GCSE Options

As it happens the DofE expedition was my first experience of hiking/camping and gave me a new interest that I still enjoy as an adult. That was more valuable (to me) than getting the qualification.

Yes but none of that is needed for university and it shouldn’t be compulsory. My DDs found it pretty easy but who cares about it now? No one.

Expedition was one of the easiest bits for DS (he camped in & walked out of the Grand Canyon age 9 & we still walk few hours, often, for leisure). On DoE He got to show leadership skills in sorting out squabbles between & wibbles among the others. He had wildly more experience reading OS maps, too. He was made expedition leader coz he was only one with clue how to walk facing traffic on roads at the induction.

DD (miss Princess BossyBoots) wasn't as fit as the others so struggled a bit with expedition. Useful wakeup call for her. She was good at plotting the route.

I think DS got a lot out of the volunteering & least out of the 'skills'. But all good self-organisation activity.

Exactly. DD was a young leader at Brownies for 3 years, so she wasn't just paying lip service for her volunteering.

I'd argue that the expedition is the most valuable part of DofE - in that it's the only part that's really hard for the young people to set up themselves unless they have parents who are into hiking/camping (in which case they are doing it anyway).
Volunteering/skills/physical activity can be done as activities in their own right and don't really need the DofE umbrella.

Although it is exercise of course so a good idea for some.

But yes, the yomping and sleeping out are pointless.

Work experience can flow from DofE volunteering. That’s the point.

When DD was considering medicine (back in 2017) the admissions tutors at every subject talk we attended said that they didn't take D of E into account because a) Not all schools offer it and b) They were far more interested in the prospective student having work experience.

My view is that DofE benefits some. Medics is one group who might well benefit. They get into settings to further their application. It makes no difference to History or English applicants for example. I wouldn’t want my DC being forced to do it with the new GCSEs. I would prefer my DC to be able to choose their hobbies and interests.

How can school make DofE compulsory? They can't control what the students choose to do in their spare time!

DS will start & finish one GCSE in each of yr9 & yr10. The rest GCSEs finish in yr11. Many local schools operate like that. It''s been good for DC to be in this system.

it seems odd to be forced to choose GCSEs in yr8 if they don't even start until yr10.

(for 4 yrs running) I interviewed applicants to med school.
DoE sometimes gave kids something to talk about.
"Did you ever have to lead a group" "Did you ever have to think quickly to solve an emergency" "Did you ever feel like giving up but continued, how did you find a way to keep going" - DoE can be the event that leads to having some answers to those questions.

DoE is neither essential or important, but it's a chance to be challenged and talking about challenges you've overcome is what many interviews can be about.

11 GCSEs and D of E (that universities couldn't care less about) sounds like a recipe for an incredibly stressful two years.

Schools might think universities are interested in D of E but they aren't - they really, really aren't. I can vouch that medical schools aren't the least bit interested.

That’s a shame. DDs did it because they wanted to but I think making it compulsory is not sensible. It’s time consuming if you are in sports teams, orchestra, school play etc. Some DC benefit from it but ones that haven’t done it - no disadvantage. There should be choice.

You can do Business for A level without havin a GCSE in Business. BUT unless she really likes Geography, I would go for Business. I actually think Geography is a good subject - gives kids a better understanding of the world and there is the overlap benefit with essay writing skills she will be learning in history. BUT Geography is going to take a lot more of her time than Business. And she seems to be leaning towards Business. So it makes more sense to choose an 'easier' subject and then she'll have more time to focus on the GCSE grades she wants in the other subjects to get her into the A level programme she wants to do.

Both mine did DofE. Not sure it’s remotely worthwhile these days. Universities don’t care. Employers don’t care unless it’s work related. Neither of my DDs even put it on a cv. It paled into insignificance. Do it if DD enjoys the idea of it but there are plenty of other things she could do!

Ah, didn't realise OP's child won't do any GCSE coursework until 2023-24. yr8 DS is choosing now for GCSE course he will start in 2021 and finish in 2022.

Group work not allowed to get together as groups, not able to easily forge social bonds to make group work happen well -- this is what would worry me.

OP's DD is not taking GCSEs until 2024. If the Covid situation is still making group work impossible by then, it's highly likely that the Drama GCSE spec will be changed.

My DD is currently in Year 10 taking Drama. She's managed to devise, script and start practicing a 15 minute play script in combination with 2 other girls (one of whom seems to sleep most of the day and work in odd bursts at random times i.e. hardly a dream group) during lockdown. So, if we are still in on/off lockdown by 2024, I think the students will be pretty polished at working together virtually by then!

Also, at the risk of stereotyping, as OP's DD goes to a selective school, I suspect her group is more likely to be full of hardworking overachievers than those who thought Drama would be a doss.

My DD, years ago, had exactly this choice! She did an extra MFL and Drama. Drama was exceptional at her school and no messing about was tolerated. Back then nearly everyone got A*. DD2 did too. It’s very good for confidence and speaking in public. DD1 is a barrister.

I wouldn’t worry about Business appearing non academic. Not all subject have to be a hard nosed grind. However who takes it? What results do they get? Are Geography results better? I would choose between Geography and Business based on school results.

Group work not allowed to get together as groups, not able to easily forge social bonds to make group work happen well -- this is what would worry me.

DS wants to do catering & DT & we can't see how those will proceed well, either, if there is blended or distance learning. Catering we can probably accommodate (just about).