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Original poster

Please critique these GCSE option choices

39 replies

PeacewithinLily · 09/11/2022 08:16

Recently had options evening at school. Dd is thinking of:
Geography, Art, Creative media ( btech) and psychology.

Not sure about creative media..is too much coursework with art?

Is it too artsy overall?

Thanks for any replies

OP posts:
PickySlackTastic · 09/11/2022 09:15

Why do you want to keep some breadth? I was delighted when my daughter got to year 10 and could focus on subjects she enjoyed and was good at.

Original poster
PeacewithinLily · 09/11/2022 09:11

Oh and has to do either history or geography but could do both

OP posts:
Original poster
PeacewithinLily · 09/11/2022 09:08

So she has to do eng lang, eng lit, maths, science ( combined or single decided later on)

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 09/11/2022 09:06

We also need to know what she'll be doing in addition to her options - what's compulsory for her? This varies from school to school (and within schools eg Trilogy Science or Combined)

sheepdogdelight · 09/11/2022 09:04

To pick up on your previous post - DD was also recommended to do 2 hours each week for art. I'd say that averaged out, that's probably roughly what she did although she worked a lot more in fits and starts (so none out side of school some weeks and 8 hours other weeks). (She got a 9). You also need to consider what type of art she wants to specialise in - DD specialised in fine art and textiles, and did a lot of sewing whilst listening to music/sort-of watching TV at home. If your DC wants specialist equipment and needs the school art room, she would have to be more disciplined about regular time.

A lot of the GCSE Art mark is also about the portfolio - that's well worth being disciplined and keeping on top of in a consistent way. DD did most of hers over the Easter holidays, which was a cause of a lot of stress (for me, as I was worried she wasn't revising other subjects).

sheepdogdelight · 09/11/2022 08:59

I take it Dance isn't an option?

My DD took Art and Drama so 2 coursework heavy courses. There is a lot of coursework in Art and Creative media, but if you can keep on top of it, it should be manageable. I think the BTECH is also more structured that the GCSE so hopefully it will be less "last minute panic to complete portfolio!"

Original poster
PeacewithinLily · 09/11/2022 08:58

SomePosters · 09/11/2022 08:46

You need to step back and let you daughter make her life choices

it will be good practice for when you don’t have a choice

Thanks for your helpful input. Ultimately its her choice and she knows that. However wishing to guide her and discuss it with her is not a bad thing.

OP posts:
SomePosters · 09/11/2022 08:46

You need to step back and let you daughter make her life choices

it will be good practice for when you don’t have a choice

nobird · 09/11/2022 08:42

If she’s happy with her choices that’s all that matters.

Original poster
PeacewithinLily · 09/11/2022 08:37

Dd wants to be a dance teacher, but we want to try and keep some breadth...I think she would enjoy both and they work well together, but does it narrow it down too much and is it too much..the art teacher said 2 hours outside school a week...but I suspect it would be more than that

OP posts:
MrsMontyD · 09/11/2022 08:26

MrsPnut · 09/11/2022 08:23

It depends on how much your child loves creating. Mine did GCSE Art and Photography so we were in the "is this too much coursework?" camp but she loved being in the art department. She ended up with 9's for both subjects and is doing A level art now.

I agree, DD loves art and creative subjects and enjoyed being in the art room after school, and does a lot of drawing and painting in the evenings anyway, so it took a lot of time but she enjoyed it. She went into do it at A'Level and now College.

MrsPnut · 09/11/2022 08:23

It depends on how much your child loves creating. Mine did GCSE Art and Photography so we were in the "is this too much coursework?" camp but she loved being in the art department. She ended up with 9's for both subjects and is doing A level art now.

MrsMontyD · 09/11/2022 08:23

Does she know else she wants to do next?

I don't know about creative media but dd found that the coursework heaviness of art and design sort of balanced out by the lack of an exam that needs revision.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 09/11/2022 08:20

Art GCSE is very Labour intensive and a lot of work outside school. If the Creative media is the same then your DD may struggle with lack of time. What do the school and her teachers say?

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