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Further education

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Original poster

Which 3rd a level to go with RS and German.

68 replies

TiredTiredVeryTired · 23/02/2025 19:32

Decision made to take religious studies and German. What would be a good 3rd?
Current thoughts/conversations have included, in no particular order

  • History
  • Physics
  • DT product design
  • Politics
  • Geography
  • Environmental science
  • Electronics
And with no particular career in mind.
OP posts:
user2848502016 · 24/02/2025 15:15

TiredTiredVeryTired · 24/02/2025 09:51

I was under the impression that RS (or RE) was quite highly thought of with it being, at A level, mainly philosophy and ethics. And that’s is also how the syllabus reads to me. I know someone who went to Oxford to do PPE and he had RS so I’m if the opinion that it is definitely not a subject to be completely dismissed as ‘poor’ or ‘waste of time’.

German seems to (currently) be non-negotiable. (Also, all our schools, except one, offer German at GCSE and all the sixth forms offer it at A level. How strange that some areas aren’t offering it).

Projected grades; (for some reason the school don’t use predicted, but basically the same thing) English Lang 6, English lit 5 (maybe a 6), maths 6, sciences 6-6 (maybe higher), German 7/8 (borderline), geography 7, RS 7, electronics 7.

Sixth form require a 6 in German GCSE and there are no form requirements for RS but if taken at GCSE then they want a 6.
They also seem to want a 6 for all the subjects I originally mentioned in either the same subject or related subjects if it hasn’t been taken at GCSE.

Some suggestions alternative subjects to have a think about, thanks for those, (although history of art is defiantly not offered). We can dig into the curriculums of them all later on, but from memory, I think DC wasn’t over the moon about one of the topics in history? I can’t remember exactly, it might have been something in politics, will have to check. Also some good suggestions over the type of assessments, I’ll make sure that is considered.

Based on this I would probably go with geography then. If he's doing well in it he's likely to continue doing well and he could end up going in that direction at uni.
RS and geography are social sciences so make sense as a combination.
There will be a lot of essay writing for history and politics (as well as RS) which might not be the best idea because from his predicted grades English is maybe not his strongest subject. Doing 2 essay heavy subjects might be too much.

Zarasita · 24/02/2025 15:33

I would encourage start with 4 A levels

It gives more options and the possibility to drop the least favourite one

I thought most sixth forms required 4 to start with?

Piggywaspushed · 24/02/2025 16:37

No, very few can staff that!

Cakeandusername · 24/02/2025 17:12

Mine did RS, History & politics and they complimented well. RS is philosophy and ethics.
Is German course viable? It’s not offered at large grammar 6th form and I know another school pulling it after this year.

mathanxiety · 24/02/2025 17:16

TiredTiredVeryTired · 24/02/2025 09:51

I was under the impression that RS (or RE) was quite highly thought of with it being, at A level, mainly philosophy and ethics. And that’s is also how the syllabus reads to me. I know someone who went to Oxford to do PPE and he had RS so I’m if the opinion that it is definitely not a subject to be completely dismissed as ‘poor’ or ‘waste of time’.

German seems to (currently) be non-negotiable. (Also, all our schools, except one, offer German at GCSE and all the sixth forms offer it at A level. How strange that some areas aren’t offering it).

Projected grades; (for some reason the school don’t use predicted, but basically the same thing) English Lang 6, English lit 5 (maybe a 6), maths 6, sciences 6-6 (maybe higher), German 7/8 (borderline), geography 7, RS 7, electronics 7.

Sixth form require a 6 in German GCSE and there are no form requirements for RS but if taken at GCSE then they want a 6.
They also seem to want a 6 for all the subjects I originally mentioned in either the same subject or related subjects if it hasn’t been taken at GCSE.

Some suggestions alternative subjects to have a think about, thanks for those, (although history of art is defiantly not offered). We can dig into the curriculums of them all later on, but from memory, I think DC wasn’t over the moon about one of the topics in history? I can’t remember exactly, it might have been something in politics, will have to check. Also some good suggestions over the type of assessments, I’ll make sure that is considered.

In light of the predicted English and English Lit grades, I'd steer well clear of History.

History requires essays, and anyone not really on top of their writing will struggle. It will be a lot of work for potentially a mediocre result.

Stick with the Electronics or another STEM/ design subject (not Physics, though).

German, Geography, RS, and Electronics/ Design...?

Snowmanscarf · 24/02/2025 17:17

History was my first thought before I saw your list.

From your list, I’d add geography or politics. I think physics, dt or electronics would be a bit random with the other two.

ChonkyRabbit · 24/02/2025 17:21

Not what you asked but I would be advising them to take a couple of years out of education and get some work and volunteering experience so they can figure out what they want to do. I figured out what career I wanted while doing general admin, by which time I'd wasted years of my life on a completely useless degree that I was paying off until I was 30. I then had to do my next degrees while working full time.

Original poster
TiredTiredVeryTired · 24/02/2025 17:30

Some good points made especially around the essay heaviness of history and politics combined with RS. But we shall have a good look later and I will update. Do keep the suggestions and thoughts coming though, they are very helpful.

To clear up the German questions. Yes, it is 100% viable, potentially the most viable option. Every year the school has over 100 entries at GCSE and around 30 at A level. For the current year 12 they are running 2 A level German classes because they have over 40 taking the subject. As a side note, French has lower take up at GCSE and it wasn’t offered last year at A level although will be offered this year if there are enough interested (by enough the school say more than 10).

@clary history was considered at GCSE and was one of the preferred choices with electronics being the reserve but when it came down to it history managed to clash with German, geography and RS. At the time, DC thought geography would be better because they were already doing an essay subject (RS) and we knew history could be picked up at A level without doing it at GCSE. (The same with RS and geography, but it was history that lost out).

OP posts:
Original poster
TiredTiredVeryTired · 24/02/2025 17:32

@ChonkyRabbit how would that work? I thought the rules were they they had to stay in education or training until 18? So 6th form, college or apprenticeships? Please do correct me if I’ve interpreted this incorrectly.

OP posts:
WhereAreWeNow · 24/02/2025 17:32

It really depends on what the child is most passionate about and how good the teaching is at the school. Personally I think History would be a good choice with a language and RS but only if that's a subject the kid really enjoys.

converseandjeans · 24/02/2025 17:51

@TiredTiredVeryTired

Great news German is doing well. I don’t know why people are trying to say not to continue. It covers history, politics, literature at A-Level & is a facilitating subject. It can help develop lots of different skills.

With RS I think either history to complement it. Or geography to keep options more open. Maybe something environmental in the future?

They don't need Law A-level to study it later on. These are the A-levels considered as facilitating & RS isn't on the list but MFL/geography/history are on there. So perhaps get him to pick one other from this list:

•	Biology.
•	Chemistry.
•	English Literature.
•	Geography.
•	History.
•	Maths and Further Maths.
•	Modern and Classical Languages.
•	Physics.
Piggywaspushed · 24/02/2025 17:54

Facilitating subjects don't exist any more. RS is a fully creditable subject with plenty of rigour.

pizzaHeart · 24/02/2025 17:56

user2848502016 · 24/02/2025 15:15

Based on this I would probably go with geography then. If he's doing well in it he's likely to continue doing well and he could end up going in that direction at uni.
RS and geography are social sciences so make sense as a combination.
There will be a lot of essay writing for history and politics (as well as RS) which might not be the best idea because from his predicted grades English is maybe not his strongest subject. Doing 2 essay heavy subjects might be too much.

Show quote history

I agree with this^
I also think you need to think what their strengths and weaknesses for each subject because it doesn’t look like language side is strongly prevail and it needs to be for history imo.
Physics without maths is useless.

Floralnomad · 24/02/2025 17:59

History would be the natural choice . Many decades ago my sister did RS , history and English lit . She then did a combined history / theology degree and ended up being an accountant . Has your child really no idea what the6 want to do post uni as it would help to focus it a bit .

averythinline · 24/02/2025 18:33

DC did RS a level really interesting.. he also did govt+politics and sociology as geography didn't fit....

Govt +politics also interesting but another essay based as is history.

.. Dc didn't like the history curriculum as much...

Would highly recommend Geography it leads to a wide range of degrees.. and is not all essays

Piggywaspushed · 24/02/2025 18:33

Geography seems best shout to me, too.

clary · 24/02/2025 18:43

Thats amazing news aboit German A level, 30 candidates wow. Is this a very big sixth form @TiredTiredVeryTired ?

I also don't know why some pp are saying don't do German, it's a great subject. Can't be a bad thing to have an MFL A level.

Agree with @Piggywaspushed facilitating subjects no longer exist and RS is a perfectly strong choice. Given that your dc (interesting how so many assume they are a ds) does geography GCSE I think that's a good A level choice.

converseandjeans · 24/02/2025 18:52

@Piggywaspushed

I should know that! But that's good news for creative subjects.

OP I found this website which looks useful

www.informedchoices.ac.uk/

You could also get him to look at Unifrog - if his school has it.

Piggywaspushed · 24/02/2025 19:04

Unifrog is great!

Uvulane · 24/02/2025 19:17

According to Ofqual, the subjects most often taken with MFL and RS are Eng Lit, History and Psychology. Would agree that Geography is worth considering and Hist & Lit may not play so well to strengths. I wouldn't discount Product Design if they are keen, having an A level which is an outlier can be good if you like it and even better if you can get a good grade in it. The different lesson experience and assessment method may be welcome. probably also applies to Electronics but I'm not familiar with it.

ChonkyRabbit · 24/02/2025 19:18

TiredTiredVeryTired · 24/02/2025 17:32

@ChonkyRabbit how would that work? I thought the rules were they they had to stay in education or training until 18? So 6th form, college or apprenticeships? Please do correct me if I’ve interpreted this incorrectly.

They can be in an apprenticeship or similar training programme, from what I understand.

urbanbuddha · 24/02/2025 19:58

Geography.

RS is well-regarded - philosophy and ethics which develops critical thinking.

Ellmau · 24/02/2025 20:04

History if they're happy for him to do it and he wants to take it up again, or geography if not, and RS look the best options for him, alongside the German. Steer clear of physics with his predicted science and maths grades.

TizerorFizz · 26/02/2025 17:28

The subjects listed might not be called “facilitating” but they ARE the subjects Cambridge likes to see in their A level choice guidance and clearly stare 2 of these subjects are best prep for their degrees. We can pretend it doesn’t matter what dc choose but ultimately some subjects are better prep than others for elite degrees so just refusing to agree with this makes no sense at all when advising young people. Particularly academic ones who could aim very high.

I concede this won’t matter at all to the DS here but it’s wrong to say these subjects are not preferred ones at some unis is wrong. However when looking at keeping doors open, History does this and so would Geography. Environmental science usually is easier with maths though. I would look at where his interests lie and make sure combinations of subjects work.

Delighted to see German is up there! Should he study German at university, an essay subject is a very good idea. What about business and German? What would facilitate that? GCSEs might not be strong enough for a good law degree but a practical business degree with German might be worth looking at. Sciences without maths can limit courses available.

MeMumI · 27/06/2025 20:10

I teach RS and it’s a perfectly fine subject. In the past three years I have had students from my class go off to study at a wide range of unis including… Cambridge, Oxford, Durham, Exeter, Kings, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow amongst others. The most common degrees my students study are… law (most popular), philosophy, psychology, history, and English Literature.

I’ve had students go off and study a whole range of subjects including Medicine, Radiography, Speech therapy, Music technology, Physics and philosophy (joint honours), graphic design, classics, ancient history and business management.

it certainly hasn’t held any of my students back.

The beauty of RS is that it really is quite versatile and depending on the board / religion selected it can go nicely with a lot of other subjects.
— some combine with psychology, sociology & geography or biology.
Others do more English / classics / media type subjects,
Some combine with history, law and politics
And some have it as the subject they do for fun alongside a whole range of subjects. One did it with maths and physics (then studied philosophy and physics at uni), others combine it with more creative subjects and art history. Because RS is quite a multi disciplinary subject, it actually has a lot of overlaps with a lot of other subjects (depending on modules taken)