Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

GCSE options

41 replies

ChattyME · 06/05/2013 19:06

My daughter has chosen her GCSE options a few weeks back and i'm sure alot of you would agree that it is very stressful but i'm aware there is still time to change them. She picked off the first three she wanted straight off and was happy with them with one slot she was unsure of, However she is really indecisive, She wanted to take both History and geography but she didn't want to much work as one of her options is Art, She also has a language to add to the EBAC. She is having trouble coming to terms with what to pick and is finding whatever she picks she will regret, normally i would say she would get over it however this has been going on for weeks, what should i do?

OP posts:
roisin · 06/05/2013 19:11

Has the form been submitted to school? When was the deadline?

Whilst GCSE options can be changed at a later date, even a week or two after they've started - IF space allows - it is not desirable. If the final deadline has passed, school will be sorting out staffing, rooming, timetabling, etc.

If I were you, I would just tell dd the decision is made: get on with it.

ds1's options were straightforward, but with ds2 (this year) it was a lot more complicated. He prevaricated about it for quite a while, but once the final decision was made, that was it. Job done.

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 19:22

Yes the deadline was a few weeks back however it can be changed up until the start of Year 10 - However I'm aware it would be best it was sorted now. I have already told her the decision has been made - it's only one subject after all but she is one of these people who cant easily make a decision, my two other children were find picking their subjects and had no trouble what so ever.

OP posts:
lljkk · 06/05/2013 19:37

whatever she picks she will regret

Has she always been perfectionist?

I am minded to impress her very much with something along lines of "Nothing you choose will be perfect but what you have chosen is definitely good enough."

As long as her choices don't close important doors, she has chosen well enough.

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 19:46

In ways yes she is a bit of a perfectionist well in school she is anyway, She seems to think every subject she chooses has to meet her standards but out of the ones that were left non of them she was really eager to do - which automatically caused a problem. But all her options are different which I've told her, shes got a good variety. In all honesty whatever i say isn't going to change what she thinks, I agree nothing is perfect but what she has picked is good! Ill have a chat with her tonight.

OP posts:
lljkk · 06/05/2013 20:02

it is a shame they have to choose.

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 20:06

When i was at school we only had a few courses to pick from, I think choosing options is good but when there is alot being offered it becomes abit overwhelming.

OP posts:
CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:08

What does she think she will regret? Does it impact what a levels she can take?

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 20:24

The one she is unsure about is IT, Her other subjects are Geography, German and Art But she is still unsure. I don't think it will impact her, She is wishing to do familiar subjects at A-Level but the only one which would be a new subject is Psychology but that only requires grades in maths and science.

OP posts:
CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:26

It wont impact her a level choices then. I personally think IT is a good choice. What would she miss out on?

CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:27

Its good to do a range of subjects. German, art, IT and the usual ones would work well together.

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 20:29

It's not necessarily subjects she would miss out on but she didn't really have a clear choice for her last option, However she is considering History but she don't want to have too much work on top of her more demanding subjects like Art.

OP posts:
CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:35

IT is very relevant today. I would also do history instead of geography. Unless she specifically likes it or it will help with a levels. History affects everything. Geography at gcse is more science based and I assume she is already doing sciences?

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 20:38

Well she is currently enjoying Geography alot more although she has always liked both of them. But she is wanting to go into that field of science she does like the idea of being a nurse - however that will most likely change. She is doing Core and Additional Science plus English, Maths and RE

OP posts:
CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:42

Depends on what she wants to take at a level. Apparently if you want to take either history or geography you have to do it at gcse. Whereas if you decide to so IT at a level. ..you dont need it at gcse. Worth checking with your school. Important thing is to keep options at a level as wide open as possible. This link might be useful. [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mobileweb/paul-dyson/choosing-the-right-subjects-gcse-a-levels_b_2589189.html]

CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:43

[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mobileweb/paul-dyson/choosing-the-right-subjects-gcse-a-levels_b_2589189.html]]

pickledginger · 06/05/2013 20:49

What does she want the psychology A level for? If it's because she's interested in it as a degree subject there's no benefit to taking it at A level.

CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:53

Apart feom the fact she might learn something very useful and applicable to real life you mean ;)

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 20:54

Well she said she is wanting to take it as she really enjoy the whole concept of Psychology - However like i said she cant even come to terms with her GCSES let alone her A-Level choices yet.

OP posts:
CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 20:54

It will help unbelievably if she wants to do nursing. Although, not so much if she is going for 'traditional' degrees like medicine or law.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/05/2013 21:01

Ooh thanks for interesting looking link Cognitive - will have a look in a mo ...
My DD is also in Y9 and has chosen History, Geography, and Art as well as French and the usual others including 3 sciences. She's quite keen and strong on the humanities and also loves Art so they were quite easy choice of 3 for her. Slightly sad to be dropping Latin (which she's enjoyed because of the historical aspect) and Product Design (which she's got a talent for) and I think Food Tech would have been a good practical one if we could have squeezed any of those in, but you can't do everything can you ? And she's rather pleased, along with her friends, to be dropping drama - which surprised me really, but I think she can be a bit quiet especially at school, so evidently found it slightly embarrassing/ not for her.
DD feels she's going to be doing some IT anyway as they all do.
Hope the workload won't be too extreme - I've heard things about the Art course too, but there'd be no stopping her so I haven't tried !

CognitiveOverload · 06/05/2013 21:13

More girls need to get into IT. Its a brilliant career.

Original poster
ChattyME · 06/05/2013 21:15

Thank you for the link also - very informative and i will look through it in more detail later. I hope to come to some sort of decision but i think she is slightly more at ease. I think it's hard for children especially considering they learn so many subjects - Which only 4 they can choose from to carry on. Although alot of the subjects she has cancelled out straight away like above Drama, Music etc. She has always been keen to do Art though which is one of her favourite subjects. But like you said you cant do everything although with my DD their isn't enough she wants to do!

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 06/05/2013 21:18

I did a-level geography without having done GCSE geography - it's not necessary to have a GCSE in a subject to do it for a-level

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/05/2013 21:21

I think it is sometimes Pottering, depending on the school and the subject. Check with your school if it might affect choices ?