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Original poster

GCSE options / is Business Studies viewed as a 'soft' / easy subject or well respected these days?

118 replies

Boysandme · 14/12/2014 15:06

DS1 has to pick options soon for his GCSE subjects.

I know some subjects are viewed as soft subjects and also that business studies has been up and down as to how well respected it is.

Anyone know what the current thinking is?

Thanks

OP posts:
MassaAttack · 14/12/2014 19:08

They have to do RE, so do the GCSE anyway.

MassaAttack · 14/12/2014 19:06

Ours only have 3 free choices now. This is because they want almost all of them to do triple science, and also are giving more time to English and maths (the new syllabuses/syllabi Hmm are much larger, apparently.

I think it's a shame.

Original poster
Boysandme · 14/12/2014 18:57

I think they take 9 altogether. It seems to be double English, maths, double science as compulsory then 4 options. Triple science uses up one option, a language ideally, one for fun and one other is my thought. He isn't sure what he wants to do so needs to keep options open.

There is of course compulsory PE, RE and PHSE but I don't think they lead to anything.

Everyone seems to have 4 options so a total of 9, seems strange that there is no variation other than some bottom set kids being offered btechs. Is that usual in state comps?

OP posts:
Hassled · 14/12/2014 18:52

Business Studies is one of those subjects which is perceived as soft but which would be actually bloody useful knowledge for later life. If everything else is non-soft, I'd encourage it.

antimatter · 14/12/2014 18:50

How many subjects is he taking in total?
1 out of 12 not soft
1 out of 8 - may be a different matter.

Original poster
Boysandme · 14/12/2014 18:28

Thanks all.

He will have fairly academic subjects generally including triple science etc, I have said he can have one for fun, whatever he fancies then there are a few inbetween to look at. He is at the beginning stage of all of that now and I was wondering if it was worth encouraging it or not. If it is often viewed as a soft subject then I won't bother encouraging it.

He goes to a standard comp and they do let higher achieving students sit economics. He would probably be allowed to do that as he is top set for everything but they haven't yet announced who they seem suitable. Sounds like even economics might be deemed a bit soft now!!

OP posts:
skylark2 · 14/12/2014 17:50

I'd say it was a soft option - top academic schools don't even offer it.

That said, there's nothing wrong in your DS having one soft option even if he's an academic high flyer. Might want to look at something more fun than Business Studies though.

"BTW you can take an A level in this subject without having the GCSE."

And a degree without having the A level, and a higher degree without having the first degree, and can end up running a business without any of them. Not having it doesn't close doors at any level. There are lots of subjects for which that's not true, so your DS needs to think carefully before dropping them.

catslife · 14/12/2014 17:22

My main thought is that if your dc really wants to take this subject let them - they are better off doing well in a subject that they are motivated to do than less well in a subject that they didn't want to take but was chosen for them by their parents.
At dds school this subject is taken by students across the ability range, but the higher ability pupils take an Economics option for one of the modules.
BTW you can take an A level in this subject without having the GCSE.

AuntieStella · 14/12/2014 16:35

I'd say it was a soft subject too. That doesn't mean it's necessarily easy, not that it won't teach you things that you may later find useful. Just that it's not seen as a facilitating subject.

More than 'one for fun' might be an impediment to the more academic courses in future, on the general basis that for just about everything you need a range of solid passes in facilitating subjects.

There really is no problem in having 'softer' subjects amongst a range that includes a good number 'harder' ones. And agree that you need to know which is which, reputationally, whilst making your choices.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 14/12/2014 16:26

My last school offered it to those who weren't able to cope with Economics at GCSE. My current school offers neither at GCSE. We do offer Economics at A level.
If a student is interested and they've already got 'serious' subjects I'd say go for it.
However, the question was about subject perception. It is perceived to be a soft subject.

jeanne16 · 14/12/2014 16:23

If you have lots of other strong GCSEs, such as History, an MFL and the triple Sciences, then one 'soft' subject won't matter.

meandjulio · 14/12/2014 16:23

Realising I didn't know anything about the course, I looked at the syllabus and am not that impressed - why would you choose this instead of economics?

If knowledge about business is the aim, I would say get a Saturday job, a subscription to the Economist for Christmas and read a newspaper, and start applying to local businesses for work experience. If 'another GCSE' is the aim, then I would choose economics, statistics or a language.

Pilgrimforever · 14/12/2014 16:23

DD's school offer both GCSE and Btech business studies. She's doing the Btech but it's the school who decide who does the GCSE and who does the Btech. The Btech seems to be quite in depth so I dread to think what the GCSE involves.

OddBoots · 14/12/2014 16:22

I agree Massa, my ds had a lot of comments when he chose to take Drama as his free choice (and Dance in his PE slot) as he is a very academic child but there is room in among all those compulsory subjects for something a child would enjoy without worrying if it is soft or not. A Level is different but at GCSE very few if any universities would be worried.

MassaAttack · 14/12/2014 16:16

It doesn't look soft. There's a business studies teacher who posts here sometimes - hopefully she'll pop along.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 14/12/2014 16:16

Yup soft option at GCSE. Not offered at my school.

howtodrainyourflagon · 14/12/2014 16:13

Soft option for lower set kids

MassaAttack · 14/12/2014 16:06

I'm of the opinion that with science (triple for all but bottom set), English language, English lit, maths and RE being compulsory at ds's school that he should choose whatever he fancies for the remaining options. This flies in the face of RG-fixated MN wisdom, however, and I'd feel differently if he showed any inclination towards medicine etc.