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Original poster

Computer science GCSE

31 replies

CinnamonStar · 23/10/2022 12:28

Anyone’s DC do/did computer science GCSE and can offer insights?

Dd’s school starts GCSE option process in November, and their computing teacher gave them a bit of a “sales talk” last lesson about them all considering computer science gcse or IT BTEC.
He took dd and a few other girls aside afterwards and said not many girls take the gcse, so he wanted to tell them he thinks they in particular would be really good at it and really enjoy it, etc.

Dd came home all inspired but also unsure.

She enjoys computing, and is very good at maths too, but I wouldn’t say she is passionate about them.
Is it enough to have a good aptitude and be hard-working, or is this a subject more akin to art, PE, music etc where really it needs to be your hobby outside school too?
Is everyone else going to be designing apps or building their own robots in their spare time?
And if you’re not really into that sort of thing, does that mean this isn’t the wisest choice?

OP posts:
WhichWitchIsTheWitch · 23/10/2022 17:00

DD did it and loved it, now doing the A level with her 2 best female friends. Plenty of girls doing it at her school. Does depend on the teacher- our school has two with computer science degrees themselves. The GCSE course is a bit of a dumbed down version of the A level so can be annoying for the brighter students who want to cover the topics in more depth but can’t until A level.

sproutsandparsnips · 23/10/2022 16:57

DS is doing CS GCSE, there are no girls in the class at all!
He seems to enjoy it but has always been interested in computers etc. As far as I'm aware he does no programming etc at home but has just finished his assessed project in school. He is predicted, and is hopeful of achieving an A*. He still has a written paper and on screen exam, I would assume some revision will be required for this. If the teacher thinks DD will be suited to it I'm sure she will but I would say she would need some interest in it to enjoy it.

Original poster
CinnamonStar · 23/10/2022 16:05

Thank you for your insights, that is really helpful.

I would prefer she did something she really enjoyed, not sure if this is it. I was also concerned it might be boring, but computer teacher apparently emphasised how creative it is, all about solving puzzles.

She doesn’t have a career in mind yet.

If she doesn’t do Computer sci, she’ll probably either do French, or triple science - both of which she enjoys and is good at.

She has already pretty much decided to do history, Spanish and media studies for her other options.

It feels like a bit of a crossroads for deciding to go for a more equal balance of science and humanities, vs going more heavily on the humanities side, but I suppose it doesn’t really rule anything out at this stage.

OP posts:
clary · 23/10/2022 15:30

Ds2 took CS, liked it at first but then that faded. There was a bit I a kerfuffle over the coursework. In the end he got a 6 and was one mark off a 7 - I asked did he want to get it reviewed but he said he had feared a 5 so the 6 was fine 🙂

He doesn't do loads of programming outside school but some did. There was one girl in the class which is a bit 😞. If your dd is keen then great. Don't do ICT Btec tho, so so dull (mate used to teach it and hated it).

RedWingBoots · 23/10/2022 14:40

As someone who works in technology doing a technical role, if your DD isn't interested in the subject then don't push her into doing the subject.

As long as she has a good foundation in Maths if she is interested in a technical career there are routes in later.

MeanderingStar · 23/10/2022 14:24

My DC sounds very similar to yours, but now in Y11. Interested, capable, good at maths but not passionate in CS. They have found it a straight-forward, lowish time commitment but really rather boring GCSE. They have got good grades, but have been utterly put off taking it at A Level because they find it quite dull.
There are a couple of children in the class who are really keen and do a lot out of school - however, they don't get top marks because what they are interested in doesn't seem to mesh with the GCSE requirements.

Would mine choose it again? Probably not, but it hasn't been a disaster and it has balanced out Art in terms of time commitment.