Is anyone else struggling with GCSE options regarding languages and 6th form entry/uni entry?

Remember that the Ebacc is not a qualification. It's something Michael Gove has cobbled up in between thinking the Queen should have a new yacht and letting religious extremists start their own schools. You need to check directly with the university you are interested in. This is from Oxford's website.

"Reports in the media or speculation that Oxford has indicated a preference or requirements for candidates to have the English Baccalaureate are not accurate.

Oxford will keep the development of the English Baccalaureate under review, assessing to see if it is a helpful predictor for success at Oxford, but will not, under any circumstances, require it of students who have chosen their GCSE mix before Oxford indicates any compulsory use in the admissions process."

You say that you want her to do 2 humanities and a language. Given that students only really get 2 'pure' choices at GCSE now that a language and humanity are virtually compulsory, I would let her do what she wants. What's her 4th choice, or does the school have other compulsory subjects they want them to take?

I think most schools are 'advising' a language at GCSE because of future EBacc stats! Dd3's school now wants a letter from parents if you choose not to do a language. At options evening this week they said that Universities are wanting a language at GCSE.

OK. Well it is a rather extreme stance for the sixth form to take compared to the rest of the country, but on the other hand I do agree that children that are able to do languages should take them - nationally we have a shockingly low facility for foreign languages and it is something we should be concerned about and try and reverse, so I do think Spanish is a good thing for your dd even if she 's not all that keen. As far as history vs art goes for the remaining choice if she might want to study either art or history at A level or degree level then she needs to choose appropriately now. If she might want to do architecture then art would be preferred and there may be a preference for history for law or similar although I don't think she'd be ruling this out by not doing it (she could take another analytical subject like English literature instead at A level for example). Otherwise it really is a preference thing. Do make sure she's aware of the workload of the art, sadly some children choose it and it puts them off art for life but others enjoy it and it is a lovely skill to have and a nice contrasting subject.

Does - obviously!

A language is obviously a good idea but I'm very surprised it should be seen as compulsory. Anyway, she's going to take Spanish so that's good. I think you should let her choose Art. She's Taking a humanity and a language, so the English baccalaureate is covered. My DDs both took/are taking Art. It's the subject with the most homework - by a mile. Dies she know that?

If there's even the faintest possibility of her wanting to go to university, then you'd be wise to push her to do a language GCSE - some courses and universities already require it, and others are likely to follow suit. I'm not sure how being used to the Scottish system makes any difference - if she was up here she'd be equally strongly pushed to do a Standard Grade language for the same reason.

I don't understand either? Yes she should do a language GCSE but she has a humanities subject in Geography so let her do Art. History is a great subject - my degree! BUt if you don't want to do it, it's a killer. Let her do Art. it's a good GCSE too and she may surprise you.

So she wants to do Spanish and you want her to do Spanish, what's the problem?

Show her this thread