Options, anyone?

[lljkk]

DS-y9 got his booklet home today. Anyone up for chat?
(am half excited, half dismayed).

How many is she doing, BigTilly? I am a bit fuzzy about how many options DS even gets.

In Bumpf almost* nothing about exam board names that I can find easily, EYV, there is some info about how the final grade is made up, like (geography): "During yr 10 you will complete a piece of coursework/fieldwork that is worth 25% of your final grade."

But I can't see anything where booklet says what the other 75% of grade will depend on.

Well a ridiculous 15 apparently. But 3 of those are the compulsory RE, ICT and citizenship

That's worth knowing punny, dd plays instruments and is torn between music gcse and ICT which she also loves.

If it is bog-standard ICT GCSE, give it a swerve - even my friend who is head of ICT at a sixth-form college says it is rubbish. I think computing is the better option if they are that way inclined!

Im not sure yet Tilly, but as soon as we get the 'booklet' I'll be asking questions. I've told dd that if her heart is really set in doing ICT we can find her an evening class for it. Her school are pretty measured compared to some in the number of gcses they do - I think!

I think it depends on the board for the CA's - we were told there wouldn't be any in English IIRC, but there have already been a few in languages, not sure about the other subjects, but I think there may be some due

What do people think about not doing a language?
DS is under pressure to do one, though it's "expected" for kids in the top set (which he is) rather than vigorously enforced, so it might be possible to argue a case for not doing one.

He's doing French and German, getting level 4s/5s in them (as compared to 6s in most other subjects) but doesn't enjoy either. He'll probably do Geography, RE, triple science and the compulsories, but would prefer to do IT to a language, and will most likely go on with sciences for A level and beyond. Would it look bad on University applications not to have a language? Would an A in IT be better than, say, a C in French?

I realise the school wants a high % in the Bacc, but want to know what's actually good for him so don't trust the school to offer impartial advice on that one.

I think that half of MN will wring their hands that it's a terrible thing not to do a language, dire predictions for future opportunities; then someone else will pop along with hard facts and actual links that show it actually rarely matters at all! I am firmly in the latter camp. Is he wildly ambitious (desperate for Oxbridge, UCL, law, medicine or vet school?). If not, then don't worry about it.

Computing or creative media are better than GCSE in IT, is scuttlebutt, btw.

Thanks lligkk - he's likely to end up doing science or engineering I would think. Wouldn't want to rule out Oxbridge, though I hear they no longer require a language. Just not sure if this is something they say, but still have a bias against those without one.

Coconutty - what sort of things did you say to the school to convince them to let your DS drop the language? Does threatening no work at the subject work?

Re a language, of course it's up to him! School can't force him to do it (as long as it is not compulsory for his set etc).

I teach MFL so of course I am bound to say it's a good idea; be aware that levels in MFL may still be lagging behind those in other subjects. I have a top set yr 9, any of whom pretty much could get a good grade (at least a B, or C on a bad day), several could get an A; a lot of them are working on L6 but some are L5.

Ultimately tho I would rather teach students who want to do my subject than those forced into it by eager parents.

I've heard that Drama has a lot of essay writing.

DD chose drama as her performance arts option. It does seem to have a bit of essay writing.

If children can do languages, they can get onto degree courses with lower offers. Also Engineers with a GCSE in a language can then apply for a year abroad in the third year of the course if they keep the language going at University. It is only the Brits who would think a language is not worthwhile! As for GCSE advice in general, 15 is ludicrous and should not have been allowed by a parent or a school. No-one wants 15. Do about 10. Do 3 sciences if the child wants to do sciences at A levels. Do two languages if they are interested in languages. Do one or two humanities and an art subject. Maths and English of course. Others could be what DC enjoys. My DD found ICT terminally boring. I have not seen much evidence of schools remotely bothered about the EBac. Our local grammar schools are not. It is not a bad thing to choose GCSEs that require some work instead of easy ones. A good spread with some challenges does look better and any good school would recommend this.

We get our booklet after Xmas.

Does anyone know anything about the new computer science gcse? I am really hoping it appears as an option but it wasn't available at DS's school last year. Is it rolling out in the majority of schools (comps) this year? I will be very disappointed if it's not a choice for DS.

MMM, I think 15 is totally ridiculous and unnecessary, but can you explain to me how I make the school do less? And get DD to drop any now that she has started (they start in Y9, presumably to accommodate the ridiculous number) and put in a lot of effort?
TBF, one is an additional and as she is doing triple science, that bumps it up. But all the pupils will be doing a minimum of 12 AFAIK.
And she is doing all the subjects you suggest, containing plenty of challenges.

The problem we have is not that DS1 is in danger of doing too many GCSEs (he'll be doing 10) but that we're struggling to find anything he can do for the 10th, which is why we're resorting to ICT.

I'd be happy for him to stick with 9, but we are stuck with the way the school's options system works.
He will be doing 7 compulsory subjects:
Maths
English language
English literature
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
German
Apart from German, at least he is good at all of these.

Then he has to choose one out of History and Geography:
History (he likes it and is good at it).

Then he has to choose two subjects and two reserve subjects out of a long list of possibilities:
Classical Civilisation (he is passionate about the subject).

Somehow, we have to find another, plus two reserves, from a list of subjects he has no interest in and no aptitude for:
He hates RS & Geography.
He isn't at all arty or practical, which rules out all the Art/Technology subjects.
It was a struggle even to get him to Grade 3 piano so he can't do Music.
He doesn't learn a second MFL.
He is struggling with Latin and finding it very hard to keep up (not a natural linguist).
He messes about in Drama and doesn't take it seriously.

In order to fill up his two spaces and two reserves, he needs to choose three out of the following two subjects:
Economics
ICT

I am quite envious of those parents whose children seem to be good at everything and interested in many more subjects than they can actually choose.

Just to correct some misinformation.
My son is taking engineering at an RG university, he doesn't have mfl at GCSE but has the option of continuing, or taking up a new language as one of his options. If he had chosen to do this, then he could still do a third year in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I wish he had continued either of his languages to GCSE, he was in the top group, but he was adamant he didn't want to, and ultimately they are his GCSEs and his choices.

At DD's school iGCSE ICT is compulsory (they also offer a proper Computing GCSE). From what we have seen so far we are hoping it is a 'quick win'. The hardest thing seems to be databases, which DD will struggle with but a science minded child should find OK.

Please don't do drama if he messes about. It mucks it up for others in his group.

I think the Computing GCSE will depend on whether schools have staff who feel confident to teach it. I think our school is getting outside help from local IT firm.

3B1G: doesn't your school have soft options like Business studies or Child Dev? What about PE as GCSE? If your son loves classical Civ then latin isn't a crazy choice (they complement). Economics would be more respected than ICT, if there's nothing else to choose between them. Lots of jobs for people with some Econ. background.

I am very grateful to report DS school has computing as an option (comp+math specialist until a few yrs ago).

I do expect him to fail at least a few of his GCSEs, though. Am stuck with that reality.

Computer science does indeed sound good - fingers crossed it appears in the booklet as it will be joint first choice with Drama.

Tween No danger of DS messing around in Drama - he takes it seriously but others messing around is indeed a worry which I will be asking about at Parents Eve in the new year.

Yes, PE does seem to be a lot of biology-like stuff. Plus you have to do 3 or 4 sports to a high level.

2B's1G, economics would be a good choice (DH's subject!) - one of DD's friends does it and loves it!

Re the messing around in drama, DD gets very fed-up with this at times - there are 15 boys and only 3 girls in her set!