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Secondary education

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Original poster

Options - DD has to choose between Art and History - WWYD?

62 replies

SugarSkyHigh · 09/02/2011 20:21

My yr 9 DD is just choosing her options - at her school, technology, RS and one MFL are compulsory (aswell as maths, science, english of course). This means that the only actual "options" she has been able to take are another MFL and Art. She would also like to do history but that would mean not doing either one MFL or Art. I sort of wish she would drop the art and do history instead but it has to be her decision I think.

Plus, she could still do history at A'level later on presumably, without having done the GCSE?

Or would you tell her to do history GCSE????

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 09/02/2011 20:24

I think I'd encourage her into Art tbh. She's going to need an 'easy' subject, with all that academic.

I am not belittling Art at all, but it's much more relaxing that everything else she's doing. DD is doing a similar set of options and she opted for Art and I'm glad she did.

What does she want to do with her life, is the question.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 09/02/2011 20:36

I would tell her to do the one she likes best and is best at. But if there is any possibility that she might want to do history A-level then she should do history. The reason for this is because at GCSE level you don't just learn historical facts - you are also learning skills that you will need to be able to apply at A-level, stuff like interrogating sources, understanding bias, using evidence - and I think you'd be disadvantaged at A-level without that prior learning.

Deaddei · 09/02/2011 20:45

I feel your pain-dd is deciding between drama and history,
She is not really into analysis, and is doing the English, maths , double science, pe, re, ict, citizenship, Spanish.
I think we'll go for drama.

skiphopskidaddle · 09/02/2011 20:47

history. If she wants a good university, history is much more impressive than art. She can draw and paint to her heart's delight in her free time. History teaches good thinking and good essay-writing skills and provides strong preparation for A-level study across the spectrum of arts and humanities.

pointylug · 09/02/2011 20:57

Why are technology and RS compulsory? That's a bugger, isn't it.

If she wants to do history, she should drop art. Does she have any idea what she wants to do after school?

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 09/02/2011 20:59

Technology is compulsory at DD's school too. A real bugger as she is dyspraxic and can barely use scissors never mind trying to saw in a straight line.

ravenAK · 09/02/2011 21:00

History. She's already got technology for light relief...

It's just not the climate for soft options atm; if in any doubt, go trad academic.

pointylug · 09/02/2011 21:01

I don't understand why schools are making technology compulsory.

Appletrees · 09/02/2011 21:03

I'd go with history and get her to join the art club.

You can do gcses independently yknow. Look up the syllabus and take the exam privately if you canafford it, it costs around 150 pounds or something. Maybe she could put together a portfolio, put togeter the theory and give it a shot.

ravenAK · 09/02/2011 21:08

Technology Specialist Status, quite likely pointydog.

AtYourCervix · 09/02/2011 21:13

DD had the same dilemma last year and chose Art. It is no way an 'easy' subject and has more coursework than any of the other subject she is doing.

she was also told that in theory if she has done a different 'humanity' like geography she could still do history at A level if she wanted too.

AtYourCervix · 09/02/2011 21:14

also technology and mfl specialist school so had to take those - DD doing graphics which links in with art.

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 09/02/2011 21:54

Yes it's a technology specialist status school you are quite right raven! And the technology subject she is doing is Graphics. Which begs the question - if she is doing Graphics, does she need to do Art anyway? OR, will the Art option have more punch if she also has graphics??

Yes, MaureenMLove,I I thought that because most of her options are quite academic (and she is also doing Italian, so in total THREE foreign languages) that perhaps art would be a good idea (without wanting to do art down at all. I am from a family of artists). but most of you are saying History is the better choice.... and in this climate.....

No she doesnt really know what she wants to do but she knows she wants to go to a good Uni and chances are she will do something with languages.

Oh, and RS is compulsory because it's a faith school.

OP posts:
pointylug · 09/02/2011 22:14

If she wants to go to a good uni, choose history rather than art, especially if technology means graphic design.

Decorhate · 10/02/2011 07:29

I have also heard about the coursework for Art being quite heavy. And don't forget she will need History to get the English Bacc....

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 10/02/2011 09:32

Hmmm so if I put it to her that history won't have much more coursework than Art, perhaps that will help persuade her. I didn't realise that. Regardless of amounts of coursework however, I have reservations about Art being dropped. My mother has never forgiven herself for making me take geography o'level instead of Art.She thought it was the best decision at the time. I am afraid of history rrepeating itself!

AtyourCervix - yes my DD says she has been told she would still be able to do History at A'level, without the GCSE. In practice I'm not so sure though - especially as she's not taking geography at GCSE, so no 'humanities.' Now I'm worrying about the English Bacc thingy!!!! Confused

OP posts:
webwiz · 10/02/2011 10:10

History will have a tiny bit of coursework compared to art. Graphics and Art are practically all coursework and it would be considered quite unusual to take them together at my DCs school for that particular reason.

bobs · 10/02/2011 10:21

DD1 took Art and is now studying it for A Level. There is a LOT of coursework (we ended up with a corner of our garage painted black with wedding dress, top hat etc hanging from the ceiling at one point). It was also really expensive - loads of computer print-outs (new printer, x6 ink sets bought at a time). However, once the work was all handed in she could concentrate on her other subjects (she got A* btw Grin)
She will hopefully do something with Art in the future
DD2 is now choosing her options and is much more academically minded. However she has been told she is really good at Art Confused. She doesn't have to do Tech or RS and I think will do History , Geography and 2 MFLs, all of which require end exams

ElsieR · 10/02/2011 10:21

Art is not THAT easy at GCSE, it's actually quite hard to get a top grade.
I don't think it is sensible to consider doing A level history without the GCSE. Moreover, if she changes school in 6th form, it could be that she won't be allowed to do A level history without the GCSE.
She should do what she enjoys most.

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 10/02/2011 10:22

so history is mainly an end of syllabus exam then, as in when I used to be at school? If so, that might suit my daughter who is not a stereotypical "girl" style student and is much better at the last minute and under pressure.

OP posts:
QuickLookBusy · 10/02/2011 10:23

If she wants to do A level History, she must be really interested in it? Having had 2 DDs go through GCSEs I would say choose subjects you are passionate about.

Bramshott · 10/02/2011 10:23

If she is already doing Graphics, I'd opt for History.

Original poster
SugarSkyHigh · 10/02/2011 10:26

elsie - i agree. She should do what she enjoys most. She enjoys art, but obviously is not aware yet of all the course work - bobs has been very enlightening and well done to her DD!

She has also said she enjoys history - it's not like she can't stand the thought of it and it's a case of me forcing her to do something that's going completely against the grain - nothing like that. She is interested in history.

I feel a call to the Head of Year coming on...

OP posts:
bobs · 10/02/2011 10:30

We have been given a brochure of all the subjecta, which boards and what requirements re coursework, exams etc. EG for History it is the OCR board, doing the Modern World.
Paper 1: Russia 1905-1941, International Relations 1945-90.
Paper 2: Britain 1890-1918
Assessment (ie coursework): Apartheid in S Africa
Exam on Paper 1 - 45%
Exam on Paper 2 - 30%
Assessment - 25%

I can all be a bit confusing - esp with the sciences, as the GCSE concentrates more on tests as you go along and the IGSCE on end exams Confused

claricebeansmum · 10/02/2011 10:34

Google Russell Group and read their guidance for post 16 education which they launched today. Your DD needs to think about what she might like to do - her choices for GCSE will determine her future and she needs to choose well.

Unless she is set on career on art & design, architecture etc then IMO it would have to be History.