Is DandT considered to be a soft subject for Uni

[newtothis15]

My DC is tinking to drop either History or DandT at GCSE. I think she loves History as more inytellectual, but at the same time content heavy subjects makes her discouraged and she is now saying to drop History and to go with DamdT

I am trying to encourage her to do the analysis before making the decision.

Shall I let her know that DandT considred to be a soft subject in case she would like to go to good Uni etc

I think you should find out whether she’ll be allowed to drop a GCSE subject. It isn’t a given, because there will be a gap in the timetable. What will she do and where will she go during the time she would have had those lessons.

What does she want to study at university? Why does she want to go? What does she intend to study at A level?

No D&T is a good subject. Don’t discourage her. Can’t she do history and D&T though if she likes both?

More future jobs using d&t skills than knowledge of the past? I'd be d&t all the way.

DT is a great subject. The world needs more engineers- not so many academics.

My DS did DT or design engineering A level. He's in his 3rd year of a DE degree now and loving it. It's a very useful subject and not considered soft at all.

One of my DD’s mates is in her first year of medical school, D&T is one of her 3 A levels. I really don’t think it matters what your GCSE choices are, as long as you have good grades for sciences, maths, English. I know plenty of children who have gone to very high achieving universities having done ‘softer’ subjects. What does she want to do for A level?

History isn't just about knowledge of the past. Humanities graduates are in demand in lots of areas (finance and law for eg) because the skills are very transferable.

You can go to a good Uni with either History or D&T. I am not sure she can choose to drop history in favour of D&T at GCSE level though. My DC’s secondary only let them drop a modern foreign language (French) to add D&T to take along withComputer Science, Geography and Further Maths. They had to take History or Geography. They are at a top 10 Uni doing a MEng.

My other DC is doing a Masters in History rn, and went to a top 10 Uni too.

It all depends on what they are interested in studying.

There are no soft subjects at gcse. There are no subjects at gcse that universities frown on.

Children should be encouraged to do what they enjoy and will thrive in.

DT isn't a soft subject.
To tell her that will get her into all sorts of issues when she comes to do the NEA and exam.

Unfortunately too many people believe that DT is just hitting stuff with a hammer.

D&T teacher here.

Great to know that D&T is a soft-touch at GCSE.

Will let my Year 11's know on first day back on the 6th Jan. (I am sure the one's who got Grade 2 in their Mocks will find it particularly motivating!)

This is not what matters for whether subjects are valued for university though isn't it?
Although I don't see how GSCEs matter much anyway as the child will be doing lots of different subjects...

Shall I let her know that DandT considred to be a soft subject in case she would like to go to good Uni etc

Of course not, because it isn't true

What other gcses?
What expected A levels?

No one will really care anyway.

What does she want to do at uni and what are her other GCSE’s?

But nobody has actually agreed that it is a soft subject 🤔

I would have thought if they got grade 2 in their mocks it's not the subject for them? Whatever the subject..

Yes... I would agree. But someone's mum told them it would be easy.

Just read this post thread again. Bit confused.

Is the kid in Year 10 or Year 11?

Dt has a lot of coursework, if your DC enjoys working on projects and coursework then I think it's a great option as you can walk into the final exams with a fair amount of the final grade in the bag. However if they are a last minute type kid then it will be stressful, I say this with a kid who has had to really pull socks up and has had a lot of cajoling to get his DT coursework done !

can you check what is on the history curriculum?

In what way is D&T a soft option? The world is crying out for people who understand materials, have practical hand skills and a problem-solving mindset...

This thread reads as tho the DC is in year 9 and choosing GCSEs. But @newtothis15‘s other thread suggests the dc is already in year 11 and thinking of dropping a GCSE. Can you clarify OP? Might make it easier to advise.

Im Year 11

To do engineering you need physics and maths. Not DT