What options

[Paddy1234]

Just some ideas really
My 16 year old son gets his GCSE results soon. He went in blind to his mocks and did very well and should get level 9's in his A level subjects of Maths, physics and chemistry as that is what he achieved in mocks.
However when I say he hasn't got a clue what he wants to do, he really doesn't.
He knows he wants to go to university but no idea of subject.
He is your typical under the radar boy, gamer loads of sports ability with none of the inclination.
He slowly coming out but has no idea what to do.
He has never been on the schools radar as particularly bright until last year or so as is so lazy and the quality of homework that he submits is frankly shocking. He gets under the radar as he is in top sets and generally everyone works really hard and they think he does too.
Just a few ideas really ❤️

is he planning on going to 6th form (are you looking for ideas of what he could study at uni etc)

It sounds as if he should be studying science subjects at A level and maybe computing. You need to discuss with your son and the school

Yes he has already chosen his a level subjects of the three I mentioned - but everything of those subjects leans towards engineering and I just don't see him as that.

He's good at IT and should get an 8 but hadn't expressed an interest of taking it further at all.

Why should it lead to engineering?

Why not

• actuary
• accountant
• meteorologist
• chemist
• radio astronomy
• electronics
• 5G -> 6G -> 7G technology

Go with the flow until Easter, see how he gets on.

I can't see why you think they'd lead to engineering particularly. They're the same A levels I did and I've never been remotely interested in engineering.

He's got plenty of time to decide and things might become clearer once he starts studying those subjects in more depth. If he remains unsure about what career he wants to pursue though I always think a pure science degree is a good option (although admittedly I'm biased having done a physics degree).

FWIW, I'm a medical physicist - lots of jobs for scientists in the nhs!

Lots of possible future degree and career options with Maths, Physics and Chemistry A levels OP.
Are you in England? I thought GCSE/A level IT had been phased out a few years ago.

Hi - yes we are in England - his school are def doing IT GCSE but it only came on board a couple of years ago.
Thank you for the advice - I think we will see how he gets on with A levels as they are such a big jump up.

He doesn’t need to know what he wants to do. With those a levels he could do all kinds of subjects at uni, but would probably be best advised to stick to a ‘pure’ subject if he isn’t sure about a future career. What you choose doesn’t define your career, with the exception of a few ‘vocational’ subjects, and even then there’s a huge range of careers in those.

That's odd OP my dd wanted to take IT GCSE but had to do a level 2 equivalent since the GCSE wasn't available see the link [https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-scrap-gcse-and-a-level-ict-qualifications/].
There is still an iGCSE IT but these would only be available in independent schools.
IT isn't particularly highly regarded as an A level subject. You can still study Computer Science/IT at university without it if you have A level Maths and Physics.

@catndogslife

That's odd OP my dd wanted to take IT GCSE but had to do a level 2 equivalent since the GCSE wasn't available see the link [https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-scrap-gcse-and-a-level-ict-qualifications/]. There is still an iGCSE IT but these would only be available in independent schools. IT isn't particularly highly regarded as an A level subject. You can still study Computer Science/IT at university without it if you have A level Maths and Physics.

My school (ordinary state comprehensive) offer a GCSE in Computer Science.

Yes Computer Science is available as a GCSE but it's not the same as IT (or ICT). The reason the IT GCSE was discontinued was so that pupils would do Computer Science instead!
Some of the level 2 qualifications such as iMedia or Cambridge cert or Edexcel (Pearson) e.g. CIDA/DIDA offer GCSE style grades but are only level 2 GCSE equivalents.
dd took one of those equivalents as she didn't meet the school's requirements for Computer Science (specific Maths grades needed at end of Y9). However this wouldn't apply to the OPs son as he is taking A level Maths.
I would suggest the OPs son compares degrees in Physics, Maths and Chemistry and see which he prefers/which ones have the better future career options. Joint honours degrees may also be possible.

There's also natural sciences degrees if he'd like to do a combination and has the academic ability.

My sister liked similar subjects (maybe less Maths but into Biology too). She went into medical research for a few years and is now studying to become a doctor.