Baccalaureate and GCSE options

[lou4791]

My son is in year 9 and choosing his GCSE options at the moment. He is finding it difficult to choose his final option, and is deciding between history, geography or triple science. He is able in and enjoys all three. Does anyone know if the English Baccalaureate will be awarded as early as 2013, for the kids choosing their options now? If so, would history/ geography be the better choice? He is also taking English language, English literature, Maths, French, Design technology (compulsory), Double science, Art and Design and RE(compulsory). Any thoughts welcome.

I don't have the answer to this but am interested to know as DS will be in a very similar situation next year. He will do compulsory subjects of 2 x Maths, 2 x English, MFL (will choose French), IT, RE and 3 x Science. That only leaves him with 2 options to pick.

He wants to do Latin and Art but I spoke to the Head of year about his History (his weakest subject) and she seemed to be saying that if he didn't do History at GCSE he would have to do Geography instead. The school hasn't insisted on this in previous years, but they got just over 80% in the English Bacc tables and I assume they are going to want to improve on that.

It is difficult because it means getting into the position your son is in and having to possibly drop triple Science or be in my son's position and do no practical subjects within school time. I really wish that IT and RE were not compulsory.

I think that worrying about the EBacc is putting the cart before the horse. You should want a solid, rounded education for your DC. If they have this then they will get the EBacc as a consequential side-effect.

So schools will be pushing Hist/Geog for their league table reasons but a parent, if their DC is capable, should be willing to go along with it (i.e. adding a Humanity to the list) for their DC's education's sake.

Triple science is not necessary. It is perfectly possible to do science A Levels from double science GCSE.

I don't think that the EBacc is an actual piece of paper that they get awarded, is it? Isn't it only a theoretical concept?

I also wouldn't worry about changing options due to the EBacc, however I would be cautious as schools will be changing curriculum and advice as most were decimated with the new performance figures.
The most important thing (if the student gets a free choice) is that they are taking the right GCSE's for them i.e. that it suits their aptitudes and also that the GCSE's suit their future plans (some Universities will tell you what GCSE's they prefer and some A level courses require certain GCSE's at a defined grade)
Lou4791 - I think if the school hasn't asked your son to choose a particular subject then let him go for what he wants, rather than what the government measures
Purits - the Ebacc isn't a piece of paper yet and only gets awarded to the school when the league tables are brought out - however I suspect this will change