in thinking that DD will get nowhere with these GCSE options...

[PosyPanther]

DD is 13, so, in my opinion still a child, she changes her mind about pretty much everything daily, school shoes, whose her best friend, her favourite colour, you get the picture...

She has just had the first leaflet from school about GCSE option next year and want to pick health and social care (double award)human health and physiology instead of additional science, child development, psychology and sociology. She says she wants to do social work or primary teaching (or win the X factor )

I think she's mad. She's in the top set at school, level 5 across the board at primary school and is working at solid level 7s now. I would much prefer her to take at least two science GCSEs, history and geography instead of psych and sociology and a language with one choice left for whatever she fancies (but I'd prefer a second language or triple science.)

I can't see that having History, geography, french, german, separate science would disadvantage her in applying for ANY degree/career pathway? How do I convince her that some subjects actually are better than others? Her teachers are insisting all GCSEs are equal but I can't see that sociology is as hard as German or Physics? I'm worried she's going to close doors at 13...

Actually, I think Snowy will be OK (though second the suggestion to look outside state sector for employment opportunities, in the current climate).

She's obviously motivated & working hard to do something she's passionate about. Bloody good luck to her.

Albertcamus's BTEC Business Studies, though.

'Well, obviously you've done quite well to get these A-grade A Levels in Physics, Chemistry, Latin & Bastard Hard Maths. We'd really prefer you to have Level 3 BTEC Business Studies, though.'

I think it's the 'Level 3' bit. I keep imagining trainee wizards collecting gold coins & dead orcs in order to progress through the levels...

'bastard hard maths'

I think there should be a campaign to change it officially from Further Maths to Bastard Hard Maths.

ravenAK I confess it was the Level 3 bit which made me curl my lip in a very unattractive manner.

The irony is it might take a lot of work and skill and possible dead orc collecting - but no one in the big bad bill paying world has a bloody clue what it means.

Level 1 Btec

How do you spell business?

(a) bizniz
(b) business
(c) bysnys
(d) busyness

What is meant by 'profit'

(a) an advatageous sum left over at the end of a business transaction
(b) a bearded man from the bible
(c) a type of woolly overcoat worn by Cyrpriots
(d) a dish in which one bakes plums

Definitely. MrQ did regular A level maths, and also A Level Pure and Applied Maths, which I think is the same as Further?

Do not think so. I did Pure and Applied Maths A-level but was not good enough to do the Further Maths A-level extra classes and different exams. DH did though - that why he has one more A-level than me .

Well, if it's anything like Level 2 BTEC WorkSkills (which to my shame my Head makes me teach bits of), then it's a sort of McGCSE...

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8560468.stm

Snort - McGCSE. Just, why?! I don't get it. Surely if people are struggling with the basic essential subjects - maths, english, etc - then we should be finding ways to solve that, not creating new qualifications which employers won't value as much, no matter what the government claims they are equivalent to.

LeQueen
He informs me that 'None of it was hard.'

Smug git.

I have one of those too- can not organise his way out of paper bag though.

Must go back to the "you might become a journalist" point.

What I meant was "You might [heavily loaded with irony] become a journalist" - you might, but you probably won't, but it doesn't mean you never could be.

Whereas with a Forensic Wotnot degree you will never, ever become a Forensic Scientist.

gramercy
What I meant was "You might [heavily loaded with irony] become a journalist" - you might, but you probably won't, but it doesn't mean you never could be.

Friend DH grew up with got into journalism with no degree at all and poor G.C.S.E grades - got on a local paper apprenticeship and slowly moved up - bloody hard work and a personality that fitted.

That's what I'm trying to say. Journalism degree/Oxbridge English degree/3 GCSEs/50 GCSEs - you can still get there if you have the determination (probably less so than in the past, but that's another subject...)

But - you ain't going to be no head of the BMA with your Health &Social Care and PE A Levels.

I assume that to become a forensic scientist, you'd need a pure science degree, followed by specialising with a MSc?

Only person I knew who went on to this career - had a chemistry degree and MSC specialism in forensics. I do not think there are that many job opportunities though - though that is based on what she said over a decade ago so may now be wrong.

"Which qualifications do I need to become a forensic scientist?
To become an assistant forensic scientist you will need four GCSEs grades A-C which must include English and either maths or a science as well as an A-level in a scientific subject (biology or chemistry). You would receive on-the-job training, but would be expected to demonstrate a knowledge of biology or chemistry techniques and practices. To progress or to apply to become a forensic scientist you will need a scientific degree at 2.2 or above.

A Masters degree is not necessarily a requirement, however some shortlisting will require qualification assessment due to the volume of applications received. It may also prove useful to gain laboratory experience where possible as this may help your application in the shortlisting phase."

From the Forensic Science Service website.

DS wants to do some sort of forensics, he has been watching too much House and CSI but thankfully he should be able to get the right qualifications if he applies himself.

Chemistry is essential for forensic science. One of the DDs had to do a careers-in-science project on forensic science and found out all sorts of interesting facts; apparently demand is increasing because of increased use of biometric security screening and better acceptance of DNA as evidence in the courts. There are also opportunities in the insurance field. The one forensic scientist I know (went to school with her so she's ooooold now) worked in fire investigation for insurance companies (at least she did until we sadly lost touch).

For dietitian, an honors degree in a life science like human physiology or biochemistry is needed if you aim for accreditation by the Health Professionals Council.

The British Dietetics Association and Health Professions Council have a list of accredited courses. Presumably there are other courses that they do not recognise.

DH fancied a job as a forensic scientist until he realised the starting salary in 1990 was £6k, I bet it's only doubled at best.

From Forensic Science website:

"Is it better to specialise in one subject rather than just forensic science as a degree?
The majority of work carried out by the FSS is biology or chemistry based and with this in mind you may prefer to take that route. However, we would not discriminate against an applicant that had a forensic science degree, so ultimately the choice of degree subject is down to individual choice. The FSS, would, however expect degree level applicants to have knowledge and experience of the processes that are used in biology and chemistry related procedures."

Perhaps I have to stand corrected, and you can get there with a Forensic Science degree . But I think it says it all when it states "We would not discriminate against an applicant that had a forensic science degree". In other words, it's hardly an asset.

But I think it says it all when it states "We would not discriminate against an applicant that had a forensic science degree". In other words, it's hardly an asset.

Probably depends on which course you do - how they rate it and what it contains. They may have worked with some Unis to improve the content of forensic science degree courses.

That is not a ringing endorsement of the forensic science degree route. It is clearly the second best option.