Year 9 options - drama or second language?

I did drama at both GCSE and A-Level and much, much preferred A-Level. There was a lot less jumping through hoops with coursework (lorimeed mentions the simple way of writing; this is compounded by the almost robotic way you had to get in certain points - of course this was just one exam board, and it's probably changed now.) Also, the group work could be a bit of a problem at times, but for the actual marked performance, the class was broadly split into those were likely to mess around and those who weren't.
Conversely, A-Level (where several people took it not having taken it at GCSE, and as far as I remember, did well) was so much better - a lot more freedom (especially with the written element) and loads more enjoyable.

Don't worry about future UCAS because they rarely look at the actual GCSE's you did! What I would say is that my dd took drama instead of a second language and hates it! It's a lot of work along with music as well because in drama there's no exam so its all coursework! Its also very subjective and quite a simple way of writing which irritates dd! I would say convince her to go for a second language, dd wishes she had!

if there is a possibility that she will want to do languages at university or even at A level,then I would plump for the 2nd language.Otherwise I think she shoulg with what she enjoys.drama shows a different skill set.i do am dram and employers have always looked upon that favourably, and told me so.

She sounds as if she may well end up doing very similar GCSE's to ds2. His compulsories include triple science & a MFL which doesn't leave a huge amount of room for others. Originally we thought he had 4 options so he was going to do drama music geography then ICT or RS or Latin. That went down to 3 for the current year 8's due to the new GCSE's & so he's settled on drama music & RS.

I think it's fine - doing triple sciences etc means he has enough academic subjects - and he'll definitely end up doing something performance related so he may as well enjoy some of his GCSE's. Seems a bit daft plodding through 10 academic GCSE's when he absolutely knows what he wants to do & knows what he enjoys.

I read recently that drama degree students have the best employability out of any graduates. Apparantly the course gives them a lot of confidence which transfers to been good in interviews. Employers value people who can stand up, do presentations, etc.

Not suggesting she does a degree in it but I can see how a gcse would be useful!

Interestingly dds MFL teacher said to her at options evening that she does think there's a benefit to only concentrating on one mfl at gcse. Not sure if you'd agree with that, sounds like you don't. I don't think she was saying dd isn't capable of doing two. She's lvl 7s in German and 6a in French so I think considered capable of doing both if she wants but her teacher seemed to think she should choose.

I secretly hope my dd chooses drama! But if she does she will be sacrificing art, and will still be able to do two languages. I realise that's not terribly helpful to you op, but I do think of drama as a serious subject and is so much more than just a bit of poncing around on stage. I did drama A level and a drama degree (many many years ago) but both were genuinely academic courses which were intellectually challenging and required proper commitment.

I said 'yes' to my dd doing drama (as it happens she is also doing 2 lang), working on the principle she had enough "sound" academic subjects and she should be allowed a say.
She's 18months in now (Yr11) and really regrets it, as the majority of the group are there because they thought it would be a laugh / easy option. Don't forget, in drama, a lot of the work has to be done in groups, so she can't just ignore and do the 'right' thing - it effects those who want to take it seriously, a LOT.

So my (retrospective) advice would be to persuade her to do some drama out of school, and stick with the lang if you are confident she can do well with that.

Dd is intending to do 2 mfl plus drama. Would do 3 if it could be timetabled in and may still do so outside school. She wants to do mfl at uni.

If she wants to do Drama then I'd let her. She has everything covered in her other options and it will develop a lot of very useful skills that help smooth the way through life. It's what she want to do and they're her options at the end of the day, not yours.

My DD did drama (and German) at GCSE, picked up Spanish for A level and is now at UCL doing German and Russian.
Just doing one MFL at GCSE didn't close any doors for her and, as others have said, gave her another interest. Lots of analysis of plays, visits to theatres for different performances she otherwise wouldn't have seen etc. I think she found it useful as well as enjoyable.

Would strongly advise you let her do drama. Even though I dropped it after GCSE and haven't used it 'officially' it was great fun and a bit of relief after all the academic work I was doing in others subjects. It honestly will not make the blindest bit of difference to University (presuming she has a good set of other GCSEs).

God Oxford would be a terrible choice for ds2!! Went there myself, & it really isn't for someone who moans if he has to write a sentence He most definitely has his sights set on drama school (which is ludicrously competitive) but doesn't actually require much - it was more making sure he has sufficient for university as a fall back option.

His form went in today. Year 8 seems young to choose to me, but he's just delighted he can give up DT & art!

Have you actually got her options form yet? Many schools put music and drama in the same box so only allowing one.
Also check the extra curricular requirements of music and drama. At both of my DCs secondary schools gcse music requires membership of appropriate music groups: orchestra,choir, guitar groups etc. Unless your DD is going to use voice as her instrument for gcse music she may find her opportunities on stage are limited by her orchestral commitments. You cannot have a leading part in eg Les Mis if you are stuck in the orchestra pit with your violin!

Dd did drama GCSE and AS and has just got an offer from Oxford, just to reassure saintly

Obviously in drama there is the practical performance side, but there's also a lot of Eng Lit style analysis to be done and essays to be written.

It looks like your dd has a broad, balanced set of choices, so I would leave this last one up to her. My only hesitation would be that it seems like a last minute change of mind - I suppose I'd want to be sure that it wasn't just a whim that she'll regret.

(Dd1 did have a last minute change from geography to RS, and it was definitely a good decision!)

My son's taking drama GCSE - sitting 10 others, just one MFL. He's 16, so on the home straight now.

He's found it really challenging - definitely not a soft option! He feels it's far easier to achieve top grades in other subjects, actually. The amount of work he's put in for drama - composing monologues, deconstructing performances, directing, rehearsing, etc. - probably exceeds a lot of other subjects.

But he's had great fun and acquired all sorts of transferable skills - confidence, the ability to work in a team and above all, negotiation!

He's planning on studying law at uni, by the way - but I was happy for him to choose drama as his wildcard GCSE.

Drama is not for duffers (speaking as a drama teacher ).

As long as she is doing some facilitating subjects which she could pursue at A Level, she will be fine for uni.
Drama has loads of transferable skills which are increasingy recognised at both uni level and by employers as being valuable and necessary: project management, creativity, ability to speak confidently in front of others, team work ... I could go on ...

Does she have a preference? Can you let her decide as, at GCSE, it's just a way of opening the door to further education, it's not life defining.

If it were my DC, as long as she's doing one mfl (sounds as if she must be doing French at GCSE) then that is OK and up to her. One of DC's friends is bilingual, did the GCSE in Y9, and won't be doing any languages for upcoming GCSE or for A level. Her choice.

However because you are multilingual, it really depends on your situation. If you have friends and relatives in a third country and visit somewhere your DD could be talking to people she knows in a third language, that is a good reason to persuade her. For business use and potential future job it would be up to her.

I recently met a family where the dad is Dutch (fluent in Dutch, French and English, has some Gernan) the Mum is Swiss (fluent in English, French and German with some Dutch) they moved to a German speaking country when the children were young, the children went to and English speaking International school and they are fluent in English and German. The family converse in English because it is the only language they are all fluent in! There are a surprising number of families like this.

My older daughter, who is very academic, did drama at GCSE and I'm delighted she did. It developed a side of her which was different to the academic side, and I think that was good for her. If your daughter can be a bit solitary, even more so.

I'm not convinced that drama is for duffers, either.

DD1 is in y11 and doing both drama and 2 MFLs.

2 MFLs. She has coped well with this. Occasionally she gets muddled up and throws in words of the 'wrong' language into her writing or speaking, but not too much. Under current system of controlled assessments there have been times when she seems to have been non-stop learning something for the MFLs, but luckily they at least have never clashed as the teacher ensures they don't.

Drama. The kids don't seem to muck about, and seem reasonably keen. There has been limited homework (which I think has been a problem as the write ups for the CAs were the first write ups she had ever done). This has been good for DD as another subject with HW would probably have overloaded her. However she has had problems with team-working with people she doesn't know or like much and that is a factor to consider. She hasn't enjoyed drama nearly as much as she thought she would. She has been struggling with it and I'm still not entirely sure why. The 'promise' she showed in primary seems to have faded away. Would suggest she makes she understands what the lessons will be like and how it will be assessed or examined.

DD1 is in y11 and doing both drama and 2 MFLs.

2 MFLs. She has coped well with this. Occasionally she gets muddled up and throws in words of the 'wrong' language into her writing or speaking, but not too much. Under current system of controlled assessments there have been times when she seems to have been non-stop learning something for the MFLs, but luckily they at least have never clashed as the teacher ensures they don't.

Drama. The kids don't seem to muck about, and seem reasonably keen. There has been limited homework (which I think has been a problem as the write ups for the CAs were the first write ups she had ever done). This has been good for DD as another subject with HW would probably have overloaded her. However she has had problems with team-working with people she doesn't know or like much and that is a factor to consider. She hasn't enjoyed drama nearly as much as she thought she would. She has been struggling with it and I'm still not entirely sure why. The 'promise' she showed in primary seems to have faded away. Would suggest she makes she understands what the lessons will be like and how it will be assessed or examined.

Oh yes, my main worry is that DD1's Latin will rule her out of some places (UCL wants a MFL, for instance). You only need one MFL.

I realise I am swayed by DD1's complete drama-commitment.

btw my niece did just one MFL - German at GCSE, is doing German at A level and has applied for German and Russian at university (and is getting offers from nice, mumsnet-approved Russell Group unis). I think her enthusiasm for languages developed since she started the GCSEs.

I wonder if it's more common now to have just one MFL so the universities are more accepting of it?

Oh and I have no idea where DD1 will end up. She's a bright young woman and I'd expect her to go to university yadda yadda yadda. But no clue about her final direction. She's not quite 14* and I don't particularly want her to.

*just call me Lady Capulet...

Hello my lovely - v similar situation here, but DD1 is doing Latin and wants to drop French! She is also doing art (school has cunningly fast-tracked a group of them on it) and I too have been riven with muppet-worry.

However, I am inclined to say yes to the drama in DD1's case. It seems to have a fairly rigorous academic course content. And DD1 is very committed to serious theatre - she is involved with the local youth theatre, is doing a 'writing and devising' course next term, has done the bronze and is due to do the silver arts awards - and all off her own bat.

Do email me if you want to