To steer DS away from doing GCSE Child Development?

[dson2]

DS wants to do GCSE Child Development.

WIBU to steer him away from this?

I think it sounds a really balanced programme. There's academic subjects in there and some creative and "interest" subjects too. Surely A level access is based mainly on that subject so a language is only of use (in that sense) if you want to do an A level language. If you plan to do sciences then a triple or double science with say maths and English and decent passes in miscellaneous other subjects to show good general education would be accepted? I may be wrong but my experiences of college recruitment are this. Agreed that outside the basics, GCSEs aren't that big a deal in accessing HE, it's what you did post 16 that counts. I'd say a motivated teen getting a good grade in their own choice of subject is better than one who has been railroaded into a "sensible" choice that's not for them.

Progress 8 is not nonsense; this is what schools will NOW be judged on.

Yes, it's UCL which requires a modern foreign language. Also employers in the higher paid jobs will look at GCSE grades. No one needs to agree with me that having 9 core traditional GCSE is a helpful thing on a CV but I am really hoping that teachers advising the brighter children in state schools are not misleading pupils. It never does much harm to go on a website like say that of Westminster School, St Paul's etc and look at what GCSEs are offered and required to be sat by pupils and then if you have a brighter child direct them towards those ones.

I used to teach this , why not if he has the normal range of other subjects, maths, Eng, sciences, a humanity etc.If he is interested in science it includes a lot of human biology.Universities only need 5 GCSE's anyway and if it can up his overall grades and he is keen it won't prevent him doing anything else.

It is however not compulsory for a child to take 8 GCSEs.

Progress 8 can firce children into subjects that have a) no bearing on future plans
b) they have no interest in
c) they are at risk of doing badly in to the detriment of other subjects.

It also removes choice if school insists on triple science and English Lit not being option but compulsory. This has happened to DD2 who has dyslexia with memory issues yet was told she HAD to take 8 subjects the school chose and 1 option of being Art, Drama or Music.
School insisted she was 'too clever to have dyslexia' despite having been assessed as being so.
It wasn't until we made alternative arrangements we found this was untrue and she could have studied 4 or 5 instead.
As DD2 wants to study Art she would have to study 9 subjects, which she could not cope with.
Luckily local college has accepted her on GCSE course of 4 subjects which has eased her anxiety about it and have already guaranteed her onto the art course she wants to go on to.

Schools are now starting GCSEs over THREE years not two. Pushing them into 'choosing' earlier and earlier.

I did gcse child development and then science a levels. It was interesting and certainly did me no harm

Although in my school child development was in the creative block so I did it instead of art or music - I would agree that a language would be better if he is doing art as well

It sounds like a lame option aimed at the non academic students.

Wow I'm surprised at people dismissing this subject so freely! Admittedly anything childcare related was my passion at that age but I took it and absolutely loved it...was a brilliant GCSE and was hard work but really interesting. Lots of practical (placements, projects etc) but also written stuff too. I went on to do a degree in early Childhood studies and forge a career out of it...this subject fed my interest. I would recommend it if he is interested in a job that involves working with children in some capacity...

Every kid can afford to have one 'leftfield' gcse choice. If he is keen to study child development then let him - he's more likely to do well in a subject he enjoys.

Curious12 I would still wager that it is likely dependent on department, or on the individual department admissions officer reading your application, rather than on a university-wide policy.

Right plymouth the fountain of all knowledge and wisdom.

Just coming at it from a different direction... if he wants to do sciences, why is he doing English Literature? It will completely kill any love he may have developed for reading? The curriculum is shocking... and what about the art? Surely that is a soft option? In fact, you do realise that none of his GCSEs are going to make a bit of difference going forward unless he is looking at OxBridge or medicine...
For full disclosure, I am a Science teacher - tell him to do whatever he wants, get the best grades he can and support him all the way! Courses are rarely what you or they think they are. Oh, and it's definitely not a soft option!

There are incredibly different views on the thread. I am sure that is a good thing so the poster can form their own views but it must be confusing for teenagers.

IPreferCatsToPeople - it shouldn't kill his love for reading if his literature teacher is any good.

My son is choosing GCSE options at the moment too. He would not be able to take the options your DS has chosen, a MFL and 2 humanities are required, as well as maths, English, science and a practical subject. He has extremely limited options. Because of this, if he wanted to do child development I would be quite happy, as he already has to do baccalaureate subjects. It is so much easier for parents when schools do this, no arguments are needed.

Curious12 Congratulations on your course offers. And so pleased it all worked out for your DD.

With regards to Progress 8, I agree that it is BS for a lot of students (not all) but in your earlier post, you said schools were lying if they said to their students picking options, that they have to pick 8 BUT schools are not lying when they say in their schools, students have to follow it.

They have to if they want to keep their standing in the league tables. Of course, students don't have to pass the EBACC either but if it is school policy to do so, as encouraged pushed by the govt. then the school isn't lying. It has always been the case as long as I can remember that schools have been judged on the 5 GCSE passes but that never stopped schools from telling their students to take more.

With regards to your application, that has been your experience and whilst perfectly valid and helpful for others to know, you may well have chosen a course that is not heavily oversubscribed or you are just plain fantastic!

I can give anecdotes stating I have had students accepted onto courses with lower grades than those advertised, which was great, due to not many students applying for the course and they want to fill spaces otherwise the course won't run and equally, I have had a student who hadn't sent off their application by December for a popular course (even though the final deadline is January) and told the course grades had increased from 2 As and a B to 3 As (which they weren't predicted for) as they had too many students applying. And don't get me started on the students who have been rejected as 'UCAS' have already offered all of their spaces, way before the Jan deadline on particular courses.

What I am trying to say is that it may well do someone a disservice to infer that no one needs to bother with their Personal Statements or grades or applications in general. Some may well have to, so why risk it?

I'd let him do it. I think he'll be fine if he's doing triple science. If he does well in that he'll be allowed to do what he wants at a level.

Unless you want to do something heavy like medicine at Uni or something I don't think it really matters what GCSES you do.

It's a bit of a wasted subject. I'm not sure if your objection is due to his intelligence or his gender. If he's not a straight A student who wants to be a nurse or work in childcare then it's a good subject. Otherwise, I'd suggest he do something with better value.

I did this at GCSE 18 years ago. I got an E grade. It was awful and made worse by having a bad teacher.

I got B's in English, Maths and Science, so I wasn't stupid, but this was a crap pointless GCSE that I only did because I changed schools in year 10 and had to go where there was space!

I would discourage any of mine to do it. I think sociology would be more useful for a career in childcare.

Think learning childcare is brilliant. Let's face it he's far more likely to use that information in his life than 90% of the other things I learnt at school!!!

GCSE subjects don't count for that much, and if he's interested he'll get good grades which is the bit that does count! Don't worry, let him do his thing!

Not enough boys studying childcare if you ask me!!

Child development!!! Sorry

Iprefercats - if he wants to do sciences, why is he doing English Literature? It will completely kill any love he may have developed for reading?

A bit OT... Because its mandatory at his school, as it was at DDs. But, oh yes, she absolutely have agreed with you. She could not see the point of it at all. She used to enjoy seeing Shakespeare plays with us before she had to study Romeo and Juliet and 'love and relationship' poetry (unlucky choice).