How important is achieving the English Baccalaureate?

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Specifically for MFL. If a child isn't predicted to get great results in their MFL subject and doesn't enjoy it, is it better for them to choose a subject they are likely to do better at? Do universities demand MFL/English Baccalaureate? DD is interested in doing English, History and either Geography/Sociology/RE at A-Level and beyond. Is this a good combination?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3501804-Does-EBacc-mean-anything

I have 2 dd's at University. One in a 'Russell Group'.
Neither have been disadvantaged by not taking Ebacc.
My 3rd dd is just taking her options and I will not be forcing her to take Ebacc and the school doesn't either.
It is best to choose subjects they do well in and are motivated to learn.

Ebacc means nothing except a shool
League Table entry. My son is doing 2 MFL but won’t get the Ebacc because he preferred to do music and computer science to history or geography. I am very happy that he has focused on what interests him. No university cares about it and the one university that liked people to have an MFL GCSE, UCL, offers another pathway to people without it. We refused to consider schools that made Ebacc compulsory.

For your A level choices I think it would be good to include something that includes some quantitative work to get some balance into an otherwise chatty essay set of choices. Geography seems to me to be the best choice.

My dd is also at a Russell Group uni. Her school didn't offer it. She has only ever done 9 months of a language in her life.

It all depends whether you think the purpose of an education is to meet the entrance targets for particular universities, or whether you think that having a broad, all round education is a goal in itself.

No, not having the ebacc will most likely not actively disadvantage your child if you are looking just from the POV of university entrance.

However, IMO a child without a language, or without science, or without a humanity has a gap in their general education in life.

That said, it depends what you mean by "isn't predicted to get great results". If you mean they have zero ability and aptitude in the subject and will likely entirely fail, I think it could be argued that its pointless taking it. If you mean they will gain "only" a 5/6, as opposed to a likely 7+ in other subjects, I'd say it was worth taking for breadth of general knowledge. But that's just my view.

No it’s not important for Univerairy entrance.

But a rounded education is good. And I would question why a NT university bound child couldn’t get a good mark at a GCSE MFL. They are not particularly demanding.

Interestingly enough I'm writing a paper on this. MFLs are very important. It's a shame they aren't mandatory from a younger age.

Big thread already running with same title, Furrycushion has linked to it, I suggest you go over there and have a look