Poor choice of GCSE options (help)

Have just been through a similar process with dd.

She is doing 10 GCSEs over 3 years. In top sets for everything and expected to do really well. Had a choice between art and drama. Originally always wanted to do drama but art teacher put pressure on her to do art.

I advised to do the course that was least intense and which she most enjoyed. She won't be doing either at A level so it's very much a 'fun' gcse.

The only thing I would say is depending what she wants to do in the future don't discount RE. It's a pretty good subject for developing rational arguements and critical thinking. Dd has to do it as it's compulsory but if she didn't I would be advising she strongly consider it.

I faced a similar dilemma with DD wanting to do Citizenship GCSE- it just sounds odd! In the end decided that if I forced her to do something else she might rebel by not doing well in that subject.

I did have a look at a revision guide in Waterstones and there's a lot of content - also have to write essays like "Should voting be compulsory" so there will be transferable skills - they also have to run a campaign project which again will give her some useful skills.

I think so long as they have a balanced range of subjects the odd one for pleasure shouldn't do too much harm

One last point in the other direction. If the school offers both double and triple science, does that mean that generally only the less able to double science, which may affect her experience? Or will there be plenty of other more academic students taking double science with her?

Ah sorry. Thought that was the full set of options given it including a few things your daughter isn't considering.

Also, I forgot to mention, I am an Oxbridge tutor, so that may give my " it doesn't matter, let her do what she wants" stance slightly more credibility than otherwise.

I will confess, however, that I am quite ignorant of more creative education and career paths.

It probably doesn't matter that much. As a retired physics teacher I've always encouraged those who are capable to do triple science - if for no better reason than it seems a waste of talent to do otherwise.

On the other hand, I would always support a young person's right to self-determination. Presumably, if she's making her GCSE choices, you DD must be 14 or nearly, so she's at an age where she can picture her future self and wants to make her own decisions as to how to get there. As others have said, you can only advise.

I have no direct experience of media (or media studies). I imagine it could be just as rigorous as any other subject, although I have noticed that it tends to be chosen by less motivated students. Of course, that may be a grossly unfair observation generally but it might mean your DD could find herself in a group who would take the work less seriously. Only she will know if that is likely to be the case.

I do, though, wonder how important any subject (other than English/maths) is at GCSE. As an example, DS2 took only 8 (I)GCSEs (all the school would allow) and then did maths, physics, and music technology at A level. He now has a very senior job in IT/computing despite having never studied it at school.

From your list, it looks as if she could do triple science and music. Would she consider this? irregularegular makes a good point about the amount of coursework many of the less scientific subjects have, and people who are scientifically trained tend to be pretty versatile so she could still end up being creative but with more choice if she took a more scientific route.

And, of course, engineering is one of the most creative subjects there is!

While media would be fine, I would go back to the school and ask if there is any possibility of her doing both art and music.
It seems to me that she is being restricted by the choices options, and not able to do the 2 she wants.

Music is certainly not an easy or considered a mickey mouse GCSE, and if it is what she really wants...

Sometimes it is possible to work these things, it might depend on how much she is willing to make up if there are lesson clashes.

I agree with the others. When it comes to GCSE choices, provided she has got all the bases covered (which she has either way) as well as any subjects which would be specifically required for her A-level choices (also sorted) then I think for her last subject or two she should just be driven by her interests. It's most important that she feels motivated - and if media inspires her more than a third science then that is the way to go. It sounds very unlikely that she will do sciences for A-level, and even if she does two sciences is OK.

My daughter is doing business studies GCSE. I doubt it is the most academically valuable subject, but it was also her "last" subject so I said she should choose whatever she fancied (though they have to do 3 sciences)

It is a shame that she can't do art and music though. And particuarly unusual that they can't do history and geography. It's a very restrictive structure. At both my children's schools they could choose any combination of extra options after doing maths, english, language, three science, humanity. So would be able to do art and music for example.

And do check the amount of coursework. My daughter is doing art and it is a lot. She considered doing product design as well before she went for business studies and I think it would have been too much.

I think it's because my kids are atheists that they find RE so interesting!

Let your dd choose, show her you have faith in her judgements, because atm you are telling her she is too stupid/immature/unworldly/add in whatever is going on her her head to explain why you are doubting her ability to make a choice because to have confidence in your ability to choose your life choices is probably a more important skill than the choice between 2 GCSEs. Advise her of course, get her to seek information from teachers, her friends older siblings etc and then when she has collated the info, she makes her choice - that's the mature thing to do, that is good decision making and what you should be guiding her towards.

She's got 8 good options, which is sufficient for uni applications. If she's sure that she won't want to do any sciences at A level, then double science should be fine (if her interest in maths increases - which it might as it becomes more 'maths' and less 'arithmetic' as you progress then she might change her mind and physics goes well with maths).

If media is generally taken by weaker students, that may increase the chances of getting a high grade in it.

Essentially, make sure she takes the subjects she needs for A level (for her current plans, they do), make sure she has a rounded mix (which those options do) and after that, for the 9th subject if she's likely to get a high grade either way it probably doesn't matter.

The only thing I can think which might argue against media in this particular case is if it has a lot of course work - Art is notorious for having the most. If it does, and she's also doing a lot of extra curricular music, then the extra science might actually be easier for her.

What about considering RE? My ds is taking this and despite being a vociferous atheist (!) really enjoys the ethical debates.

As all the main academic subjects are covered taking one subject such as media that she enjoys and thinks will be a fun subject will be absolutely OK.
My understanding is that the reformed 9-1 GCSEs have all been made more academically rigorous compared to previous courses which is why it has been renamed media rather than keeping the old name media studies. Media is considered to be a good subject for dcs who are good at English and Art so could well be ideal for your dd.
Media could be taken up without doing it for gcse but not art or music.
Yes you can take Media at A level without the GCSE, but it is possible to take Music A level without the GCSE with suitable extracurricular activities (particularly if you have taken music grade exams). Not all schools offer GCSE Music as an option. For A level Fine Art they usually require the GCSE but for some of the other subjects e.g. Photography or Graphics it may not be essential.
Hope that helps with your dds decision.

I think that she has her bases covered with existing choices so what she does with the last slot in the timetable isn't crucial. It's great that she is thinking ahead and considering the impact on A Level choices.
I have no experience of DC doing media so can't really comment but it seems to be one of those subjects that could be brilliant or awful, depending on the quality of the teacher and the cohort. The important thing for your DD is how well it is done in your particular school. She will have been given the hard-sell by the teacher but what are the facts? - what do pupils currently taking the GCSE say and what grades do they typically achieve.
It seems that Media is partly about critical thinking and not taking promotional guff at face value - here's her first test!

The only choice dilema at this stage should be: if your dd dropped a given subject would she be able to take it up for he A levels.
Media could be taken up without doing it for gcse but not art or music.
Art or music are completely different subjects from the point of view of student"s creativity expected by respective boards.

I had this; my dd (15 now) wanted to do textiles instead of physics. So she would be doing double science. I was opposed to this - I kept seeing the two students debate, one did physics, the other did textiles, who would get the job they both wanted?
I was given some good advice, which was to let her choose an easier subject, one that she loves, as a sort of antidote to the heavier ones. And I have to say, it was excellent advice.

Honestly? If I were to advise her, I would say that she should pick the subjects for which she is likely to get the best teachers (provided she doesn't utterly hate the subject).

To do music at my school for GCSE, you had to learn at least two instruments but I have no idea whether that is still the case.

She probably needs balance anyway. She's got lots of academic subjects and needs a good contrast

Media is one of those subjects which is often taken by less able students, in comparison to triple science which is only ever taken by able students, so it has a bad rep.

At A level, the best universities wouldn't value it as highly as the more academic subjects and when they are only doing 3 or 4 A levels, this could be a problem.

But at GCSE, when she has enough of the more academic subjects, this is not going to be a problem. If she wants to do a creative degree, a third science has no value.

And despite it's reputation, I think that media is a very interesting subject. My daughter wrote an essay on whether Billy Elliott is social realism or a fairy tale, which touched on literature, gender and class politics and all sorts of other issues that I think young people should be discussing. They are developing the ability to argue their opinion both in class discussions and in writing as well as the ability to critically evaluate media.

It's only gcse level. The difference between triple and double science is marginal. Follow your DD's interests. The most important thing is that she enjoys the subjects and can work towards a job she enjoys.

I would only agree about media being a Mickey Mouse subject if the dd hadn't got a lot of academic subjects there already.
Sometimes it's nice to have a break and iirc photography is part of both Art and Media.

Double science is fine unless she wanted to do architecture, in which case physics A level would be harder going (although not impossible). I take it that architecture is not her ambition as it would n't fit with her A leve choices.
I am sure that media studies like business studies or food tech etc can give lots of useful skills even if it is n't a core academic subject.