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Original poster

Are these GCSE choices too limiting?

32 replies

CeliaFate · 09/02/2014 20:17

Dd is taking her options (in Wales). Compulsory subjects are Maths, English, RE, Welsh, PE, PSE, Science - either Science which is 1 gsce, Science+additional science which are 2 gsces, 2 sciences or 3 sciences.

Dd wants to take Science (1), Art, IT, Welsh Bacc, German and Geography.

Our concerns are her choices contain too many "soft" subjects and not enough traditional academic subjects.

Are our concerns justified, or are her choices good?

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2014 21:04

Is that what's worrying you? Whether she should do at least Double Science and drop an option? Which option do you want her to change?

ThreeBeeOneGee · 09/02/2014 21:02

Double science better than single science, in my opinion. Otherwise they sound fine.

Disclaimer: know nothing about the Welsh education system.

Original poster
CeliaFate · 09/02/2014 20:48

The PE and PSE aren't GSCEs, but are compulsory. RE and Welsh are compulsory GCSEs and can be either short course for les academic or full GCSEs for more academic students.

Really it's determined on what science they choose. If she chooses single science she has 5 choices. Science plus additional she has 4 choices. If she did 3 sciences, she'd have 3 choices.

The Welsh Bacc as I understand it counts as 3 GCSEs on paper, but really it's only 1. Confused. It's developing skills that employers are looking for - an awareness of socio-economic issues, political issues, knowledge of Wales as a country and its place in the world.

OP posts:
MillyMollyMama · 09/02/2014 20:41

CeliaFate. Sorry to be dumb, but how many GCSEs is this? There seem to be a lot of compulsory ones. Are PE and PSE GCSEs?

I would consider double science, though, not single. About 10 GCSEs is enough. Could this be Maths, 2 x Science, English, German, Art, Geography, RE, Welsh and either PE or IT? Is the Welsh Bacc a combination of the above or a separate qualification? Is it necessary?

I don't think anything here is particularly soft, except the idea of single science, but it looks like overload!

MaureenMLove · 09/02/2014 20:33

DD does photography at college. She took it at Yr12. Strangely, she did almost identical subjects to your DD, with the exception of Welsh, as we are in England! Grin

I think they sound just fine. Enough scope for her to change her mind on the photography between now and 6th form. (I hope she has the option for photography in 6th form?)

Original poster
CeliaFate · 09/02/2014 20:25

She's interested in photography but doesn't really have a firm idea in mind.

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2014 20:20

Does she have any idea what she's aiming for as a career/job? They don't seem soft at all to me tbh. I think that's quite a good set.