Too IT heavy? GCSE's

Watching with interest.

Have just read the update regarding high ability, strength in maths & dyslexia.

Computer Science (not IT).
Geography as the humanity
Economics GCSE if they offer it, otherwise
Business

Politics A-level involves a lot of writing

I would strongly recommend that she take GCSE History if she wants to study politics and law - as others have said, the skills involved in analysing material and constructing well structured essays are very relevant. I did A Level Politics and a lot of it IS actually modern history. If she doesn't like history, she probably wont actually enjoy studying politics.

In terms of A-level courses:

Government & Politics: DS1 is doing this course and enjoying it. It's not a specific requirement for any university courses, but he is studying it along with History and English Literature and got 5 offers through UCAS.

Law: Again, not a specific requirement for any university courses. If she's interested in studying Law or Politics beyond 18, at least one 'traditional' essay subject would be more useful, such as English or History.

I, too, thought IT GCSE has gone.
Are these iGCSE?
Absolutely no point in doing computing and IT- if she can do computing, IT will be far below her level.

These are the subjects typically taken by weak students. If her target grades are 4s and 5s then great. If 7s and 8s think again. The Computing is fine, but she should add one or two more academic subjects.

Incidentally I though IT GCSE has now been discontinued.

Citizenship - Not needed for any post-GCSE options. OK if they are really interested in it.

Computer Science - Yes, if logical & good at maths. Two of mine are doing this course and enjoying it.

IT - Is this course still being offered? Maybe do this instead of Computer Science if Maths is weak. Don't do both.

Business - Not needed at GCSE level but a good choice if they're really interested in it.

If she is academic and might want to go to university, it might be useful to have:

• Either History or Geography
• A modern foreign language

If she doesn't enjoy history or geography , (due to essay writing perhaps?) she may struggle with politics and law later. Even media and pe have significant written content. Agree mfl is worth persevering, which has she tried? She is only 13 ish, those options could limit her choices later.

The A levels she is looking to do are very essay type ones but her gcse choices don’t really reflect that. Would Economics rather then law at A level be a better fit? What is she looking to do post A level?

Agree totally re history- it is a very challenging gcse and teaches brilliant analytical and essay writing skills.

History would definitely be a more helpful subject to provide a grounding for a politics degree.

Far not fat!!

Being really honest (sorry) I would lose the citizenship, IT, Business and Media.

IMVHO History, Geography and MFL or PE would be fat better options.

Neither Politics nor Law careers require an A level the subject. Much better to have broader humanities A levels or Maths. To enable that you don't need both Computer Science and IT nor are likes of Media well regarded as academically rigorous , so including History or Rs(Philosophy and ethics) would be a sounder option to keep options open.

It seems like a strangeish combination to me for someone aiming for Politics & Law. She may not need history, but wouldn't the skills from history be useful?

How 'academic' is she? (As a parent I would look at those choices and think the DC might be B/C grade, slightly science leaning)

Also when you say you are trying not to influence her choices you are making sure she is properly informed aren't you?

(I'm not trying to be pejorative by the way, as my DCs are also B/C grade. But I would think Citizenship & IT & Business a strange choice for an A grade pupil)