Will these A-Levels be respected

[appol]

Neither my partner nor I are from the UK, we aren't very familiar with the British system and are feeling some what confused.
DSD is 15 turning 16, she's just done her GCSEs, I don't know how indicative of future success predicted grades are but she was predicted all 8 and 9.
For A-levels her school have everyone pick 4, from October onwards they can drop one if they like or continue.

DSD has selected

• Classical Civilisation
• English Literature
• History of Art
• Latin

Today I mentioned to someone I work with in conversation what she has chosen and she said that it screams "private school" and looks a bit soft. I'm not really sure what to make of that. She went on to say History or Philosophy will be better as they are real subjects and actually respected?

Is this true? Are DSDs subjects seen as soft?
She wants to do English & Classics at St Andrews as a joint honours, but will likely apply to Cambridge too - will this be detrimental.

What does "screams private school" really mean - she does go to private school but is it seen as a bad thing?

There's nothing "soft" about any of them but they are very niche.

I'd say History instead of History of Art. History is very well respected. Classics or Latin, not both. An MFL might be an option?

Is there a reason for classics or Latin not both - those are her favourite subjects.
We've been advised she doesn't need a MFL as her first language is French (we are Belgian) and she has the DELF Junior up to B2 1 but she is completely fluent both in spoken and written French and to an academic level.

I think the private school ref comes from Latin, class civ to a lesser degree and history of art. They are not commonly offered in state schools.

No reason not to take them tho if that’s what she loves. Eng lit and a classical language both totally on any uni list of A levels they prefer. But they are all fine (just those two keep more doors open - ie classics and Eng lit).

No doubt posters will come and tell you she should take STEM (so maths, physics, chem) and those are great subjects but they are not for everyone.

Classical Civilisation is history and literature really isn't it? So I would have thought it would go well with Latin and English Lit. History of Art is more niche but as a 4 they go well together, it seems to me.

They aren't soft, they are fine and they fit with what she hopes to do

As long as they are accepted for the universities and courses she wants to do, then that’s fine. My concern would be if she doesn’t get the grades she needs and has to rethink where she goes and what to study.

I would perhaps change History of Art to History but it is up to her and if that is what she is wants to study then let her decide.

Check the courses she wants to do at university and as long as they are accepted for that then its fine.

Which is a good point considering the assault on the arts & humanities in Higher Education. If it continues, and I've no reason to think Labour will reverse it, they'll be increasing limited course to apply to.

History would be much better than history of art but other than that I think they’re fine.

Other than English they're not particularly facilitating. It's like choosing one core subject and three niche electives. Not much room for changing her mind.

I would as others have get her to check the course requirements for the unis she wants to go to.

Then I would look at worst case scenario... maybe shes predicted 4A*s (224 ucas points) but she gets 3Cs (96pts) or whatever she would consider a poor result but not enough to want to completely rethink. Where will those grades in those subjects get her?

Tbh noone cares what a'levels you have once you get to uni, St Andrews and Cambridge are likely to be full of similar folks anyway. But she should consider what she will do if she doesn't get a place there either because she doesn't in in round 1 or because she fluffs hers A level exams and has to rethink will that set of subjects make it difficult to get in through clearing? (I don't know the answer I've been out of the system too long!)

I'm sorry your colleague showed her prejudice. It's not ok to say subjects scream 'state school' so why is it ok to be rude about private schools?

I echo other posters who say to check the requirements of your DC's chosen unis and for her to go for it as long as they do. She should study what she loves, gets her into her desired course and sets her up for a career. What does she want you to do after uni?

Does she need Greek if wanting to do Classics at Uni?

She is unsure - potentially doing the law conversion course and going down that path or exploring careers in museum work/ the arts.
Her dad owns a business which she will be able to join/eventually take over if she wishes and there is some financial wiggle room if she wants to do something less guaranteed like museum work as she will have a trust fund to keep her going.

Interested about the people saying if she doesn't do well and a back up plan, could she not re-sit and apply for the same unis the next year rather than compromise on uni or course?

No I think Greek or Latin is fine - they don't expect both. Her school doesn't offer Greek anyway.

There is nothing remotely soft about Latin A level. I have a Classics degree and I can testify it is hard work. Any sensible admissions tutor or employer should recognise this.

Yes, Classics departments have had to move with the times, and as they are keen to attract students from a wide range of backgrounds they have had to work out ways to make it possible to study Latin and/or Greek from scratch on arrival at the university. Even in 1980 when I started my degree there were students on my course starting Greek from scratch and it was very hard work. Perfectly possible to reach an excellent standard by Finals, though, especially if you have a good grounding in Latin.

The key thing is whether they are listed as facilitating subjects for the degree she wants to do at her favoured universities.

They’re absolutely fine. Eng Lit is a very trad A level and Latin is tough so she has two hard core ones. Class Civ and History of Art also fine. For uni purposes when she drops to three she should probably lose either History of Art or Class Civ but if she does all four then it’s fine. BTW I’m a teacher in an academic secondary and experienced 6th form tutor.

@BoudiccaOfSuburbia - facilitating subjects are no longer a thing. They’ve been dropped.

They look like perfect A levels if she is sure that she wants to study classics & English lit.

Thanks everyone,

Just got DSD to have a check

• Oxford (her preferred oxbridge option and what she would apply for I got it wrong saying Cambridge), 4 year course if no Latin, 3 year with. English literature or English Literature and Language required. Other popular subjects were noted to be MFL, History, Classical Civilisation and Ancient History.
• St Andrew's nothing on website about entry requirements in terms of subjects, no mention of even needing Latin. However the joint honours doesn't really have a page of its own
• Bristol, English Literature required but no mention of Latin or other preferred subjects
• Exeter, no mention of any required subjects

Cambridge, UCL, Kings, Durham etc. don't seem to have a joint honours of Classics and English (Kings has a major/minor option but that isn't what DSD wants).

I think she will be just fine then
your friend was rude and ignorant

She just needs to check university perspectives to check that Latin and Classical Civilizations will count as 2 separate A levels. I'd suggest she took History or Art instead of History of Art