Another GCSE choices question please

[traviata]

DD will do 9 subjects (Maths, 2 x Eng, Double Science, Spanish plus 3 options). She's top set and predicted A-Bs (or level 7-8s) in all her subjects at the moment.

She has chosen History, Music and Creative Media.

Creative Media is not a GCSE. I can't find the syllabus at the moment, but the qualification is something like 'AJEC'(?). It is not the same as media studies, it mostly seems to involve making short films on computers.

I think DD will love it. She has a strong creative side, and she wants to do something 'modern' and IT based alongside her academic subjects. I can see her maybe going into marketing or publicity in the future. The subject presentation at school was inspiring.

I imagine she is likely to choose humanities/English/language type A-levels and degree in the future.

Here's the question. Is DD shutting herself out from some excellent university courses by choosing this subject instead of another GCSE? Does it matter at this stage?

[TeenAndTween]

I can't see that one 'fun' subject amongst all those academic ones should be any problem at all from what I have read on these boards before.

[catslife]

Is it a level 2 BTEC? My Y11 dd has been doing a level 2 course in Creative and digital media and has really enjoyed it.
Unlike subjects such as Art, the workload hasn't been huge and the course has attracted pupils of all abilities.
I agree with teen that having one fun subject that she enjoys is more important at GCSE level than having all academic subjects.
I would really recommend a teenager to take a subject they don't particularly like just because they think unis will like it. She has a good spread of subjects already so should be fine.

[TeenAndTween]

Presumably not recommend cats ?

[traviata]

Thanks all. I don't think it is a BTEC, I would have recognised that description.

I was getting twitchy and just needed some reassurance.

[traviata]

I have found it - it is an applied learning qualification called 'WJEC Level 1/2 Certificate in Creative and Media'.

[TeenAndTween]

Could the board be WJEC perhaps?
Though I can't find a course with your description and name there.

Definitely check what it is before committing!

[catslife]

Thanks teen.
correction of last paragraph:
I would NOT really recommend a teenager to take a subject they don't particularly like just because they think unis will like it. She has a good spread of subjects already so should be fine.
There is a WJEC exam board whicxh seems to have a Creative Media course OP if that helps.

[traviata]

thanks both, some fine cross-posting between us all!

It seems that the WJEC qualification can also be a diploma; I wonder whether that's achievable in yrs 9-10 by an able student?

[catslife]

Looks as if we all found it at the same time.
Level 2 courses are vocational equivalents to higher grade GCSEs with Distinction being equivalent to an A Merit grade B and Pass grade C.
Whereas Level 1 is equivalent to grades D and below.
Provided you are sure that is the level 2 course, your dd should be OK.

[catslife]

If it's a level 2 diploma then Yes that's equivalent to GCSE.
Level 3 diploma is equivalent to A level.
Would suggest looking at the level rather than whether it's a certificate or diploma.

[traviata]

thank you very much - very helpful.