Computer Science GCSE

Both can lead to lucrative careers if you’re thinking of her future in terms of getting a well paid job. I have a good friend that did geography and then at Uni narrowed focus to geology. Went all the way to PhD. He currently works by travelling round the world to survey mining sites for rare minerals and metals. His salary is over €200k/yr (he’s been doing it 25yrs and is one of top 3 experts in world). He started out of course around €36k/yr.

I have a DC doing IGCSE computer science, can’t remember which board.
I wouldn’t advise if you are not a natural at coding, even if bright and able. The exam itself is roughly equally split between coding and theory. There is no text book for coding, you have to get it (or not !) and you have to do it yourself. The ones who are brilliant at coding tend to do a lot in their own time, to quote the teacher it is like playing a musical instrument, you need to practice every day.
They will only be in a steady place if they actually enjoy it. Good luck !

My thinking about standing her in good stead is around having a basic understanding of coding/IT as she progresses through life.

Any knowledge is, of course, great. Knowledge of coding/IT is not more so than any other type of knowledge. If she studied geography she'd gain equally valuable (just different) knowledge that would also stand her in good stead in life.

My son is doing both Geography and Computing GCSE. So think she could do both if she wanted to.

Your DD should choose the subject she’ll most enjoy.

Not having a computer science GCSE or even A level wouldn’t stop her getting a place on a computer science degree (should she decide to go down that route), the entry requirements are a high maths grade.

Do what she enjoys
Coding can be learnt anytime, if she's strong at maths it will be ok
She doesn't need computing at gsce to do it at university so she is not limiting her options

Unless she has a keen desire to go into a Computer Science related career, it is far more important that she does a subject that she enjoys. Doing a subject because your parents want you to, is not a good reason. A grade in Computer Science will not be considered more favourably than one in Geography, so she should do the subject she thinks she will do better in.

My DS studied both at GCSE. I'll describe his experience of OCR Computer Science, but I imagine other exam boards are similar.

There is not actually that much coding in the CS GCSE. The main coding element is a 20 hour controlled assessment, but many of DS's classmates finished it in less than 10. The CA doesn't count towards your GCSE mark; you just have to complete it. The ones that were generally interested in coding were doing most of this outside of class. A large proportion of DS's class were students who weren't that interested but thought it would be a doss. They found it hard. The students who were genuinely interested found it not particularly hard. Unless your daughter is interested in going into a CS job (in which case doing well in Maths and picking up the CS elements as she goes along is an equally valid way of getting there) I can't see that CS gives you any more valuable knowledge for the future than geography.

My advice would be to back off and let your daughter make her own choice.

Computer science is a very good subject if she enjoys it but so is Geography. Can you explain what you mean by CS holding her in good stead for the future? If she decides to go on and study CS at uni, she doesn’t need a GCSE nor an A’level in CS to do it plus the knowledge she will gain in the GCSE will not be sufficient for her to get a job in programming.