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Original poster

If my dd wants to be a civil engineer. what subjects does she need at O'level?

55 replies

Grikes · 06/12/2015 06:30

My DD is rather a strange one. She wants to be a civil engineer.

I assume that Maths and English is compulsory. She will take triple science. Her MFL most likely will be Spanish. Leaving her other choices to be Geography, History and IDT. She also wants to take RE. Does that make sence to take these subjects..

Is there any other specfic subjects she needs to take?

Thanks for any information

OP posts:
senua · 06/12/2015 16:26

Christ alive. She's 14. Let her take what she wants.

Seriously? Is that the level of careers advice in your school?Shock

lljkk · 06/12/2015 16:25

DH is an (electronic) engineer & does most the cooking & even some needlework, don't knock it!
He has A-level in DT. Handy DIYer around the house.
There are special bursaries for women in engineering & all. My cousin (civil engineer) works 9 months then travels for 9 months.

catslife · 06/12/2015 15:17

brenda it is still possible to take the international O level in some countries now - it is still offered by CIE as an option.
I would check whether IDT means (does it mean DT iGCSE?)
My dd is doing DT Product Design GCSE - highly recommended for engineering and not a soft option at all as they now need to know and understand the technical aspects it's not just making products!
Agree with the others though that additional subjects should be those she enjoys as the most useful ones are Science and Maths.

BrendaandEddie · 06/12/2015 14:46

Ive taught for over twenty years. Mum - back off

PurpleDaisies · 06/12/2015 14:46

Btw as she enjoys history is it ok to take that. Instead of the futher maths?

Yes. Most schools don't offer further maths GCSEs. Brenda is a bit blunt but right-as long as she is doing maths, English and at least double award science it really won't matter what she does for GCSE.

BrendaandEddie · 06/12/2015 14:42

Christ alive. She's 14. Let her take what she wants.

Original poster
Grikes · 06/12/2015 14:41

Btw as she enjoys history is it ok to take that. Instead of the futher maths?

OP posts:
BrendaandEddie · 06/12/2015 14:38

I don't think it really matters at GCSE

Original poster
Grikes · 06/12/2015 14:37

Bond, river and Senua as well as others. Thank you for the information. TBH we are rather taken aback by her decision. Yet DH is very supportive. I just want to make sure she takes the right subjects to be successful in whatever career she chooses. Whilst also keeping her options open to change her mind.

OP posts:
meditrina · 06/12/2015 14:29

We were advised that GCSE DT (resistant materials) is useful for all forms of engineering. The other subjects DC took are maths and further maths, physics, chemistry, biology, English MFL and geography.

BrendaandEddie · 06/12/2015 14:29

O level sigh. Keep up grandma.

Original poster
Grikes · 06/12/2015 14:28

Hmm from the time table it says information design technology. Which from what I can gather is what we call in my day was woodwork, metal work and technical drawing. I think which also includes home economics such as cooking and needlework. She enjoys the metal work, wood work and electronics. Not so much the cooking and needlework. I can only go off what her school calls it. Rather whatever general term that is banded out in the general populace.

OP posts:
BondJayneBond · 06/12/2015 14:21

However, it is too early to be specialising for a certain career because she may change her mind.

None of the GCSEs she needs to take in order to keep Civil Engineering open as an option are particularly specialist or restrictive if she should change her mind by the time she's picking A-Levels. Especially as the most important one, Maths, is compulsory for all students anyway.

IguanaTail · 06/12/2015 14:13

I think we can safely assume that the vast majority of people would refer to them by the name they have been called for the last 27 years.

ICT will not exist as a GCSE anymore; what is IDT? Do you mean DT? Design and Technology? Which branch? Product Design? Resistant materials? Food and Nutrition? Electronic Products? Graphic products? Textiles Technology? Systems and Controls? They are all classed under DT. Some might be useful for her current chosen career.

CraigRevelHorwoodsPetCat · 06/12/2015 13:39

I'm also a civil engineer. Zero odd about it Hmm

Rivercam · 06/12/2015 13:30

Look at the Smallpeice trust website. They do residential courses for future engineers, including ones specifically for girls, I think. My son has been on a couple and loved them.

Original poster
Grikes · 06/12/2015 13:25

Iguana I think that we can all safely assume O level's refer to GCSE or whatever equalivalent they have decided to call it.They were O level's when I took them.

OP posts:
IguanaTail · 06/12/2015 13:12

do you mean A Levels? O levels haven't been around since 1989.

senua · 06/12/2015 11:36

It's fab that she knows what she wants to do, even if it is a strangeHmm thing like Engineering. However, it is too early to be specialising for a certain career because she may change her mind. Her choices sound a very good spread of knowledge bases which will support her well whatever she ends up doing.

wonkylegs · 06/12/2015 09:36

I don't know what area you are in but some regions there are construction challenges coming up for secondary schools which your daughter may be interested in. Schools have to volunteer to get involved but in my region (NE) there is one being run by the RIBA and supported by various professionals (architects, engineers, surveyors, project managers) starting relatively soon. It might give her an idea of the industry. PM me for more details.
Also look at events on www.wisecampaign.org.uk/events their aim is to encourage and inform girls interested in careers in this sector (Women In Science & Engineering)
I went to some fab events when I was a teenager (about 20yrs ago) run by them and interested in architecture & engineering which really opened my eyes to what the jobs were about.

Original poster
Grikes · 06/12/2015 09:27

So basically she has covered all the bases with her O level choices. Except she doesn't want to take ICT. She prefers IDT more. Thank you all for the replies and links.

OP posts:
SocksRock · 06/12/2015 09:21

Another civil/structural engineer here - it's a fab career choice, don't tell her she's odd!

I did Maths, Dual Science, Eng Lit, Eng Lang, French, German, History and DT for GCSE. Then Maths, Further Maths, Physics and German for A-Level.

Have a look / Google for the Headstart/Insight and Year In Industry programmes for GCSE/A-Level students. Really worth doing if you are interested in Engineering

Lomaamina · 06/12/2015 09:12

Suffolkgirl is correct, though bear in mind most A level maths courses require at least an A in the GCSE maths.

Lomaamina · 06/12/2015 09:11

See more here on computing learning at school www.computingatschool.org.uk/data/uploads/cas_secondary.pdf