Triple science or French Gcse?

[Lilyray89]

Dd only has a few more weeks to choose option and thought she was going to do triple science but now she’s not sure.
The compulsory subjects are :

• English lit and Lang
  

-Maths
-Science ( 5 hours a week)
-R.E
And then they get 3 options.( Was quite shocked at how few options they get )

She wants to do Geography and art and then isn’t sure between triple science and French. She’s a very bright and able girl , 7/8/9s, and she’s thinking about going into a medicine career but not totally sure.

She enjoys both subjects a lot and on a recent French test she got a 8 & 9 but she also got a 8 on the recent science test.While she’s considering a science career the French department are really pushing that she needs a MFl as they’re much wanted and needed especially with brexit.

So which one is more important and what are the courses like? Also has anyone got advice on how the courses are on Art and geography?

[ReinettePompadour]

If shes considering medicine then triple science.

And its not unusual to only study 8 or 9 GCSEs with 5 or 6 being compulsory subjects.

[midgebabe]

Another vote to say if she is considering science as a career then triple science. Stem skills seem to be much more needed than languages.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

As I prepare to be shot down by MFL teachers, French she could go on French language courses in France during the summer or live there for a year as an au pair. Harder to do that with a science and she will need it for medicine.

[OutyMcOutface]

I think that it depends on how good the French teachers are-if the language teachers are no good then there is no point. She can spend a year In France after school and learn French that way instead.

[leccybill]

MFL teacher - I'd advise Triple Science if she wants to do medicine.
The French new style GCSE is shockingly hard!

[halfwitpicker]

No brainer... Triple science, n'est pas?

[Abetes]

Triple science definitely.

[irregularegular]

Yes, triple science if there is a possibility she will want to do sciences/medicine.

It would be good to have a language too though, especially if she is very able. Is she really set on the other two choices? Art GCSE is a lot of work, I would only recommend it if she is very keen. I think it actually puts a lot of kids off art.

It's a shame they have so few choices really. My daughter is doing Art (hence the warning). But she is doing that and triple science, two languages, geography (and BS, which is superfluous really).

[Beingmethistime]

If she's likely to want to do a science A level (even if she's not sure she necessarily wants to go on to study medicine) I'd suggest triple science GCSE would prepare her better than the compulsory science.

As an aside, I now that some schools are pushing a MFL as this is one of the 'E-Bacc' subjects. The number of pupils studying e-bacc subjects is something that the school has to report publicly but as far as I know is not something that has any impact on what the student can go on to study after.

[Lilyray89]

Seems triple science is the consensus here .
OutyMcOutface There’s 2 French teachers doing gcse one who’s apparently excellent ( Hod) and the one she has now who’s alright.

irrregularegular It is a shame isn’t it , a few years ago at the school they had a MFL language as a compulsory and still got 3 choices . It would be a lot easier if the school did this ,even if it was just compulsory for top sets.

And she is very keen on art ,loves the classrooms and the sound of the lessons and is always doing art at home. However I do know a few art pupils who wish they’d done photography or end up disliking art at the end of year 12, so she has been throughly warned!

[Ancienchateau]

If she wants to do science for A level then triple science seems the obvious choice. I do think it's sad though how languages are viewed in this country. It's also a shame she can't do 10 gcses then she could do a language as well.

[Lilyray89]

Ancienchateau I know, wish the school offered more choices, even if only top sets. She’d really like to do a language as they seem really important.

Does it make a difference if I say she can still do science at a-level without triple ?

[Lilyray89]

Beingmethistime Dd has said her French teachers mentioned being able to get a ebacc if you take a MFL but at the options evening at school they weren’t doing ebacc as the core subjects balances out their choices enough and they just want them to get a good job?

[DextroDependant]

Definitely triple science if she wants to study medicine.

Can she swap geography for French?

[Xmaspost]

I'd recommend triple science. If she is thinking about a science career it will be worth it, and even if she changes her mind the background will be useful later.

It's "nice" to do languages, but to be honest the level of language learning from most kids in the UK system is really poor (only language immersion seems to force us English to learn!). If she is passionate about a language later in life she can explore that.

As a person who works in science/tech area, there are wonderful opportunities for women in many companies in these fields.

[hlr1987]

Regardless of what she wants to do further down the line, you can study a language outside of school easily and have it taken seriously. Putting on a CV/ application for uni that you study science outside of school but didn't do the full course sounds odd.

[Lilyray89]

DextroDependant
Isn’t it important to have a geography or history though? And I think she’s really does enjoy it

Xmaspost Yes we are known as the worst for learning languages.She’s never really considered french for gcse until all the options morning as I think their head of department is a incredible speaker. Very persuasive which I guess he had to be with only 1/8 of the year considering French and even less taking it.

That’s wonderful to know as while she’s interested in medicine she doesn’t know much about what job she’d like in the field.
She’s looked at forensic science but has gone off recently and is more looking at pharmacology, medical research and biomedical.

[Lilyray89]

hlr1987 That’s a good point but I don’t know where else she’d study a language. Maybe I’d have to find a after school club in the area?

[DextroDependant]

DS school don't make them do history or geography or a language and don't push for either so not sure sorry.

His school is as follows
Compulsory
English Language
English Lit
Maths
RE

Options
Triple science
Computer science
CiDA

If he didn't pick triple science he would have to do combined science and could choose one other.

[Tessermee]

All of the science teachers I’ve spoken to say do triple science if there is any chance you’re thinking of doing a science at A-level (obv a must if wanting to study medicine).

The school may still allow people who’ve done double science to do a science A-level but triple science is much better preparation.
So best to keep doors open and do triple science.

[Chillywhippet]

If your DC is really able all departments will want them.

Resist

It’s hard isn’t it? How can they know? But for medicine triple science makes sense.

Art/DT etc are masses of work- hours of time.

[Lilyray89]

DextroDependant Dd really wishes re wasn’t compulsory but they’re a Church of England school.

Tessermee Dd was thinking of just doing combined science and then getting the separate textbooks and reading through them at home but doing it at school with teacher would be a lot More helpful obviously.

Chillywhippet Yes we had parents evening recently and one of the first question they all asked is if she’s taking their subject and they’d love to have her. She had to politely decline a lot of them so she’s pretty good at it.

However she says taking triple science is closing her options off more than taking French but if she takes medicine it will be very useful. And I’ve warned her about the art don’t worry but she’s adamant in doing it. She was also considering graphics at one point but she hated the photoshop part of it —and most of what they were doing in the course—

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

Some religious education is compulsory to 16 in state schools anyway. Many schools therefore try to get a GCSE out of that timetabled time. Often there is a focus on ethics which will be useful if applying for medicine. It will also help her to develop essay writing skills.

[brizzledrizzle]

Triple science if she wants to do something medical.

[pipilangstrumpf]

Triple Science and at least 1 modern foreign language.