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

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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????

I call it disingenuous because it is NOT philosophy. There is a element of ethics involved certainly, and an attempt to look at issues of personal morality as well as a survey of religious belief, but philosophy it is not.

I've just realised that my dd1 studied it at A level rather than GCSE 0 level. Would you agree that the A level course is more in line with your understanding of philosophy, LadyG? My dd1 found it so stimulating that it has been a thread running throughout her undergrad, postgrad and research student studies.

I think the A-level course probably is, Crystalglasses, but what I've seen of the GCSE course doesn't fit any deifinition of philosophy that I've ever encountered. I just find it intellectually dishonest to give pupils the impression they are studying something they are not.

If your daughter wants to go to Uni she will need the English Baccalaureate - English, 2 x science, maths, an language and either history or geography.

It would be foolish not to have this as the core of the curriculum for your child.

apple pie thats not true,- you dont need to EB to go to Uni.

My girls go to a school where you CAN'T get the EB because they dont do Maths or Science GCSE - they do IGCSEs instead and that is not a barrier. they can choose RS as their humanity

So its not the case that you need history or geography for uni.....

DD1 is in Y12 and an academic type student - Art was a total pain. She had loads of coursework to finish/improve on - it was done but obviously she wanted to do her best and isn't a natural artist. It took time away from her other subjects. Have spoken to other parents who agree.

If you want to follow some kind of arty career path, great, but otherwise it really isn't a soft option time wise. As an ex sec teacher it was an eye opener to see it from the other side. It also ended up being her only B which she was a bit miffed about!

Applepieplease, I wonder whether you live in the UK? All these are not essential entry requirements for university here. In many state schools students don't have the option of studying a language these days, few schools offer the Baccalaureate and most teach the combined sicence GCSE.

applepieplease, universities have not stipulated that you need the ebac to get in. They may very well do, in the future, but haven't yet.

That is scandalous if some secondaries do not offer the option of learning an mfl. Outrageous.

We were told that the English Baccalaureate MAY be required for university entry at some point. I also was keen on DD doing history but she chose geography instead. I was relieved she didn't want to do Art as i feel unless you are very talented at it, it is hard to get top grades. It is a good option for some people but my DD is not a natural artist and doesn't really enjoy it. Her school do MFL GCSE in year 9 so she doesn't have to choose one for options. She wants to do single science, Geography and possible A Level maths.

Art is fantastic but as pointed out above VERY hard work and you need to be passionate about it . Also only really useful for uni if she intends to study art. I have 1 child with a fine art degree one half way through art degree one in the final year of fine art degree and one doing it at Alevel !!!!!!!!!!yes we are an arty family .if this is what she wants then you will only get on an art course with a portfolio of work. If she would want to study academic art would not be useful history is very well thought of at uni level .hope this helps as option are a nightmare so good luck

PINKBRACES eldest came out of Central st Martins it's fantastic tell her to go for it on ucas choices