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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GCSE Options

38 replies

Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 14:09

Hello- need some advice re GCSE options.
My DC is in year 9 and needs to choose the options. DC has so far chosen as his options : History, Geography, Economics and Classics. He is also doing triple science as part of the core.
So my question is - he does not want to do any languages - is that o or does he have to choose a language to broaden his chances at uni/job etc
Thanks

OP posts:
PhukOph · 13/03/2023 14:50

Spanish is compulsory at my daughters school. Are none of then compulsory?

KnickerlessParsons · 13/03/2023 14:54

What advice as the school given him?

Original poster
Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 14:56

Apparently language is not compulsory. For a while he said he would choose Spanish but now it is a definite no. The 'head' of Options has said that his choices seems well balanced so either Media or classics would be a good choice but the cannot tell him what to choose . He has done pretty well in his exams so the language teachers said he could pick a language and he should be fine.

OP posts:
Jenn3112 · 13/03/2023 14:56

Languages are useful but not so much if you are only taking it to GCSE. Let him choose what he wants.

Thatwastheweekthatwasnt · 13/03/2023 14:59

Let him choose something for 'fun' that he enjoys

Barleymilk · 13/03/2023 15:00

My son is in year 10 and decided he didn't want to carry on with a language for GCSE's last year.

PhukOph · 13/03/2023 15:02

I'd let him do what he wants. He will get the best out of it if it's something he picked.

neitherofthem · 13/03/2023 15:08

My dd didn't do a language for her GCSE's, it isn't essential. Just let him decide, he's far more likely to do well if it is something he's chosen. Has he started to think about which A levels he might want to take, and does he have a career in mind? That would be the only deciding factors for a change of plan really.

milkysmum · 13/03/2023 15:09

My daughter is in year 9. She is choosing history, geography and food tech. She doesn't want to do a language and I wouldn't want her to study a subject she isn't interested in. The only compulsory subjects are English, Maths, Science and RE.

Lordofmyflies · 13/03/2023 15:11

Let him do what he's good at and likes. Unless he wants to do a language at A level, no languages at GCSE isn't going to be a problem.

Original poster
Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 15:20

Thanks everyone for your input. Yes we are letting him choose, I just wanted to do some personal research on whether not doing a language would impact his choices later on, but am glad to hear so many examples of people not doing a language. (I naively thought a language is essential).

OP posts:
Original poster
Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 15:22

@milkysmum is your daughter only choosing 3 options? We have to choose at least 4. He will be taking 10 GCSEs it seems (4 options, maths, english, RE and triple science)

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 13/03/2023 15:22

I think a language is only essential if he intends to do a language at A level or beyond. Useful, maybe, but definitely not essential.

TeaAndBrie · 13/03/2023 15:33

modern languages aren’t compulsory any more. They were when I was at school. Unless he is likely to want to pursue something where language would be useful then in terms of universities it shouldn’t make a difference.
he is more likely to thrive with subjects that he has an interest in.
my DD was only disappointed that she didn’t do a language when she realised she would miss out on the trips abroad!

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 13/03/2023 15:34

I think the only thing to bear in mind is that if your DC wants to study Classics at uni then a language maybe useful. I would have a look at few uni entry requirements as normally they will have Latin or Greek as a compulsory module. Classical Civilisation can often have modules too.

My DD did do a language but she really didn't enjoy it and was by far her lowest grade so as long as it doesn't rule anything out at uni I would say do subjects you enjoy.

Original poster
Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 15:44

Does anyone know whether he would need a language if he wanted to be a pilot instead of the broader Aerospace and Aeronautics. ...he's interested in these 2 but leaning more towards pilot.

OP posts:
mimbleandlittlemy · 13/03/2023 15:49

English is the international language for pilots so he would need good grades in that at GCSE but doesn't need a foreign language.

Sandysandwich · 13/03/2023 15:52

Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 15:44

Does anyone know whether he would need a language if he wanted to be a pilot instead of the broader Aerospace and Aeronautics. ...he's interested in these 2 but leaning more towards pilot.

Its helpful to have skills in another language if he would want to work for an overseas airline- but a GCSE in a language wont help him much.

Nothing above A level will even look at his GCSEs as long as he passes enough of them and has his maths and physics

zingally · 13/03/2023 16:19

GCSEs are fairly irrelevant out of the core subjects. Future employers will only care that he's got his maths and english.

Zola1 · 13/03/2023 16:22

I did a language to GCSE, and got a U in French which really has been neither here nor there as an adult. I've a first class BA and a good job.. no one has ever asked me to speak French since I left year 11.

Chickenly · 13/03/2023 16:25

I’m business proficient in three languages. I started the two non-native at university and initio. If DC has made sensible and varied choices that give lots of options and enjoyment then I really wouldn’t force a language at expense of anything else. Languages are important skills - so are other subjects. Unfortunately, something has to give.

(I used to be a teacher)

Chickenly · 13/03/2023 16:25

That should say “ab initio”, not “and”

milkysmum · 13/03/2023 18:12

Yes they choose 3 options, plus English, Maths, Science ( double award unless in set 1 and then it's triple, my daughter is in set 2), and RE. So 8 GCSEs in total. Which is the norm is all the schools locally.

3littlebeans · 13/03/2023 18:17

The number of GCSEs taken is interesting. I started a thread recently and there's many schools where 10 or even 11 are normal in their area!

9 or 10 if triple is norm here.

Maray1967 · 13/03/2023 18:20

Amisillyornot · 13/03/2023 15:22

@milkysmum is your daughter only choosing 3 options? We have to choose at least 4. He will be taking 10 GCSEs it seems (4 options, maths, english, RE and triple science)

He’ll be taking 11 as English means two separate ones.
Some unis used to require a C in a language - but not many. I insisted both of mine did one as we value it and they were good at it (German).

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