calling all teachers help please

[2shoes]

Ds is 14 and in year 10
he is doing ICT as one of his options
he never wanted to do it but we made him as we feel that every job involves computors
he hates it and wants to chang course(might be able to)
we don't want him to as feel it might hold him back when he is older
HELP imput needed
are we right to make him continue
(he is also doing media studies/drama and resistant material and core subjects

What is it he doesn't like?
The content? The level of work? The teacher?

Many children think ICT will be a fun subject where they will be ont he computers all day long. But there is theory in it and a few lessons will be fairly off-computer, theory ones, especially near the start.

Some form of ICT based subject is noramally compulsary, unless the school si going for the "incorporated into other lessons" style - hmmm!
I think it is a subject where, because of the level of coursework, you can get some high marks, without the stress of exams.

(I was an ICT teacher )

part of it is the others in the class
he also feels that as he is doing media studies which is computor work that is enough. he wants to change tho health and social care(if he can) as he wants(one of the things) to work in a special school(dd's) when he is older

i would let him change to do health and social care if he wants to do that as a career. (good on him too!)

although i am not a teacher but just wanted to say that

If there is a place and the teacher in charge thinks he'd be okay to swap 4 weeks in, then I don't really see a problem with changing courses, esp if related to something he is interested in doing later in life.

Both my teenagers did ICT at school - they never had a properly qualified teacher, and were bored rigid. Both are extremely competant and self taught - the older one builds and repairs computers to earn some pocket money. I think children learn best if they are interested and motivated. I have done several IT courses through work etc - there are so may these days, that I think he should not have to do it at school if he really would rather do something else.

from what the ict teacher said when she was reading him the riot act for something he had done
letter had to be done in mail merge advsing lottery winner how to spend the money
he wrote "go to a brothel and get laid"
the teacher asked him why had he chosen ict and he told them because my parents made me
so she said he should think about recosidering his option as it wasn't to late.
I have phoned the school. teacher who deals with the options was off mu hopefully will ring me monday

sorry that made me laugh ,what a sence of humour .

Just a thought, the government wants all students to gain a level 2 qualification in Maths, English and ICT. For most kids, they get this as part of their GCSEs. However, if he wants to go to college after his GCSEs and he dosen't have Level 2 in ICT, they will make him do level 2 Key Skills there, no matter what course he is enrolled on.

Beleive me, he it is in his best interest to avoid having to do it at college as the classes are full of students who really don't want to be there. (Hence my extra grey hairs every Wednesday after teaching IT key skills)

slug I will get him to read this thread so If you can tell me more whould be gratefull

not a teacher, and prob not remotely helpful, but my parents 'made' me do french gcse as they thought a language was really important. i agreed, and i like the language but didnt like the class and really didnt want to be there. in the end, when coursework in general all got a bit on top of me, i ended up giving up french half way thru the 5th yr (as was called then!) which was far too late dto do anything else...

in short, better to do something hes actually motivated to do, than to be unhappy for 2 yrs doing something he resents (2 yrs is a long time at that age)

he sounds like he knows what he wants... and it sounds like a mature and responsible choice hes made (to me, that is)

Hope i wasnt too unhelpful!

OK a level 2 qualification is the same level as GCSE. However, a GCSE usually involves a lot more work and exams than some of the other level 2 qualifications, e.g. Ky Skills, DIDA (Diploma in Digital Applications) or GNVQ (those aren't being taught anymore)

The Government wants all school leavers to have Level 2 qualifications in English Maths and IT. In practise, what usually happens is students pass their GCSEs in these subjects and everything is fine. However, if a student fails one of these, and wants to go onto a level 3 qualification (A levels, Btech etc), the college or school will insist on the student resitting the missed qualification. It's fairly obvious that most A level programs will not take on students without GCSE English or Maths, but what tends to get forgotten is the IT requirement.

So whatever he wants to do in the future he's going to have to bite the bullet and do it sometime. The options, usually when you go to college are IT Key Skills. This consists of a portfolio made up of assignments and an exam (currently multi-guess). While the whole thing is not too difficult, I would advise him to get the IT out of the way BEFORE college for 2 reasons.

1. Level 3 qualifications take up a lot more time and effort than GCSEs. It's usually a complete shock to the system, just the amount of extra work that is expected and needed. Having to do an extra IT qualification as well cuts into the social and study time.

1. Key Skills classes in college are generally full of students who wasted their school time and really don't want to be there. They make their feelings known. Constantly. I work in the computing dept of a college, and Key Skills is the poisoned chalice. We all avoid doing them at all costs because the stress of 20 disruptive, angry, unmotivated students is beyond belief. I pity any committed students in those clases because the rest make it extremly difficult to get any work done. I cannot stress how horrible those classes can be and how even me, who has a bit of a reputation for being able and willing to teach the most challenging group, will not go near Key Skills for love nor money.

Finally get your son to look at job adverts. Notice who almost every one of them will ask for some proof of computer literacy. And if you live in SE London, I can always come around and do my scary teacher bit.

thanks slug I will get him to rad this
kellyboots so know what you mean I was MADE to do needlework hated it so wasted 2 years I just want to get all the info so when he decides he is informed and If he makes the wrong choice he can't blame me or dh

actually, i didnt realise it was required these days, and if what slug says is true then i'd def want to know about it b4 choosing if i were him, so good on you for finding out for him. lucky kid to have such a useful, and caring, mum

• and if its you reading this, 2shoes's son, you'll agree with me in about 10 years, honest!

he has read the thread and it has made him think. I am going to get a teacher at school to talk to him as I think we are just to close to it. Just all get so wound up.
will let you know the outcome. Thank you for all your help.

2shoes, I am a teacher. My best advice would be for your ds to swap to health and social care as enjoying the subject goes SUCH a long way to success in the end. Why not take an IT course at the local college as an evening class, either now or during A Levels?