Geography or Computer Science GCSE?

ZOMBIE THREAD. I am sure the OP's child has chosen by now.

To give a different view, Ds is very able at Maths but really struggled with Computer Science for some reason (he possibly would have got a D at best if it wasn’t for CAGs. It’s not necessary to have done it to do Computer Science at uni. Most schools around here like them to do History or Geography to be able to claim the Ebacc

I did Geography GCSE and A-Level, went on to do a Geology degree and ended up working in IT. never did IT at school. So either would probably end up being fine but if he is mathematical and logical then computing would probably be an easier option for him as certainly in my day geography was quite a "wordy" essay subject.

can't comment on languages as I was rubbish at them.

Languages keep options open because you can use them to add to other subjects when applying for a degree. Many universities are struggling to get good MFL applicants. Therefore if you apply for say, History and French, you might be more likely to get an offer from a competitive History course. In employment terms, if DS changes his mind about programming, MFLs can be a benefit in all sorts of jobs. One of DDs friends did Mechanical Engineering with a year at a Grand Ecole in France which is hugely prestigious. Languages do open doors and certainly allow students to have a wider appreciation and understanding of other countries.

Lara53, snap!

What does your DC want to do after?

Mine is thinking engineering, but then may want to swap computing for further maths. To be decided when he gets his grades ....

My DS has just finished the Computing GCSE course and and has really enjoyed it. He’s opting for it at A level along with Maths and physics

With regards previous grades, just knowing the grades doesn't give a true picture as you won't know the ability of those students.

We have a lot of students who really worked hard for grades 1/2/3 and we were super proud of them. We also suffer from students who shouldn't have opted for CS as they were under the impression it would be playing about on a PC every lesson (much like a lot of students who opt for GCSE PE) as we allowed complete free chouce with no intervention.

This year, we have gone back to 'interviewing' every student. Basically we are going through their option subjects selection to ensure everyone is very clear as to the requirements of each course/specification - we are not 'weeding out' but ensuring that all students are clear that if they have chosen CS it is 100% exam but there is also the 20 hour project that whilst isn't assessed towards their final grade has to be completed and it's not just playing about with python every lesson.
Same for all subjects, e.g. that PE is very science based and it doesn't mean they are just playing sport every lesson

check the schools previous grades.

It's hard to get good IT GCSE teachers, in our school no child got an A or A* in IT (computing) last year, and only one managed to get an A for A-level.

It can be hard subject to get a high grade in.

Saying that, one of my DC chose computing over geography anyway, as he loves it (and hates Geography) but it can be wise to do some research and look at grades.

And yes, there are girls in his class

I would let him pick the one he enjoys the most, talk through with him what is on the curriculum for both and get him to pick the one he wants to study.

hooray that is simply a way then of foreign businesses taking advantage of the British. Evidence has shown that better and more transparent business is done when both parties are able to converse in the language 'native' to the business... as I sadi upthread, a recent study ahs shown we would put ourselves at a better advanatge in business of more Brits spoke German. There is nothing to say OP's DS might not want to do an MFL degree and, any road up, he is not choosing between two languages and Comp Sci.

Computer science is , of course, valuable (not everything is about value , mind!) but it is routinely badly taught in schools so I would imagine much needs to be retaught or even, untaught! OP has said her DS's favourite subject is French. A competent linguist computer scientist would be a fantastic asset.
A LOT of politics is done in French.

OP, call me cynical, but I am suspicious about the interviewing bit. It might work out well for your DS, mind, as it sounds like they are trying to weed out students who opt for Comp Sci for all the wrong reasons. But, if they interview for all subjects , fair enough. We stopped doing interviews at my school because of a) workload but also b) notorious interviewer bias dependent on subject specialism!

Languages are great, if they gets fluent then it opens up so many doors to work abroad. I work for a global company in tech and if I was fluent in another language I could easily work in that country on one of the contracts. The contracts are sold to our customers as either in native language or English so those with multiple languages can work on native language contracts too and get more diverse work. It's the really kicker for me that I suck at MFLs. But of course fluency doesn't come from GCSE, they can pick this up outside.

Computer Science vs Geography, don't know GCSE syllabus but I do know it's not a compulsory a level for degree level. I went to a top level RG uni for comp sci with out any experience in the subject. It's not listed as a necessary (only desirable as it makes the students life a bit easier). So go with what will get him the best grade as ultimately gcse are only tick boxes, no one really looks into the subjects.

BubblesBuddy what options does taking 2 languages keep open? Other than the option to continue them into A-Levels and then a degree in those languages, I really don't see many options being made available from doing languages at GCSE. Computer Science is far more valuable and computer language is a far more relevant subject. Pretty much all business and politics is done in English anyway.

I’m delighted he’s doing two languages. So few DC do this and this keeps lots of options open.

Piggy

Sorry I put the wrong name that was for the poster who's daughter isn't a mathsy child.

Why are they interviewing them crow ?

I'm not quite understanding why that was for me sassh but jolly good!

If you have a logical brain CS is good because it is very logical.

Programming is a mixture of art and science, any one doing CS GCSE should be able to program, but only a few will create elegant programming solutions.

Piggywaspushed

I did A Level Computer Science i the early 1980s, 2/3 of the class, me included, were also doing A Level Art.

Both and one language!

DS has 4 girls in his GCSE class of 24. From what DS says the girls are all doing pretty well though and a fair proportion of the boys (read everyone bar DS and about 5 others) chose it thinking it would be a doss subject.

It may be too late to say this but Comp Sci is a subject with high recruitment problems : our Comp Sci teachers are usually not very good/ qualified, and there is a high turnover. Geogrpahy is much more stable. It might be worth digging to see how stable the Comp Sci dept is at your school.

Imo the single most important requirement for computer programmers is excellent mathemtaical ability.

All that said, my DS took geography and was disappointed by its very physical content. He preferred human geography, so that's also worth thinking about.

let us know if there are any girls in his computing class.

DD did GCSE Computer Science last year. She was at an all girls school - think there were 6 in her class.
She's now doing A Level at a mixed state school and she was a little concerned she might be the only girl in a class full of very techy-type boys. However, there are 3 girls in her A Level class and the rest boys. There is a second class too - think that has a couple of girls in, though not sure.

It's actually her favourite A Level subject currently and where she has met most of her closest friends.

DD isn't a maths and science type. She's always been more artsy really. She had a tutor for Maths as she always found it hard, though with the tutor she managed to get a 7 in the end. She was often worried about being borderline in Science though in the end did get 5/6 with lots of revision.

Despite this she has always loved Computer Science and she is very very good at the coding side by all accounts. Though does none in her spare time as a hobby or anything. She was very annoyed at that part of the course no longer counting - she'd finished with pretty much full marks! Fortunately it does count at A Level. She never sees the subject as being Maths based - clearly it is, but she just seems to not link them too much so her "I can't do Maths" thoughts don't come into play and she does well regardless.

Its not an easy option but DD says its really interesting and definitely with doing. It was one of her favourite subjects at GCSE, along with Drama.