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Original poster

Year 9 Options question

61 replies

BaconAndAvocado · 28/03/2021 10:26

DS2 is in the process of choosing his options for GCSE.

He’s narrowed it down to Computing, Business and History and needs to choose 2 out of the 3. Finding it hard to choose.

Being 14, he doesn’t know what he wants to do. He’s a bright boy, at a Grammar school.

I think he’ll definitely go for Computing as he thinks he can get a high grade in it and has built his own computer so already has an interest here.

It’s History and Business that are causing the problem.
He enjoys History and the GCSE curriculum covers periods that he says he’s interested in.
Equally he thinks he might go for Business but more because it’s a vocational qualification.

I’m hoping any decisions he makes now won’t limit him in the future!
And because of Covid we haven’t had the usual input from his school e.g. Options Evening.

There’s a virtual Parents Evening on Tuesday but as he hasn’t studied Business (or Computing for that matter) there won’t be a subject teacher to talk to.

In my mind, I’m thinking History is a more academic subject and that he could possibly learn about running a business in the future without needing to do a GCSE in it.

OP posts:
clary · 28/03/2021 19:01

@ittakes2

It depends on what he wants to do for A levels. History or Geography are looked highly upon due to the writing skills needed and you do need a History GCSE to do History A level. But you don't need a business GCSE to do a business A level. It depends on how academic he is or how he feels about history. History would be more work than business.
That's not quite true - it's not unheard of for someone to take history A level without the GCSE - it's not a linear subject so if you could show you had the skills (for example in Eng lit or RE) it might be OK.

I do take the view tho that if someone had a sufficient passion for history to take A level, they would most likely do the GCSE as well! But certainly some schools do not require it.

ittakes2 · 28/03/2021 17:03

It depends on what he wants to do for A levels. History or Geography are looked highly upon due to the writing skills needed and you do need a History GCSE to do History A level. But you don't need a business GCSE to do a business A level. It depends on how academic he is or how he feels about history. History would be more work than business.

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 28/03/2021 16:52

Silkies yes, he’s top set Maths so I think Computing will suit him.

If he gets picked to do Triple Science, which he probably will, he’ll be studying for 10 GCSEs so the point about the content/workload of History is a salient one.

I’ll find out about the A level angle too.

Thanks all Smile

OP posts:
alwayslearning789 · 28/03/2021 14:34

If he is academic, History will hold him in good stead for the future.

The wide knowledge base, as well as the ability to assimilate and sort large amounts of information will be very useful in other subjects at GCSE and when he goes on to A Level.

Having said that, it will be much less of a workload if he does GCSE Business, so suggest you also look at the mix of other subjects he is taking for his GCSE's.

Silkies · 28/03/2021 14:15

Computing sounds like an obvious one to take assuming he's good at maths as well which would presume he is and good teaching - lots of shortages of computing teachers in state schools (we had 3 in one year, two of which knew very little computing but now have a good one). Both mine are taking computing - very male dominated at our school, DD is one of only two girls taking.

With History / Business, Business at our school is quite a practical subject and the grades aren't great but you probably won't have that issue at a grammar. Maybe worth looking if your 6th form requires history GCSE for history A level, ours doesn't. Both mine have done History though I don't think it makes a great deal of difference either way. History is quite a lot of writing and content.

mayneedabiscuit · 28/03/2021 13:30

I would look at the schools historical results and are there people you can ask about the teachers? Maybe your son may know this.
Obv if history has high exam results and the best teachers in the area and opposite for business then that could help sway the decision.

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 28/03/2021 13:19

Yes, I agree.

He doesn’t want to talk about it, thinks we’re hounding him!

We’ll both see his History teacher on Tuesday then make a final decision.

It can’t make that much of a huge difference as I honestly can’t remember what DS1 chose and he graduated last year!

OP posts:
clary · 28/03/2021 10:56

History sounds like a good shout then. If you know the board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) you can look up the spec on line for more detail. Here's AQA business [[https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/gcse/business-8132/specification-at-a-glance business ]]

Original poster
BaconAndAvocado · 28/03/2021 10:51

Thanks clary

He said the GCSE curriculum looks very engaging,Vietnam war, WW2.
When I quizzed him about his current History lessons and how he finds them, he said he enjoys them and often asks questions. Equally, at home he’ll ask me and DH questions about History and enjoys discussions around them.

I’ve got the spec on all the subjects, just an A4 sheet at most.

I guess, as parents, we’ve got different views on education.
I studied History of Art at Uni and enjoyed being taught how to analyse and discuss information which I presume History would do too. I’d like our children to go to University to broaden their horizons, socially as well as educationally.
DH runs his own business and has a totally vocational degree so I guess the humanities aren’t as important to him.

I know our views shouldn’t come into it but of course they do even ina subtle way.

OP posts:
clary · 28/03/2021 10:39

What I meant by that history comment was, anyone who was keen enough on history to want to do A level would not be hesitating over the GCSE anyway - so I presume he is not thinking of that post 16.

clary · 28/03/2021 10:38

He doesn't need business to run a business. Can you email the business teacher to get more information about the course? Or look up the spec online (check which board). For history, find out which topics they study as that may make a difference - will he find medicine though time or the rise of Nazism engaging?

Surprised he hasn't studied computing at KS3 but just asked ds2 who took it at GCSE and he says he didn't lean much at ks3 that was needed for GCSE. He wouldn't recommend it tho, he found it dull (and he's a mathematician!).

Rest assured, any decision now won't limit him in the future - business GCSE is not even always required fir business a level as not all schools offer it. And I imagine if history A level were an option for him he would do GCSE anyway - tho again, I know people who have done the A level without GCSE - it's modular, not linear like MFL for example.

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