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Original poster

Yr9 Options... two MFL, two humanities, no arts - feasible?

33 replies

MrsMot · 02/12/2013 23:15

Dd's options booklet came out today and she's really swithering about what to choose.

Basics will be Eng Lang and Eng Lit, Maths, French, Geography, triple science. She is desperate to use her 'optional' slots to take German and History - she's currently 7B for both humanities and 7C for both languages.

She does Drama out of school and is working her way through her LAMDA exams - if she had an extra option this is the subject she'd take.

She genuinely can't choose which humanity to drop should she have to, she loves both and it's already been suggested she'd be more than capable of taking both to A-Level. There is the possibility of short courses in Geog and History but they would limit her ability to take them further.

Her school will let her take that combination but from people's experience is having an arts subject important? Dd is my eldest and it's sooooo long since I did GCSEs I've nothing recent to base anything on!

OP posts:
JazzAnnNonMouse · 03/12/2013 06:39

I did exactly that German French history and geography (plus the other core subjects). I also did drama outside of school.
I liked all of my subjects but I do remember wishing I had a 'downtime' subject as my school life then became very much about writing writing writing. There was no creativity and I missed that even though I did drama outside of school I now wish I had done something lighter in school too.

JugglingChaotically · 03/12/2013 06:33

When DD had problem cutting down choices, the school said to do extra MFL as history A level could be done without GCSE but MFLs couldn't!

DoctorDonnaNoble · 03/12/2013 06:23

A lot of schools won't let you do History A level if you don't have it at GCSE.

Shanghaidiva · 03/12/2013 06:19

not answering the arts question, but I took A level history without taking o level (I am old) and as your daughter is pretty bright no reason why she cannot pick history up later.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 03/12/2013 06:06

Our school doesn't have Drama as an option. I would say 2/3 of each GCSE year don't do an Arts GCSE. But at least 2/3 of each year will be involved in something artistic in school or out.
2 languages and 2 humanities will be tough during controlled assessment (can't remember when that's meant to disappear) but if it's what your child will enjoy I say go for it!
It's been a while since I looked at the specifications, but while there'll be overlap between Drama and Lamda in terms of performance the GCSE covers other aspects as well.

Eastpoint · 03/12/2013 04:53

At my son's school they have to do a creative subject (art, music, drama or one of 3 DTs) but they do all 11 GCSEs.

One of the other local schools suggests if they don't do a creative subject they try to stay involved with school drama productions or concerts. My DD doesn't act but she works on the technical side of theatre, sound board, lighting, painting sets etc. Are there lots of drama opportunities at your DDs school?

OnGoldenPond · 02/12/2013 23:50

My DD also in yr 9 soon to choose options. She is determined to do drama though she has passed LAMDA grade 5. I'm worried she will find the drama GCSE a duplication. Anyone any experience of this?

MillyMollyMama · 02/12/2013 23:38

I think what your DD wants to do is great as she is doing LAMDA outside school. I really would not worry. An art type subject is ideal to have in the mix because it shows breadth, but in my opinion, two languages is better as this gives greater flexibility at A level and eventually at degree level than Drama would do. As the school are ok too, go with it.