Dd in tears over gcse options.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Aggh.

She's been told she can't do art and graphic design as they're in the same option block. Which is a bit shit when you want to be a graphic designer for a career and have been told you're amazingly talented at both subjects.

She's got to pick an option from a different block, so drama, music, computer sciences, history or geography. None of which she wants to do.

When the bloody forms came out the subjects weren't in blocks. I can't understand why they don't do options forms with the subjects in blocks and tell the kids months ago they need to pick one from each block.

Dd asked if she could carry her second language on rather that do something from block D but was told that's not possible as all the languages are in one block as well. Which for a language specialist academy seems stupid. Surely they should put similar subject areas in different blocks?

Anyway, what do you think my chances of arguing it with the school are. Apparantly head of yr 10 told dd he'd try and sort something but he doubted he'd be able to do it. I want to tell the school that unless they're taught at the same time on the same day I want her to be able to do both. Is that unreasonable?

[LIZS]

I don't think she needs graphic design at gcse to become a graphic designer, many schools don't even offer it. Art would keep more options open and she can specialise later. There may be a conflict over resources and time tabling.

[VivaLeBeaver]

That's what ive told her, she's still gutted.

[morethanpotatoprints]

The importance of GCSE's is to show that dc have received a general and broad education at high school.
A level choices are the important ones where you need to choose for your future career and uni course.
It really doesn't matter OP, and the reason they are confined in blocks is to enable timetabling for each subject/teacher.
I do think they should change the heading from options though as this gives dc a false sense of the process, there are hardly any options.
Tell your dd to choose what she is best at out of each column and then specialise at A level and beyond.

[PurpleDaisies]

I think it probably is unreasonable sorry. Unless your daughter is at a tiny school there are likely to be over q hundred students that the school is trying to timetable and there will only be so much wiggle room that is possible to accommodate. Most schools don't offer graphic design gcse so not doing it (or art) won't in any way affect your daughter's long term career plans. Similar subjects go in the same block so the students end up with the broadest range of knowledge. I can understand why you're annoyed but I unless you're prepared to move school you'll probably have to make the best of it. Lots of graphic design involves using CAD so computer science might be a good second option.

If your daughter is really keen is there any possibility of her doing it as an extra and you getting her a tutor?

Hope you find a solution.

[TheWildRumpyPumpus]

Years back, I wasn't allowed to do DT and Computing GCSE as the exam boards said there was too much overlap between the subjects.

I ended up doing it anyway but not getting a grade as I really didn't want to do Drama, Art, Music.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've told her she ought to do geography if she can't do graphics. Mmshe currently doesn't have a humanity subject. She's top set in geography and her teacher was very keen for her to do it.

She says she doesn't enjoy it much, especially the last term as its all been human geography and she reckons most of the gcse is human geography.

[LIZS]

I'm surprised a humanity isn't a prerequisite anyway.

[BabyGanoush]

I'd do Art and ICT, that makes sense for her ambitions.

[noblegiraffe]

If they are in the same option block then it's highly likely that they will be taught at the same time on the same day. That's how the option blocks normally work.

[PurpleDaisies]

I think GCSEs are a bit like that. Even in subjects you've chosen there are going to be dull bits that you just have to power through to get the grade. I had to do combined humanities gcse which was a total waste of time.

At least if she is bright she's in the really lucky position of not necessarily having to work too hard at her least worst option to get a decent grade.

[Bilberry]

I agree with Baby, art and ICT. Seem a good combination for graphic design.

[Lottie4]

I'm not sure if they will be able to accommodate her as they'll probably be teaching the subjects in each block at the same time. It might help her if she goes and speaks to the Art Department. They will be able to tell her which subject would be better for her to do.

[cricketballs]

Subjects are placed into blocks after the initial consultation as this suits the majority. Subjects offered in one block will be taught at the same time, so unfortunately for your DD she will not be able to take both subjects. (To be honest, it's one that really is a blessing given the heavy coursework load they both have)

[elkiedee]

When I was at school a long time ago we also had option groups, but only a few and you could do more than one subject in each block - sciences, arts subjects and one creative or practical subject - French wasn't an option as such, most pupils did it except for some who did extra basic subjects, and our second foreign language, only studied by quite a small number of pupils to start with, was an option. We also did less subjects than most people do at GCSE now - a maximum of 9 if you did Latin for an extra hour after school in the 4th and 5th years (Yrs 10 and 11) and took the exam in at the end of the first year in 6th form, so it was 5 options in 3 areas.

I can't see that it's unreasonable to discuss it with the school and find out what the logic is, and to look into it a bit further. Are your daughter's classmates affected in other subjects? - the language thing seems a bit strange and would surely pose a problem.

Does the school offer A levels or other 16+ courses in both subjects and what are the requirements for those?

Are there any relevant after school clubs for art or graphic design or local colleges which would offer some chance of developing skills and possibly getting qualifications?

I can see how both computer science and geography, even human geography, might be relevant to later studies, etc.

[PaperdollCartoon]

If your daughter wants to be a graphic designer she should definitely consider doing computer science, probably with art. Basically all graphic design is done on computers now, using design programmes, so IT skills are as important as artistic skills. My mum was a graphic designer in the 80's when it was all done by hand, when she wanted to go back after having children she couldn't as would have had to completely retrain, that was nearly 20 years ago its even more technologised now. If she wants to go on to do graphic design at A level, a foundation in art and computers would be very beneficial. However I appreciate it's hard to see it in this big picture way at 14.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Does anyone know how much of the computer studies gcse relates to CAD, design type stuff? If it's only a small amount then I don't see the point of her doing a subject she's not so keen on??

She does graphic design at the minute in year 9, ive told her to speak to her graphics teacher. I can't find any evening classes for either subject.

Dd says its not just about her career choices but that she enjoys graphics and art so much.

[Millymollymama]

She should do a humanity. It is interesting they have not put art into the same block as drama and music. Art is fine for graphic design and her career will not depend on this GCSE. This is GCSE not A level and GCSEs are meant to be broad, not careers focused. I do agree the blocks should have come out first but I guess the school had not worked out the time tabling issues earlier.

It is a TOTAL disgrace that pupils cannot do two languages. This is a real state school issue and explains why students on MFL degrees are often privately educated. For a school that teaches several languages, why on earth would you not support able linguists by offering two languages? Most people do need the GCSE to be successful at A level MFLs. Only doing one MFL seriously curtails degree options in these subjects where many do joint honours and some languages are not offered ab ibnitio. What a disgrace we have schools that still limit the aspirations of young people.

[LemonYellowSun]

Art-based subjects are so time consuming though, compared to other subjects. Maybe doing both wouldnt be a good idea from that perspective anyway.

[Moominmammacat]

All my DSs did three languages at local comp ... two timetabled, one twilight.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

If it's actually "Computing" or "Computer Science" as a GCSE option, then it will be all about learning to code (programming), as well as learning logic, binary, how a computer actually works inside etc. It will definitely not include any ICT skills or graphics type work. I would strongly advise reading the blurb about this course before you choose it, as programming/logic etc is not necessarily everyone's cup of tea. These days ICT is a very different course to a Computing/Computer Science course.

[TeenAndTween]

Computer sciences is likely to be programming isn't it rather than using CAD tools?

Agree it is daft having all languages in 1 block. At DD's school French appears in 2 blocks so you can do 2 languages.

Geography sounds a good bet if she's top set.

Art and Graphics would be massive coursework load anyway wouldn't it?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Dd says its computer science and from what I remember from options evening it did seem to be about programming.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise due to project work, she's doing photography as well. I did argue with her over her options that I thought those three subjects would be too much project work.

I will talk to HOY and see if anything can be changed but if not she'll have to do geography and lump it.

[Wolfiefan]

Can't they offer an after school session if you also pay for a tutor?

[TeenAndTween]

Photography as well . In that case I think geography is the much better option! Surely she'd drown under the coursework otherwise?