Business Studies - a respected option for GCSE?

[cherubic]

Just wondering if this is viewed as a second rate subject, e.g. not up with sciences, history, maths etc.

[GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh]

Personally I would if it was a really badly regarded subject, which Business Studies isn't, or if they planned to take too many I'd veto them taking them all. I'd probably advise against BS in any case because I think it's something better studied later on.

[stewmaker]

i just find it a bit weird. My parents never interfered with my choices although they fully expected me to go to uni. We were advised by careers advisors in an unbiased way, which I don't think parents often are. I know my DH felt obliged not to follow his 'dreams' and regretted it years later.
I can understand that if parents want their kids to go to a particular uni they would want to have an input in choices but I don't think this is right... I think kids know in their hearts what they want/don't want and if they choose badly at this level it's no biggy.
TBH I used the fact I was expected to go to uni to hurt them and went on a YTS instead, I just don't like being told what to do. Still ended up with a degree mind-you.
I think I have issues with parents wanting to live out their lives through their kids.

My DS is 17 mo and I reserve the right to change my mind later

[webwiz]

Kids aren't given any unbiased advice about GCSEs options stewmaker careers advisors are thin on the ground these days - my DS is in year 9 and we have a parents evening next week and an options evening the week after. He'll be bombarded by teachers saying this will be a good choice for you (as my DD's were) and he'll look to me and DH for advice. He has provisionally chosen drama, french and history but still has one choice left and doesn't know what to do in that space. I don't have any "plans" for him but GCSE choices matter more now and I wouldn't want DS to shut any doors at this stage.

[Milliways]

My gut reaction would be don't take this, but I had to re-think when DS was offered this at his Extremely High Performimg Grammar school. Doesn't affect their Uni choices it seems.

[stewmaker]

that's a real shame about the careers advice

but to clarify, I think business studies opens more doors than it shuts. Perhaps not form a uni point of view but certainly from an employer point of view.

[mattellie]

What webwiz said. I think there?s a big difference between pushing a child into something they don?t want to do and helping them decide between 2 or 3 subjects which they like (or hate!) equally.

DD is 12 but decides GCSE options this term ? she might need some guidance, don?t you think? Most of the advice seems to be about keeping as many doors open as possible at this stage which IMHO is best done by choosing a wide range of subjects.

[seenitallbefore]

DS1 took Business Studies as one of five Highers ( Scottish) and also for advanced Higher, He was accepted into all universities he applied for (including Edinburgh, St Andrews (Warwick and Newcastle), So they obviously rate it fine.

[Kez100]

I didn't do BS at GCSE level but I did a BTEC National Diploma in BS instead of A levels. This was mid-80's. I then didn't do a degree (but my mate with equivilent diploma marks did - she went to Exeter).

We are both Chartered Accountants now with our own practices. We both qualified in our early 20's but I was a tad before her because, by not doing a degree, I took the quicker route.

I cannot comment on the difficulty of BS at GCSE but as a subject it does give an insight into what is further useful study.

[Litchick]

BS is considered a soft option by certain unis and employers.

So it entirely depends upon what DC want to do afterwards.

As with everything in life, one things has a direct impact upon another.