Health & Social Care GCSE - worth doing?

[JockTamsonsBairns]

Ok, another Yr9 Options one.

Is Health & Social Care a valid option for GCSE? On the face of it, it looks pretty relevant to what DD wants to go into (physiotherapy). However, I'm a bit concerned that it may be viewed as a bit of a 'mickey mouse' qualification by universities / future employers, or maybe I'm just a bit old fashioned?

So far, she's doing (as core subjects);

Double English (Lang & Lit)
Maths
Triple Science

Also, she has 5 choices to make, of which she has already picked 3;

Geography
Spanish
PE

It looks like it's down to a choice between H&SC or History as the other options have been pretty much ruled out. I'm certain that History would be a better regarded qualification, but given that she's already definitely doing Geography, as well as Double English and Triple Science, I dont want her to bite off more than is necessary.

Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

Just to clarify, H&SC counts as 2 choices so therefore makes up her 5. If she was to go for History, that would only count as 1, so she'd still have to find another 1 to make up the numbers.

IME, it's not that highly regarded, but that said, she's got 8 solid academic ones there, plus PE which will fit in well with he physiotherpay ambitions, so it doesn't really matter if any additional ones aren't from the 'traditional' box, and they are over and above a good solid set of GCSEs.

Thanks for that Back, that's what I was thinking, that she already has a good solid choice there - to add in History plus one other might make it a bit 'top heavy'.

I think you will come across this attitude, with some unis/employers. But I think the vast majority would let it go, if she goes on to do well at GCSE and gets good A level results. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for A level, but for GCSE I think it is ok.

Both DDs have taken 1 gsce which most people would think was "a mickey mouse" subject. However it hasn't done them any harm. DD1 is at a RG uni and DD2 has just had 4 great offers for uni for next year, for a very oversubscibed subject. I think there is so much work at GCSE, and it is often tedious, so it is great if they are allowed to do something they enjoy.

I would also recommmend looking at which subjects she will need to get into physio courses. It may give her an insight into what she will have to work hard at.

Thanks Quick. I've searched the Ucas website and looked at a cross section of universities which run Physiotherapy degrees - they don't seem to be specific about GCSE subjects other than English and Maths. That's understandable I suppose, I expect they're more interested in A Levels. I'd never advise A Level H&SC, if they even offer it, it's really only being considered now to fill the final 2 options on the form.