What are 'good' and 'bad' GCSE options?

I would say look at what your child might want to do in the future and pick subjects that are needed for that.

On the basis that all (?) schools will insist on maths, English, science and a humanity, I suspect it's pretty hard to pick a choice of GCSE subjects that will exclude future career choices. I think it would more work the other way - if you're interested in being a fashion designer, than Textiles will probably be at the top of your list of options to choose - and if it isn't, maybe you need to rethink your career choice? (Of course there is always the chance that the school doesn't offer Textiles, or it can't be studied due to other choices, but this still doesn't rule out fashion designer as a future career choice).

I'd suggest the opposite of this! Pick subjects they actually enjoy learning as they will WANT to study and do well in them. This will lead naturally to a job they actually want to go to every day and want to do it to the best of their ability.

Picking a career/vocation and fitting the subjects in is illogical - what if they then don't enjoy those subjects? They won't enjoy the career.

OP what subjects does your DD enjoy at school?

I have a child about to go into Year 9 and pick options too. I also have an older one about to get her GCSE results.

I would say look at what your child might want to do in the future and pick subjects that are needed for that.

For example, if they want to be a fashion designer, then Textiles is more useful than Art. But if they want to be an Architect then they must have Art. And take triple science if you think they will want to do a science A-Level and Computer Science if they want to work in IT.

I'm struggling to understand why any parent would encourage their child to take subjects because they are not considered 'soft'! .

Because you're worried that all your friends will turn out to be in the “Soft” is a little pejorative but I think all the non-Ebacc subjects would fall in this bracket camp and stop inviting you to dinner parties?

(Sorry, OP, I'm sure that doesn't come into your reckoning - and one hopes that the DC equivalent doesn't come into your DD's. This is the first chance for her to have a real input into her school day / week / year - she is not other people and they are not her).

Unless the school timetabling allows for all the 'options' slots to be filled by spare EBacc subjects, perhaps one should insist that one's DC will only take the core subjects, then?

Or, one could just let them decide for themselves from the available subjects, based on what they enjoy and what they feel they can do well in? Obviously with a little guidance / reality checking (GCSE PE has two compulsory 7.30am starts a week, are you sure you can manage to be up before six twice a week, when I can barely get you out from under the duvet in time for the last possible bus, normally? That kind of thing).

@Titsend
My DD is also an aspiring medic.
Her super selective insisted that they picked one from the ‘creative’ block (Art, Music, Drama, Design Tech, PE).

She ended up doing 2 Eng, Maths, 3 Science, History, Geography, French, Latin, PE. (Only Eng Lang and PE included any coursework).

PE was not a soft option, but it was different from the others and the practical sessions helped to break up the week’s timetable.

At my DC’s school, you could take geography A level without having done GCSE, as long as you’d done history, etc. And vice versa.
One of my DC did all three A levels in subjects they had not done at GCSE.

"Maybe it would be tricky to get into an MFL A level having not done the subject but that's about it."

There's no maybe about that. Impossible to do MFL A level without the GCSE (unless a native speaker).

It's also impossible to do A level science, maths or English lit without the GCSE, but of course everyone does those. Surely geography is another A level that needed GCSE. Ditto computing. And surely art?

It is possible to do history A level without GCSE but it is also pretty unusual, because most students who were keen on it would take it for GCSE anyway. I guess the same would apply to RS.

Things that don't need specific GCSEs for A level study are subjects not usually offered at GCSE like Gov/pol, psychology, sociology, law.

We have students doing 2 language A levels at a comp. I'd say only do a language if you are going to get a top grade - the new GCSE is tough. NO Uni requires one. None.

Careers Advisor here in a secondary school... honestly, not much is off limits based on the GCSE you studied. Maybe it would be tricky to get into an MFL A level having not done the subject but that's about it. Some subjects would need you to have achieved a certain grade progress onto A level. It's more important to think about the assessment method, content, and simply, are you interested in it? I think it's also important as PP poster to think about levels of coursework, specifically in arts based subjects and maybe consider how you'll manage when studying more than one.... photography and art spring time mind. Does your daughter have an idea what she would like to do in the future?

They offered 3 MFL (French, Spanish and German) and you could choose all three if you wanted to (obviously they didn't recommend it)
I’m puzzled by this. Why is it obvious they wouldn’t recommend it? I did three languages back in my day and one of my DC did three as well.

The other point I would like to add is that you are assuming that she will have 3 options.
If you take 3 separate Sciences at GCSE i.e. Biology, Chemistry and Physics (tends to be referred to on mumsnet as Triple Science) this may take up one of her options so your dd would effectively only have 2 choices left.
Different schools have their own criteria for "triple" Science but for some all pupils in the top set for Science would be expected to take Triple.

Choice of GCSEs matters a lot less than people think. I know someone who chose music, drama and graphic design, wanting to go into performing arts, but changed their plans and went on to read Law at Oxbridge.

Two languages is not very common as an option tbh. In theory it is possible at my DCs' school (with one taken ab initio at yr 10) but in practice basically no one does this.

My old school where I taught was trying to encourage dual linguists by teaching the second language to a small group in yr 9 but not many took both for GCSE - maybe 3-4 a year max.

There are a couple of secondary schools in my city where two languages are taught at KS3 to the more able students (they start with French and then pick up German or Spanish in yr 8) so then they can continue with two to GCSE.

Basically it varies from school to school. But timetabling considerations and the increasing focus on fewer GCSEs makes it less likely sadly. It's not unusual for students to take only 9 GCSEs, or 8 if not doing triple science. That doesn't leave much choice once you have the five/six key ones, MFL and humanity.

I think the main message is until you school announces how they are doing options for your child's year, you can't assume that any specific combination will be possible.
Things change year on year due to staffing, the way the wind is blowing with league tables, year group interests etc.

TeenPlusTwenties
Whereas at my current school only one is available and one is the norm in my area. Some schools don't offer any or only offer languages to top set/stream.

If medicine is the goal, options don’t really count. The key subjects are the compulsory ones.

With any broad and balanced curriculum, a humanity, a foreign language. I would recommend RS for medicine as it addresses ethics.

My mum told me to choose a language, a humanity and one that was just for 'fun'. So French, history and drama. Triple science was mandatory along with English, maths, sports and a bunch of other things.

I ended up down the English route anyway so it didn't matter but the history helped in the future and the French is a useful skill. Drama meant I'm a confident public speaker.

The only ones I wouldn't suggest would be media studies (I work in media and have never needed it). But it depends on their career aspirations.

Fair enough if two languages are more common than I thought, but it still has to fit into that particular school's timetable model. I work in an outstanding academy and we don't offer two languages at GCSE. My main point stands that you don't just get free choice of any subject combination.

Not sure where that 4* came from instead of 4.

A friend of my DS did French, German and Russian (and maybe also Spanish, I'm not sure) at a comprehensive which wasn't a language specialist school and later went to Cambridge A in 4 language A levels.

Three sciences, three languages, compulsory three, then music + history. Left all doors open for A levels.