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Original poster

Have we made a mistake with GCSE options?

34 replies

SophiaWinters · 03/07/2012 16:59

My son is ending Year 8 and this week they've started their Year 9 lessons. He is potentially interested in a career in computer programming and he loves history although doesn't see history being involved in a career. With this in mind the options he has chosen is ICT and History. Next year he'll be able to choose more options.

Son had his first GCSE ICT lesson today and has come away a little downbeat :( He said nearly half the class are boys who are know to muck around and be disruptive in lessons which today as expected they did. Teacher set them a task to do and the software available to do said task is dated 2000. Son has the same software at home but a much more up-to-date version, he said it took him ages to do the task because it is so old nothing seemed familiar on screen. He has complained to me before about the software being very outdated but I somehow thought that for a GCSE course they would use something a little more modern and relevant to the task.

The other options he had to choose from were Media Studies (we thought this would be a "soft" option), Sport (son isn't sporty and doesn't enjoy it much), Geography (not a favorite subject but he may consider this for the next round of options), Language (he's doing Spanish as a subject anyway but didn't want this as a GCSE option), Music (not musical at all).

Has anyone's child done ICT as a GCSE and what did you or your child think about it? What software did they get to use and how outdated or new was the software? I don't expect a school to have the most up-to-date version of everything but 12 years old seems a little dated. I would also expect the industry standard software to be used but maybe I'm just getting this all wrong in my head.

OP posts:
Original poster
SophiaWinters · 04/07/2012 07:10

Thanks for the link OddBoots, I'll take a look at that later and see what son thinks. Perhaps he can speak to his tutor and see if a similar arrangement can be agreed at school. But if not then he might want to work his way through that at home :)

OP posts:
OddBoots · 04/07/2012 07:04

I have a Y8 boy going into Y9, all his year will be doing ICT GCSE next year so there have been no options as such but they are getting started on the course now too. He has the same issue as your ds although he is working in his streamed class so he is with the higher ability groups so a bit less mucking about (in theory!).

He sees it as a case of just plodding through it, the old software has been a bit of a challenge but as I run a very creaky old machine myself he has been able to have a play with mine (could you pick up the same old software cheaply so he can try it out in peace away from class?). His teacher has been good and provided he has done what is required of him that lesson he has been allowed to do a bit of his code academy.

MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 04/07/2012 06:56

No choice in dd's school-she had to do a short course ICT. She has just taken it and has probably failed it.
Re and Citizenship compulsory shortcourse too.

Original poster
SophiaWinters · 04/07/2012 06:53

What does a raspberry pi do that a computer doesn't do? I ask because son already has a very good computer in his room so don't want to go and buy something that duplicates what he already has. He has downloaded Python and is working his way through this book:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0982106017/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

He has also been teaching himself some Java. He knows a little html as I use Dreamweaver for my work so he has access to that software. He knows his way around Photoshop very well (I use it for Photography) and uses that for some basic illustrations. He also knows most of the Windows based software fairly well like the MS Office suite and Windows Movie Maker - he's made and edited numerous movies for his Youtube channel.

Maths and Physics are subjects he knows he'll need to do well in. Fortunately he enjoys both and is currently in top set for both subjects :)

OP posts:
sashh · 04/07/2012 05:47

ICT is crap. It is probably being taught by a non specialist.

He will do no programming at all, it's basically how to use a computer.

Buy him a raspberry pi - and let him learn Then at A Level make sure he does computing or computer studies or computer science NOT ICT,

Get him to consentrate on maths as well, he will need it.

Original poster
SophiaWinters · 03/07/2012 22:38

Thank you cricketballs, that answers a lot of questions :)

OP posts:
cricketballs · 03/07/2012 22:15

the GCSE in ICT is not being scrapped. The new specifications just take into account the linear approach and this has meant nothing in terms of what needs to be learnt, just that they will be tested on 2 separate units at the end of the course, instead of one unit at the end of year 10, controlled assessment in between then the final unit the end of year 11.

There is of course the introduction of Computer Studies (OCR trialled it last year) however, there are few staff currently with the knowledge to teach it correctly as for so many years the focus has been on ICT rather than computing and therefore the qualifications of the majority of ICT staff do not match this.

The courses that are no longer continuing are the OCR Nationals...the have been re-designed as the OCR Cambridge Nationals (very similar to the current spec, but a different name!)

Even if a GCSE is being dropped there is notice given and those currently enrolled on teh course allowed to complete it so if there is an announcement tomorrow for example that all GCSEs are to be scrapped, it will take into account those who are currently studying (even Gove isn't that stupid as to try that one I hope)

Original poster
SophiaWinters · 03/07/2012 18:58

I hope that you're right about it being challenging and hopefully the "surfers" won't disrupt the class too much. My son really is serious about this subject and wants to do well in it. I did point out to my son that he should see using older software as a challenge - getting the job done with the tools he has available rather than using the version he knows best.

I read that the ICT curriculum for GCSE is being scrapped from September this year. How will this work for my son now then? Will there be some other sort of GCSE exam that he writes, there was mention of computer science and programming. I don't really understand how it will work now for my son if the GCSE is being scrapped.

OP posts:
cricketballs · 03/07/2012 17:48

I teach GCSE ICT.....

first off, yes we often have people choice the subject as they think it is an easy option and that they will be 'surfing' all lesson. But in reality it is far from it.

In terms of the software being used, we do have issues at school in regards to software due to the huge cost of site licences and therefore there are still schools who have not been able to update. However, the specifications just state a spreadsheet/database etc and do not require students to be using the latest versions of anything as they know the reality.

There is very little that new versions of the software needed for GCSE offer that previous versions don't. For example, all spreadsheets will allow you to create formula, use functions, create a working model just like all databases will allow you to create relational tables, create queries, run reports etc

If you think about it, the fact that none of the screens were familiar to him is useful - he will always have to cope very quickly to different menus, screens, functions etc if this is the industry he wants to enter into as everything changes on screen all day every day.

PM if you want more detailed information/guidance