Gcse options Drama or RS

[Mintymarvel]

My DD is choosing her GCSE options. Her school will be doing 10 GCSEs. Apart from the 6 core subjects, she's choosing German, Geography and Music. For the last option, we have to choose between Drama (Aqa) or RS (Aqa). Can someone kindly tell how demanding is gcse drama in comparison with RS? Although my daughter enjoys the performance bit, we are not sure if Drama at GCSE is a theory heavy subject, if level of commitment from other group members might be an issue which in turn will affect her scoring and if one needs to put up with after school rehearsals frequently. So we are in a dilemma if she should go in for drama or choose RS instead for optional. She clearly is not interested to do any other languages, art or computing which are the only other options available. Any inputs to help her choose between RS and Drama will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance 😊

Does she really enjoy drama? My DD loved it and loved her group, but there is a lot of performance and if you have lazy people it can affect your grade.

RS is interesting but has more about religions and less about ethics than it used to. Which one interests her more? With her other options she can just pick one she enjoys for the fourth. DD did geography, French, music and drama so very similar! Different exams tho - more theory in drama now.

Drama - influenced by others in your group, now is quite theory heavy, can be a lot of after school work. Teaches great transferable skills and fun if you like it.

RS - 'heavy' in volume to revise terms, lots of transferable writing/debating /reasoning skills. My dc loves it but if you're not genuinely interested maybe not a good choice... I would find out which religions your school studies and why they've chosen them.

Maybe worth knowing which teachers involved?

Good luck!

Thanks Clary! That's very helpful. She definitely enjoys drama and is a confident performer. But knowing DD, her interactive skills are not very strong . Also distance to commute from school to home will pose a problem if she has to be staying back frequently.

Minty I've just realised your dd is also choosing music. At my dc school this also involves staying after school sometimes so maybe find out about that also?

Thanks helpmum! Will find out. Don't mind occasional after schools. But if it's a regular timetable, then it is going to be hard.

My DD (not religious, doesn't believe in God) did RS and really enjoyed it. It was a compulsory subject at her school. I would try and find out what two(?) options they will be covering, as some may appeal to your DD more than others.
DD didn't do drama. As others have said though, I am aware of DC who chose this subject and were frustrated by others in their group not putting as much/any effort into the final performance. I have also been told that it is very difficult to get a top grade at drama, but that may just be anecdotal.

My teen is doing drama. I like that is has a heavy theory side as I feel her English igcse is lacking somewhat in content (they don't need to read any books 🙄).

I admit I heavily pushed her towards drama as well because it takes her out her comfort level. She'd have got an easy A*/9 in computer science which was her alternate. But with drama she has to work at the theory and then have fun in the practical.

I also am pleased she has joined a book club and is actually reading books too.

She is taking both history and geography so I think she has enough humanities without adding RS too.

Is your teen tempted by history at all instead?

And a high five on the German. It's the best MFL I think.

Leeds2, Thanks for your inputs. In DDs school, they will be doing Christianity and Buddhism in RS. Religions don't appeal to her although she found RS whenever they debated ethical issues. She is however okay to choose RS if that comes across as a better (easier) option.

Invisible Unicorn, thanks for your inputs. She doesn't want to take up history although she's good at it. She was clear about all choices she wanted with the exception of RS and Drama. So no room for me to persuade her really. I personally would have wanted her to choose computing,.

Work on persuading her to do something useful like computing or another language. Bribe her with a laptop or something!

I think RS gives her another essay based subject which is a good thing and balances her other options. Geography at gcse level is more shorter answers.

My son chose RS an his "last" option and really enjoys the philosophical/ethics side of things where they discuss a variety of topics such as abortion/divorce/drugs etc.

Dd took both drama and rs for GCSE. She has been annoyed by classmates on the performance side (not contributing to planning, or not learning their lines, or not being willing/able to stay late or come in on weekends). Now the performance is out of the way she is beginning to worry about the theory. She has enjoyed it immensely and plans on Theatre Studies at A Level when she hopes all those who took drama as an 'easy' option will be gone and she can get on with things.

The RS course has involved a lot of debates in class but actual assessment is all by examination. Dd has also enjoyed it but appears to regard it as 'light relief' compared to the rest of her GCSE workload, if that helps.