Subjects no longer taught at school

[adviceatthislatestage]

On the back of the what O Levels did you do, thread, it got me thinking of subjects that were available when I was at school, but aren't any more:

When choosing options you could do, at our south London bog standard comprehensive

British constitution
Government and Politics
Needlework - very different to the Textiles kids would do now
Typing- only the girls
Metal work- only the boys
Motor vehicle maintenance - again boys
Technical Drawing - think this was a mixed class
Home Economics- much more than the Food Tech kids do now though. I remember we had our own studio flat, between the two HE rooms. For end of year exams, students would have to cook a 3 course meal and serve to a number of teachers in the 'fiat' as if having a dinner party.

What subjects did you study, or remember that aren't being taught any more?

just seen this is a “zombie thread” found it whilst searching for something else
oh well 🤷🏽‍♀️

I took Office Practice in 1985 as one of my options and hated it. I couldn't type (since diagnosed with Dyspraxia) It did include word processing, which was 'new' and I also took computer studies too, so at least I didn't feel too marginalised as a girl. I do remember kicking up a stink at the time about 'institutionalised sexism''

However, by 6th form I was doing technical drawing and GCSE Dance (first cohort to do so) We were also taught to drive onsite by our metalwork teacher who also ran a mechanics course.

I wanted to be a journalist and still have my careers advisors slip saying "maybe think of something more mundane like office or shop work"

I put so many different things down for work experience and got nothing. Most girls got used as hair washers in salons. My best friend came back from a week in a salon with her hands bleeding as she had severe excema.

I think the late 80's were a bit of a turning point. My DD will pick her options later this year. A lot has changed, but a lot hasn't either.

Tech drawing. Only boys and only "clever" boys who were destined for the offices in the steelworks. Our head told us that the boys were all destined for the steelworks and the girls either married to said boys or working at Bonds knicker factory.