School has stopped offering GCSE Science without parent consultation and has replaced it with Intermediate GNVQ Science. After some of the parents complained, the school has offered to let them take saperate GCSE Science exams, on the condition that they study GNVQ Science in school time and do two extra hours per week, either at lunch times, or after school, to study GCSE Science. We feel this puts our children at a disadvantage compared to other students taking the same exams. The Governors and the LEA are not willing to help. What can we do?
Mr Hemendra Ghelani, Leicester
A: Dear Mr Ghelani,
Thanks for your query. The school has the right to decide the type of courses it offers the pupils and this new Science course would have been passed by the board of governors. The concept of GNVQ is that it is based more upon the real world and involves a vocational aspect. Intermediate GNVQ has been replaced by Vocational GCSE and therefore even though the term GNVQ may still be used the actual qualification is GCSE. If parents would still like their children to sit the traditional GCSE papers then it is important that they find out from the school how much the courses overlap, thus ensuring that the two hours is sufficient time to cover the work. We hope this helps.
Q: My daughter achieved a level five in her sats exam for fourteen year olds. She is now in year ten and wishes to be a nurse. For this she needs to have a double award GCSE in science. However the school has placed her in a class for only a single award along with children who achieved a lower grade. She is most distressed at this. Is there any way I can complain about this to the school. Is it too late for her to study for a double award? Also is a double award in science absolutely necessary for her chosen career.Marilyn, Bridgend.
A: Dear Marilyn,Thank you for your query. If you are unhappy about the class your daughter has been placed in, contact the school to arrange a meeting between yourself and the head of your daughter's year or her class teacher. It would also be useful to ask the science teacher to attend. You can tell them your worries about your daughter's career prospects and they can advise you further. The minimum entry requirements for becoming a nurse are as follows. Please note that these are the MINIMUM requirements so some universities will require you to hold more than the minimum, including A' levels. However, these are the Royal College of Nursing's requirements and they do not insist on a double award GCSE in science (although you do need a science qualification to study Midwifery) Therefore your daughter should be able to find a place to train as a nurse that will accept her without a double award GCSE Science - although she might not be accepted in every university. 5 GCSE/GCE O levels, grade C or above (including English and a Science/Maths subject for entry to Midwifery); or 5 CSEs Grade 1; or GNVQ Intermediate level plus one GCSE/GCE O level, grades A-C; or GNVQ Advanced Level or NVQ level 3; or SVQ level 3; GSVQ level 3 (Scotland); or SVQ level 2 (Scotland) if the programme began after September 2000A Kitemarked Access to Higher Education course; or EDEXEL Foundation (BTEC) National or Higher National Diploma.We hope this helps. For more information, visit the Royal College of Nursing site.
