GCSE options hell

[Unusualusernames]

Please don't flame me but AIBU to let my 13 year old daughter choose her own options even though they might limit her.

She's academic but also really good at PE. She says she wants to chose PE, media studies, geography and french.

My mum's a retired careers adviser and says media studies is useless but I know my daughter would find it really fun.

At 14 my mum basically imposed her choices on me and I ended up choosing subjects I wasn't necessarily great at.

75% of me thinks it's better to let her just do whatever she wants, even if PE and media studies aren't highly regarded. Then 25% of me feels bad for not being one of these tiger mums who ensures her child is a success academically. I'd feel bad if it meant it really limited her university choices (if she wants to go to uni , I wouldn't force her)

Please help

She should do what she wants. At GCSE level it's much easier if you actually enjoy the subject, rather than doing it because you feel you should. And it doesnt really limit you - many courses at university don't require you to have a GCSE in the subject, just english and maths. Most subjects at university dont even have a GCSE equivalent so unless she has a specific career path in mind like medicine then she might as well just do what she enjoys.

I think she should do what she wants. There's always chance in the future to gain extra qualifications if she finds she needs them. Ive always thought it is so odd that we expect teenagers to plan their entire life out and choose career related subjects. I had no clue what I wanted to do at that age.

Definetly let her choose subjects that she will enjoy.

I would let her choose the subjects she's good at. She'll be doing English and maths, is science compulsory? How many GCSEs will she be doing in total?

She's doing a language and a humanity so thats good.

I was academic but did GCSE PE, we got to choose two options at my school (top sets had to do a language, RE, and a technology) and almost all my friends chose 1 humanity and one 'fun subject' (PE, art, music etc)

Maybe see if you can compromise and let her do one but not both?

But even if she ends up doing both it shouldn't be the end of the world - I still got into a good uni even with my fairly pointless gcse in textiles (not that textiles is pointless, more I think it was not great making a technology subject compulsary even if we had no interest in it)

Media studies is useless. Couldn't she join a sports club rather than waste a choice on PE? Is PE even a subject????
Does an academic girl want to spend hours marking time with the kids who are too thick to be doing anything else? (Her academic friends won't be taking PE, for sure!)
One lightweight subject perhaps, but two - out of only four - would be ridiculous.

Hi OP. I think you're doing the right thing, in gently guiding her but ultimately allowing her to choose. It's her life, and she stands more chance of doing well if she actually enjoys her subjects. And one or two should be done for pleasure. Academia isn't the be all and end all; PE will be a great de-stressor, and will perhaps encourage a life-long interest in sports, which can only be a good thing. She will also develop other skills, such as teamwork. And at the end of the day, a qualification is a qualification. Unless she plans to study something super specific at uni, it really doesn't matter too much.

It never occurred to me to stop my kids choosing what they want?

The new GCSE PE is a lot more academic than it used to be, with a fair bit of science involved. I know of several 'academic' children who do PE.

I would probably let her choose, tbh. She'll still have to do English, maths, sciences, she's choosing a language and another humanities subject. You could maybe say only one of PE and media, but honestly, she still has plenty of good academic options at A-level on the basis of those choices. It's not limiting her much.

There loads of discussion re options on the Secondary board.

Actually that looks like a good range.

Geography and French give her the 'EBacc'
PE has a lot of science these days and is good for fitness and 'mental health'.
Media Studies could be quite interesting, though I don't know much about it.

Make sure you and she understand what PE and Media actually cover and require. As long as she understands, I'd go for it.

I’d encourage her to pick either PE or media studies personally. I say this as someone who did theirs 10 years ago this year with no kids though! My parents let me pick but I was academic and went for the humanities subjects.

When my daughter chose hers we suggested she picked subjects she enjoyed, they have to do English, math, language, humanties and science. So the remaining 2 she chose photography which she loves, and cookery as she enjoys that.” There has to be something worth going to school for “ was her opinion!!

One lightweight subject perhaps, but two - out of only four - would be ridiculous.

But she won't be doing two our of four. It'll be two out of nine or ten.

And as pps have said, PE isn't all that lightweight, these days.

I allowed mine to do one son one and I would say that PA might be that one. Mind you if it’s GCSE it’s supposed to be quite hard

Mine chose, it’s them that have to sit the exams so if they enjoy the subject then hopefully it relieves the stress a little. I had mine chose for me and it’s really controlling.

FUN one

If you like to do the one she wants to do then if they go wrong you can just blame her especially if she’s bitching about having to revise

PE isn't easy. It's a lot of theory and biology.

Media is a fun option, let her do something she really enjoys.

She's chosen a humanity and a language. Perfect.

Media studies is actually really challenging and SHOULD be chosen by able children. It's also a good complement to English and teaches excellent critical thinking skills.

PE is also really difficult, both the practical side and the theory (which is 60%, I think?)

The only reason you should say no to either of the above is if it limits her A level choices (eg, she might want to do a second language at A level or history and school won't allow the A level without the GCSE) OR if she's aiming for a TOP uni and you think she'll have a better chance of better grades in different subjects.

Otherwise, no issues at all.

Let her choose. Those options will not limit her future choices in any way.

Media studies is useless. Couldn't she join a sports club rather than waste a choice on PE? Is PE even a subject????

Maybe dial down the strong opinions? Also, and apologies for blowing your mind here’s, you can do a degree in PE.

Her choices are excellent. In my school, she would be considered to be on the 'Academic Pathway' as she is doing the EBacc- So her core plus Geography and French. Media is a great option. PE is too - but 70% of the assessment is through an Exam or NEA which means being academic will be beneficial.

Let her do what she wants. It really won't make any difference in the long run. I did similar GCSEs and a levels and went to a good uni and have had a decent career. She'll only resent you and potentially not work that hard if she has to do subject she doesn't want to.

My son is very academic and he does PE. The majority of his GCSE PE lessons are actually theory and contain mainly science like subjects. He does triple science as one of his other subjects so pe theory + triple science + standard lessons mean his days are mainly filled with science. He also does history and Spanish so he has a lot of work bless him