BTEC instead of a GCSE?

DD has been told she has to take GCSEs in:
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Philosophy & Ethics

They all have to do Healthy Active Lifestyles (aka PE) but up to them if they want to do the GCSE for it. And all have to do Aspire/PSHE.

Alongside this she's thinking of taking Spanish and History. Leaves her one more choice...and we are veering towards a heath and social care BTEC. She's bright and in amongst those 9 GCSEs think taking one BTEC is fine.

*Would people have same concerns about a health & social care btec?

At DD's school it was the less academic students who did this, and yes the classes were rather boistrous.*

The most academic girl in dd1s year did a health and social care Btec. I know lots of bright kids who took it. Maybe it’s not the same in every school, but certainly is the case in my dds that all ranges of abilities take Btecs.

My dd1 did Btec dance along side all her academic subjects, including triple science and a language. She really enjoyed having a more practical course work based subject and cane out with a distinction* which is worth 8.5 points (between a grade 8&9 gcse).

If you dd wants to do a btec then she should go for it and not worry about academic snobbery.

Dd2 y9 also having to choose this year may well choose 2 Betecs as she wants to do health and social care and PE, they do Btec PE rather than gcse at her school. I’m happy for her to do it so longs as it’s what she wants.

Would people have same concerns about a health & social care btec?

At DD's school it was the less academic students who did this, and yes the classes were rather boistrous.

If your dd is keen to do T&T please support her rather than let other parents views influence the decision.

There are 2 btec in t&t currently. The btec first is less academic but much more enjoyable. The btec tech award which has a much higher exam % and is much more boring. It does often attract the less able but your daughter could likely work at home snd get a distinction. For one chive I wouldn’t worry-but there is an exam element to both, neither are 100% coursework.

Tizer Do you know the T&T spec at level 2? I know that at level 3 getting distinctions was really quite hard and required good research and analytical skills.

In Germany the vocational schools are separate. Yes they offer a vocational education but bright DC generally would not go to them. They are more like the old technical high schools we had here but got rid of.

Germany values high quality education but you can hardly say T&T falls into that category for 14 year olds.

How disappointing to see the academic snobbery on this thread towards BTecs. My DD is in Y10 - taking 9 GCSEs (Maths, 2xEnglish, 3x Science, Spanish, Geography, PE) and Creative Media BTec. She is very academic - targetted 8/9s in all of her GCSEs and teachers have indicated she will be invited to join Oxbridge pathway if she wishes. I was nervous about Creative Media Btec (same academic snobbery) and was reassured by her teachers that universities would actually look positively on an individual who demonstrated breadth of interest. I think having a qualification which is assessed on coursework will help her demonstrate she can manage a workload over two years (rather than just be a kid who can cram for exams). She's only been doing it for half a term but she loves it and I can see that it is developing her thinking and analytical skills which is totally transferable. I'd encourage you to be open to the idea.

At DD's school it was compulsory to take what they termed a 'technical' subject, and the one she chose turned out to be a BTEC. I had a couple of calls from teachers about it possibly not being suitable as the GCSE courses in other options were considered more academically demanding, but DD wasn't to be moved.
She's in her first year at Oxford now.

DS is doing the health and social care Btec alongside 8 GCSEs. I really had to come to terms with my snobbery about it as I was very academic at school. At that age you can't really force them to do what they don't want to imo. Vocational qualifications should have a higher status in this country, like they do in Germany.

Wow some animosity to BTECs on this thread!

OP, I honestly do not think it is an issue to have a BTEC on your list.

DS2 had offers from RG unis with PE - often considered here as an easy and soft GCSE. In fact he did PE A level as well . DD meanwhile had GCSE drama on hers, again "soft" allegedly.

Unless you are planning on Oxford or Cambridge (which she may be) then even the grades of her GCSEs don't really matter. Both DS2 and DD had a couple of 6s/Bs on their list (oh no!) and as I say, offers were still forthcoming.

I would ask Teen's questions tho as I think they are directly relevant to her possible enjoyment of the lessons. 30 people who are listening is a lot better than 15 people where 10 of them are playing the fool and disrupting the lesson.

I wouldn't touch Btec with a bargepole. Especially at her age.

I don’t see the need to do a vocational course at 14. If someone is academic it looks like an easy option. Adults don’t get asked about GCSEs very often but I think if goes on UCAS. Why not do a broad range of GCSEs if you are intelligent. Kids at a grammar or independent would!

Unless she's struggling I would suggest avoiding btecs at that level, they don't have the academic rigour of the equivalent gcse. A better practical gcse would be food tec, pe, drama or music

Maths, 2 English, 2 science, 2 MFL and History is a solid academic load.

Would it matter if the 9th is T&T and a bit easier if she enjoys it and finds it interesting? It would hopefully develop a slightly different skills set (depending on syllabus and how it is taught).

DD13 is thinking the same but doing a Health & Social Care BTEC alongside her GCSEs. She's predicted pretty much all 8/9s. Would people have same concerns about a health & social care btec?

She will choose options beginning next year and am trying not to overthink it. I went to a good uni and have a great job now, but genuinely can't remember last time anyone asked me about my degree let alone my GCSEs!

A good sign it’s a bit too easy. There is a reason why grammar schools don’t offer these courses. It will make zero difference in the future whether she goes into travel and tourism
or not. There’s no jobs at the moment. Most of T&T is common sense and can be learned on the job. If she’s aiming higher and wanting management anywhere, go for economics or business studies. The skills are more transferable.

If half got distinctions last year that is a good sign I think.

GCSEs do matter for university - the grades are important, however if there is one BTEC along side the 8 GCSEs is absolutely fine.
Universities look at the GCSE grades - of course will depend upon the university and course. Many students choose one course at GCSE that is more enjoyable and that is perfectly sensible.

I'd have fewer concerns if it was e.g. a BTEC Food course, given how much theory there is in the GCSE.

Yeo what @TeenMinusTests said. Nothing wrong with a Btec as one among 8 GCSEs at all.

However, IME T and T is taken by some as an easy option and this can mean poor behaviour. Ask questions of the teachers. Would messing about by others annoy Yr dd?