English, History and PE A levels, potentially for Oxbridge

[Drangea]

DS is considering the above combination. Aiming to read English or History. Teachers are recommending he applies to Oxbridge. High achieving kid at a super selective boys grammar that send lots to Oxbridge to give context.
We have not discussed with teachers yet, wanted to get a feel first.
Thanks in advance
(also posted in further education, but was advised to move to here)

I didn’t say it was imperative but it’s something they notice on application. I can imagine OP’s sons getting tossed to the side due to the PE so it may be worth him doing another subject on top

I agree with avocet, PE is a great a level- just not for English or history at Oxbridge.

if he’s into PE/sport Oxbridge don’t offer sports science courses which he may want to do.

You really are spouting an utter load of rubbish throughout this thread. What is your recent, actual Oxford experience of English or History or humanities degrees?

You do know we can read your posts don’t you? You said ‘they will also be wanting 5 a levels at a high grade, not just 3.’

That sounds like you think it’s imperative.

No, they will not be wanting 5 A Levels. They will make an offer based on 3 A Levels, even if a child is offering 4 or 5.

DC1’s Oxbridge offer was A*AA
DC2’s Oxbridge offer was AAA

Both university websites are clear on the 3 subject thing.

PE?!

Anyway, back to the OP's original question. As your DC is at a super selective grammar school, he would be advised to take more traditional A levels than PE or to do it as a 4th. However, Oxford recognises that those from schools and colleges which do not traditionally send pupils to Oxbridge may not have received similar guidance, so they are less likely to be judged (in the way that some have judged here) for their A level subject choice. After all, some only decide to apply in the summer of Y12, never having considered applying to Oxford or Cambridge before their PGs.

Really the only post you need to read is sarahandquack's OP!

?

Yes I’ve had some great advice thank you. Definitely one to discuss with school and have an eye to swapping it potentially. Stuff I hadn’t thought of like injury potential. But really it will be up to him.

Younger DS knows exactly what he wants, to be a chef and has already sorted out where to go after school to train and he’s only in yr 5!

And he will only be doing 3 A-Levels, if he decides to go for something else instead of PE I will encourage him to just do his sports and forget the A level!

I was under the impression that Chaucer is taught at Cambridge colleges. Is that no longer the case?

Chaucer was active in the later decades of the fourteenth century.

Still gets classed as Middle English.

I'm not quite clear what your point is, then?

(I'm a medievalist; I've published a book on Chaucer; I'm fairly clear about this stuff.)

Honestly I think that’s the best idea. If he’s passionate about sports and that’s his “thing” he should forget about Cambridge/oxbridge. They have no sport related courses at all.

I've got this tenuous memory in the back of my head that they might do quite high-profile sporty extra-curriculars, though? Some kind of boat-related thing on a river, is it?

They have loads of extra curriculars but if he wants to use sport in his career there are no sports related courses like sports science. Other uni’s may have courses that suit him better.

They've had quite a few premiership rugby players recently. I think rowing has quite a good reputation too

But he wants to study English, or history. It's right there in the OP.

Well if that’s the case he should drop PE for something else more in relation to those courses, but his mum hinted he would rather stay on pe than do another a level or drop it.

Why should he?

I don't quite get what I'm missing here, but clearly, you know something I don't, and I'd love to understand what that is.

@OneGiddyRubyViewerjust out of interest why are you out here routinely feeding people incorrect and therefore unhelpful information? What are you basing it on because it’s clearly not fact?

The only people in my daughters cohort doing more than three A levels are maths students and they’re doing four (to include FM). My daughter (history) is doing three as are all the arts and humanities applicants.

Because Oxbridge is v competitive and sadly is less likely to put someone on an English or history course with PE, as opposed to something like a language, economics or politics.

as PP said if he insisted on applying for Oxbridge English or history anyway with a PE level, he would need an a and only aroubd 5 percent of pupils achieve an A in PE.

Only 5 percent of PE pupils reach a *

This is bullshit. HTH.