GCSE Options.....feel sorry for DD

All triple science does is make the transition to science A levels a bit less of a shock.

She also did triple science.

She is very diligent which helped with the art.

Fwiw I strongly advised my dd NOT to do Art because of the workload. She did it in a year, loved it and got an A. We were all gobsmacked!

Verbena

I hope that she does well.

Ralph and Temporary

I suspect those that struggle are those that either go in to the subject thinking its just a laugh and don't take it seriously and those that struggle with organisation.

All of the pupils that I know have said that it was a lot of work.

One of my DCs loved art when younger but was put off doing it for GCSE because of the workload and perception that it could n't be done unless you were very talented and serious about potentially carrying on the subject. I think in my ideal word some of these creative subjects should be offered as short courses to allow at least some opportunity for 'amateur creatives'.

Thanks Ralph and Temporary. I get the wobbles when I read the horror stories on MN about Art and Graphics as I have a DD doing both for fun. I had exactly the same conversation with the HOD. An Art / Practical and an IT related subject are both compulsory at DDs' school. I think all of the options have the potential to be a heavy workload.

Ralph I know a DC who did both DT and art, achieving top grades and was absolutely fine as well although had a lot of work from the spring halfterm of Y11. As I said it seems to depend on the teachers. If my DCs were in the position of choosing art options I would just be careful to ask some older pupils at the same school. before they decided.

When DD1 took her options she was interested in art as her non academic option as she's quite arty and enjoys it. We spoke to her art teacher who advised that unless she see's her future as being in an art or design related career then it was best not to choose it because it involves an awful lot of homework and it's hard to prioritise the other stuff. This has proven to be good advice as there's no way she could cope with more than she gets. Mind you she decided on PE in the end and that's proven to be surprisingly homework heavy.

RE art: I just have to say, ds very nearly wasn't allowed (by me!) to take two art subjects after all I'd read on here about how much work they are but his HOD told us told us we were being ridiculous and that the workload was absolutely fine.

And, okay, it's only 10 weeks into yr 10, but honestly, he has FAR less work from these 2 subjects than from his others. Maths, English, sciences, his humanity, I would say he easily has double the homework per subject than art or graphics. Now, he does go along to one lunchtime session to work on his portfolios, and is in very small classes but so far, his teacher and not mn has been right!

Verbena I know some very talented young artists who started off the same as your DD but by the end the workload drained the enjoyment out of it. It does depend on the art teacher. Some seem to manage by giving a fairly reasonable workload without it being detrimental to their students' final grades. Others behave as though art is the main subject of the student rather than just one of many and expect their students to be as prolific as Hockney.

Bertrand For some unfathomable reason UCL have not asked me my opinion .
I think instinctively I agree with them and admire them for taking a stance. A part of me wonders, practically, how engaged some of those students might be on those courses if it seen as a hoop to get through.

Oh god- GCSE art! I'm still scarred 4 years later!!

I have heard the same thing about art from several parents/teenagers I know in real life. Apparently DT is a time suck too. So only do it if your interest is very, sincere!

That's really interesting. I can't decide whether it's a good idea or not!

Cross posted with you hocus. Your answer is better than mine!

I'm not an expert hocus but going off what's on their website I think you're right. Most unis will bend over backwards to encourage bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply and will help them sort out any problems with subjects that were beyond their control.

Just checked - here, if you are interested Bertrand from their website

Foreign language requirement

UCL encourages intercultural awareness in all its students, and considers experience of learning a foreign language a vital element of a broad and balanced education. UCL wishes to ensure that all of our graduates have had some experience of exploring another culture through language - but we are concerned to ensure that our admissions requirements do not disadvantage those who did not undertake language study to GCSE or above at school.

UK students who do not have a GCSE grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) on admission to UCL will be required to acquire an equivalent level of language proficiency once they are enrolled with us. This will either be through study for a specially designed certificate at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE), or by taking a 0.5 CU (course-unit) course in a language as part of their degree programme.

Verbena
ART ART ART ART

Apologies for shouting and bold .

I have to ask why is your DD taking art? If she is taking it as the fun subject she needs to re-think, it takes up a huge amount of time and there is a shit load of pressure.

If her art teacher is pushy (and if they are any good they will be) your DD will be bombarded with work and catchups + the final exam is an all day (possibly two day) practical exam.

Purple, I think I am right with this -

UCL are unusual in that I believe they want all u/g (not just Medicine) to have min GCSE C in an MFL. However, this isn't a show stopper as if you haven't done one at school / 6th form college, there is the opportunity to do a course whilst you are UCL. So it is designed not to disadvantage those who haven't done it at school.

The sciences are a good base though. Ds2 is the same school year as your dd and he wants to do triple science. Mind you his career choices at the moment are medicine or engineering.

I did history, biology, English literature and English language A levels. Many moons ago (I'm 39 now) no one ever suggested I had to have maths or science. I am a qualified midwife although no longer work as one.

It's ucl Bertrand. To be honest, most students will be doing a language so I don't think it would cause a big problem, especially given that the vast majority of med schools don't require it.

Which is the medical school that asks for GCSE MFL?

some of them specify a number of GCSE points from a limited range of subjects so triple science would be a huge advantage there.

It isn't though. Applicants who don't have triple science would have another GCSE counted instead. Actually you could argue that it is easier to get a's in some other subjects than in triple science because of the way many schools teach it (science teacher here) so for some students it may even be better to do double award!

I don't disagree that students planning on a science career should take triple science if they can but it is simply not correct to suggest that universities will put students who don't have it behind those who do.

"'m currently looking at medical school requirements for a mentee - some of them specify a number of GCSE points from a limited range of subjects so triple science would be a huge advantage there. I also found one school specifying that they must have a grade C in a MFL GCSE for medicine! That was quite a surprise."

Is this in the UK? Because both the GCSE points and the MFL thing both seem a bit odd..................