GCSE Art so much homework

itcanbedone_2

daisiegg wrote: »

I really feel for your daughter. I teach a 'core' subject and it is always art that stresses the students out more than anything else. Frequently at GCSE level we get students fretting that they don't have time to do their maths, English and science work (which, let's face it, are more important unless they are already planning a career or further study directly related to art) because art is taking so long. I actually started art at GCSE and dropped it after about half a term for the same reasons....I was allowed to drop it and not replace it with anything else, though, because I had done a couple of other GCSEs early so already had over the required number of subjects.

One thing I would take issue with, though, is homework being due the following day. That seems like madness! I would never set homework due the next day and more often than not I give a week to do homework...you have to be realistic and remember that students have other homework, as well as home lives, extra curricular activities, possibly jobs, and do need time to sleep and eat!

If it is really becoming problematic I would get in touch with the school and ask about their homework policy. They ought to have a homework timetable and I would be surprised if it allows them to have more than one piece of homework per subject per week. If there is no such policy/timetable in place, ask why. If it is in place but the teacher is not following it...ask why!

Good luck to your daughter and I hope she gets this sorted out. It is all very well saying 'just don't do the homework' or 'don't spend so long on it' but for a conscientious student that will be next to impossible!

Thank you, some great points. They've always had next day Homework and its always been a pain as she has clubs two evenings a week which she loves. We have parents evening soon. She wants to do medicine and really struggles with chemistry which is vital, and I feel really uneasy when she could be using the time for that instead.

itcanbedone_2

TopQuark wrote: »

Hello OP,

Can you not speak to the school and request that she drops it (and not have to take something it its place)? I've no idea whether they would allow it, but maybe its worth a try? English, maths and science need to come before everything else. If they won't allow it, maybe she will just have to accept that she can't spend so much time on it and will therefore end up with a lower grade. Unless she wants to be a fashion designer or architect etc., in which case this may not be the best option.

That said, GCSEs are not the be-all and end-all these days; they are simply a basic minimum requirement. As long as she gets respectable pass marks in the core subjects, I don't think it really matters in the grand scheme of things; they are just the ticket to the next level. I don't even put my GSCEs or A-Levels on my CV any more.

Hope you find a solution in any case.

Thank you, she wants to do medicine, she struggles more with Chemistry and I would much rather her spend the time sorting that out.

TopQuark

So if she wants to do medicine she will need top grade A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology to get into med school. If she already struggles with GCSE chemistry, then you're right, she'll need to put in the extra time on it. If she is not permitted to drop Art then she'll just have to accept that she can't spend so much time on it and if that means a fail in order to well in chem., then so be it unfortunately!

silvercar

My son did art gcse 4 years ago, the amount of work required was more than all other subjects put together. As part of the qualification they have to put together log books and portfolios, so you cannot now get by without doing any private study.

My son also felt the pressure too great and ended up dropping another subject to find the time for art. He also decided that he couldn't take it further than gcse because it would mean he wouldn't have time for his other A level subjects.

silvercar

TopQuark wrote: »

So if she wants to do medicine she will need top grade A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology to get into med school. If she already struggles with GCSE chemistry, then you're right, she'll need to put in the extra time on it. If she is not permitted to drop Art then she'll just have to accept that she can't spend so much time on it and if that means a fail in order to well in chem., then so be it unfortunately!

I agree that chemistry needs her time, but she needs to drop the art. As stupid and as unfair as it sounds to get in to Med school requires high grades in all subjects, better to have one less subject than a low grade Art.

itcanbedone_2

I was warned by her cousin who did art GCSE that she shouldn't take it. I really should listen more to 17 year old boys!

I'm wondering whether because she is taking stats (which is an extra one) she can just drop the art ...

TopQuark

I don't think it matters Silvercar; after all, she'll be admitted to med school on the basis of her (relevant) A-levels, not her GCSEs. Medical school won't care if she got an E in GCSE art or not. That said, I agree that she should drop it is she is able to.

megela

I've found the input on this interesting as we have exactly the same problem with my year 10 daughters Textiles GCSE. I've told her that the core subjects are more important and she needs to concentrate on them with any time leftover to put towards this. But she's won't consider not getting homework in on time, often overnight.

Lunar_Eclipse

TopQuark wrote: »

So if she wants to do medicine she will need top grade A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Biology to get into med school. If she already struggles with GCSE chemistry, then you're right, she'll need to put in the extra time on it.

You don't need Physics A level, but Chemistry is critical. I hear Maths is currently very desirable at A level for Medicine; I think I heard two out of Chemistry, Biology & Maths was the latest recommendation.

OP: There has been some excellent advice on this thread re: Art which will hopefully help your daughter. I'd also like to add that it's early days, so perhaps she will find her groove a bit more by the New Year.

Finally, whilst I don't want to be negative, I can't help but wonder if Medicine is realistic. It is incredibly competitive and you need the best grades. If she is already "really struggling" with Chemistry at the beginning of Y10, will she be able to get an A/A* at A level?

daisiegg

TopQuark wrote: »

I don't think it matters Silvercar; after all, she'll be admitted to med school on the basis of her (relevant) A-levels, not her GCSEs. Medical school won't care if she got an E in GCSE art or not. That said, I agree that she should drop it is she is able to.

I'm really not sure that is the case. When applying to do medicine (admittedly applying to top universities) my sister was told (by university admissions tutors) she needed top grades in everything, including all GCSEs. She had all A* at GCSE and did get in but she had friends who were predicted the same A Level grades as her (all As) but had more erratic GCSE grades and they did not get in anywhere.

If a course is very oversubscribed and there are more straight A at A Level students applying than there are places, they need to look for something else to differentiate between applicants....and they go down to GCSEs.