GCSE Choices - Computer Science and?

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 2025-07-11T11:07:29+00:00

I have a little IT nerd at home. Now finishing Y7 but time flies fast! Obviously, he will be taking Computer Science as optional subject. If you have a similar child, what were his/hers choices? What did the select for EBaccs?

Jellyjellyonaplate · 16/07/2025 08:51

I guess what will be difficult to decide is whether by doing CS gcse he is so bored by it that he resents it.

Are there other options he might want to do at gcse apart from Cs? I realise it's very early to think about it!

Cs a level seems like people don't say it's boring who are IT nerds. My sister did maths and computing at uni and she'd done maths, psychology and CS a levels (not further maths). She didn't do computing gcse.

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 18:22

TheNightingalesStarling · 11/07/2025 16:54

Hence why comparison is pointless... no two schools are the same. A good school will push the children to achieve their potential regardless of their set number.

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You are right. The school at the end of the road has in top set the kids that were rather average at the primary. Overall level is low

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TheNightingalesStarling · 11/07/2025 16:54

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:51

Well, it is a Catholic school in top 100 UK state schools when it comes to results at GCSE and A Level, which means there are many grammar schools with entry exams that score worse. They study Further Maths in top sets

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Hence why comparison is pointless... no two schools are the same. A good school will push the children to achieve their potential regardless of their set number.

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:51

TheNightingalesStarling · 11/07/2025 16:47

Theres no point comparing sets between schools... your set 2 could be top half of set 1 at another school or Set 3 at a different one.

Well, it is a Catholic school in top 100 UK state schools when it comes to results at GCSE and A Level, which means there are many grammar schools with entry exams that score worse. They study Further Maths in top sets

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clary · 11/07/2025 16:50

Michele09 · 11/07/2025 16:24

Just being totally ignorant but what's the difference between IT and CS. Purely asking out of interest @clary

IT was a very dull GCSE that my mate used to teach and hated it, all about how to make a PPt in Microsoft.

CS is an actual science and involves programming and a lot more. Put it this way, I could pass IT GCSE but not CS haha.

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:48

Michele09 · 11/07/2025 16:24

Just being totally ignorant but what's the difference between IT and CS. Purely asking out of interest @clary

I used the generic word IT in references to studying IT subjects at Uni hence confusion. There is a whole range of choices. At a secondary school level and A level is only Computer Science

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TheNightingalesStarling · 11/07/2025 16:47

Theres no point comparing sets between schools... your set 2 could be top half of set 1 at another school or Set 3 at a different one.

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:37

titchy · 11/07/2025 16:30

Unis don’t need Computer Science A level - they do want Maths though. So I’d advise not doing anything computing wise, just let him do what interests him. Do focus on his Maths though - try and get him into set 1 before he starts GCSEs.

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His interest is CS... He is also good at two foreign languages.

Yes he is tutored twice a week in maths. He is in second top set out of 9- they allocated them basing on SAT scores

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Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:35

clary · 11/07/2025 16:23

Sorry @SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn you have mentioned GCSE and A level more than once - these are qualifications. And you’ve talked about IT studies - I just wanted to clarify for you that there are not really any GCSE or A level qualifications in IT as such in England.

Oh I understand what you mean now. Yes, what I mean by IT is studying IT subjects ( Robotics, AI, computer science, Cybernetics etc) at a Uni level.
For GCSE and A level he can do CS

And I was asking what else the people who were going this pathe have taken

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titchy · 11/07/2025 16:30

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:52

Well, if I child wants to study IT subject he has to take Comp Sci at A levels. How otherwise he would be accepted to uni studying IT subjects?

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Unis don’t need Computer Science A level - they do want Maths though. So I’d advise not doing anything computing wise, just let him do what interests him. Do focus on his Maths though - try and get him into set 1 before he starts GCSEs.

Michele09 · 11/07/2025 16:24

Just being totally ignorant but what's the difference between IT and CS. Purely asking out of interest @clary

clary · 11/07/2025 16:23

Sorry @SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn you have mentioned GCSE and A level more than once - these are qualifications. And you’ve talked about IT studies - I just wanted to clarify for you that there are not really any GCSE or A level qualifications in IT as such in England.

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:22

elliejjtiny · 11/07/2025 15:17

Dc1 did computer science, creative imedia, art and music, then music performance and production at college, then music performance and song writing at university
Dc2 did computer science, geography, design technology, music and further maths, then maths, computer something and music production at college
Dc3 is doing art, drama and history.

No idea what my dc4 in year 7 will do (thought that was normal!) He is very good at science and he likes music.

They offer Media Studies at our school but it is more advertising than using Apps and softwares. My child is Inam afraid not bery creative type

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Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 16:19

clary · 11/07/2025 15:31

Yes I know that – my DS took GCSE CS!

What there is not any more is a GCSE nor an A level in IT – pretty much not any more anyway. It’s just that you have mentioned IT qualifications, so I didn't want you or your DS to think that that was still something that existed (it did until about 10 years ago).

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Sorry clary, where did I mention qualifications? If so that would be in a different context Can we even talk about any qualifications at GCSE or A level?

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clary · 11/07/2025 15:31

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 15:19

There is Computer Science subject at GCSE. There is also DT the OCR part with CAD programming.

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Yes I know that – my DS took GCSE CS!

What there is not any more is a GCSE nor an A level in IT – pretty much not any more anyway. It’s just that you have mentioned IT qualifications, so I didn't want you or your DS to think that that was still something that existed (it did until about 10 years ago).

lanthanum · 11/07/2025 15:29

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:52

Well, if I child wants to study IT subject he has to take Comp Sci at A levels. How otherwise he would be accepted to uni studying IT subjects?

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Quite a lot of IT and computer science degrees will take people who haven't done computer science. They are more likely to require maths.

That doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to do computer science. It may give them a better idea of exactly what sort of IT/CS they want to do in their degree, which might affect where they apply to uni. It may make some aspects of the degree course easier.

Some students won't have done CS A-level, perhaps because it wasn't being offered at their school/college, or because of concerns about the teaching of it (CS teachers are hard to recruit), or because they've done so much coding outside school they think it will be boring, or because they only decide partway through sixth form that that's what they want to study.

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 15:19

clary · 11/07/2025 13:18

No IT quals now really at GCSE or A level. As I said, best A level choices for CS are maths, FM and CS. A fourth is often required by schools with FM but that could be whatever interests the student. Maths and FM most important and obvs maths is compulsory at GCSE so that's all good. Just let him pick what he enjoys fir the few choices he will have at GCSE.

ETA yes FM is a separate GCSE but not all schools offer it. If it's there tjo it can only be a good one to take if interested in maths and CS.

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There is Computer Science subject at GCSE. There is also DT the OCR part with CAD programming.

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elliejjtiny · 11/07/2025 15:17

Dc1 did computer science, creative imedia, art and music, then music performance and production at college, then music performance and song writing at university
Dc2 did computer science, geography, design technology, music and further maths, then maths, computer something and music production at college
Dc3 is doing art, drama and history.

No idea what my dc4 in year 7 will do (thought that was normal!) He is very good at science and he likes music.

clary · 11/07/2025 15:14

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:52

Well, if I child wants to study IT subject he has to take Comp Sci at A levels. How otherwise he would be accepted to uni studying IT subjects?

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No need for CS a level to study CS at uni, as I and others have said. By all means take it but maths and FM much more important.

DongDingBell · 11/07/2025 14:59

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:52

Well, if I child wants to study IT subject he has to take Comp Sci at A levels. How otherwise he would be accepted to uni studying IT subjects?

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Maths, FM and physics ALevel, with an EPQ demonstrating his programming skills.
Look up the uni entry requirements. Comp sci not essential for many courses.

Or, A level without the gcse (not our route)

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:58

Caramelty · 11/07/2025 14:12

Also check if your school does Bebras challenges - would be good to ask them for that stretch if not.

Thank you. Very useful info

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TheNightingalesStarling · 11/07/2025 14:58

You don't need gcse computer science to do it at higher levels.
On the other hand, a subject he can do in his sleep means more time to concentrate on subjects he struggles with!

Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:54

Caramelty · 11/07/2025 14:11

Computer science, triple science, business studies, art and design!

it’s nice to have a non-academic subject even if you’re not great at it.

At Alevels, did Maths, further maths, physics and CS. Then maths at uni, followed by a Masters in computer programming. Now works as a software engineering consultant on mega-bucks.

The school stuff was almost a sideshow: was never off the computer throughout schooling, designed games, learned languages, wrote code from the age of 11.
Becomes a great hobby and a lucrative career if you’re good!

Yes, my 12 years old is writing a script in Phyton in 5 min whereas his class is working all hour on the same project by using building blocks in Phyton. Of course he is bored

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Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:52

Caramelty · 11/07/2025 14:11

Computer science, triple science, business studies, art and design!

it’s nice to have a non-academic subject even if you’re not great at it.

At Alevels, did Maths, further maths, physics and CS. Then maths at uni, followed by a Masters in computer programming. Now works as a software engineering consultant on mega-bucks.

The school stuff was almost a sideshow: was never off the computer throughout schooling, designed games, learned languages, wrote code from the age of 11.
Becomes a great hobby and a lucrative career if you’re good!

He will have two languages. He is bilingual + French

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Original poster

SometimesYouWinSometimesYouLearn · 11/07/2025 14:52

DongDingBell · 11/07/2025 14:05

If your child is a competent programmer, GCSE comp sci can be very dull. DS1 loved it at KS3, but has come to despise it at GCSE - and won't be talking it at A level next year.

Well, if I child wants to study IT subject he has to take Comp Sci at A levels. How otherwise he would be accepted to uni studying IT subjects?

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