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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Your opinions on GCSE ICT as an option please

46 replies

kitchendiner · 11/01/2014 07:35

I would be really interested in your opinions on Edexcel GCSE ICT as an option please.

I have read nothing good about ICT as an option so far. DS would have done Computer Science given the choice but sadly it is not in the options booklet.

Thanks

OP posts:

lljkk · 12/01/2014 18:37

ps: I've been looking at CompSci degrees and many only require maths A-level; I'm happy for DS to aim for CompSci without even triple science at GCSE.

Original poster

kitchendiner · 13/01/2014 07:09

I agree Errol, we are kind of defaulting to ICT. We've narrowed it down to 6 and he has to choose 4. Drama is the only definite along with History and/or Geog.

I looked at the results page and this is the first year they are doing this ICT course - previously it was the OCR thing.

His ICT teacher told me he had an aptitude for programming although his maths is not brilliant (dyslexia). Perhaps his dyslexia makes him see things differently - I think there are dyslexic programmers out there. His highest levels are in science but I think calculations and graphs could cause problems, especially in physics. Dyslexia is a weird combo of strengths and weaknesses!

He got a Raspberry Pi for Xmas.

Checked out the results page and C is the most common grade in Drama. Not many A*s or As at all. He'll do it anyway.

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ErrolTheDragon · 13/01/2014 09:11

I think there are dyslexic programmers out there

Oh yes - I write scientific software, the most amazing colleague I had was extremely dyslexic. I believe he thought in code and numbers more than in words.

Original poster

kitchendiner · 13/01/2014 16:53

Computer Science IS an option! OCR Computing. It just wasn't in the booklet. They recommend a predicted B or above in Maths but may make an exception for DS as he has an aptitude for it. I do however see that 40% is a one and a half hour WRITTEN TASK!

Thanks ErroltheDragon - I have read about similar dyslexic programmers.

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ErrolTheDragon · 13/01/2014 17:34

Oh, that's good news. There's not going to be many GCSEs which don't require written work, unfortunately for your DS - it ought to be better for him than something like history which presumably is all written work.

tom2468tom · 14/01/2014 22:57

The advice I have seen would be to do the stuff that DD likes and is good at. ICT is a perfectly good GCSE.

My only doubt is that I seem to remember hearing that it was going to be scrapped in favour of Computing Science. Is that still happening or did I get that wrong?

Original poster

kitchendiner · 15/01/2014 06:10

They are now running both at our school. Pretty sure they won't be dropping ICT. Computer Science will also count as a science on the EBacc (not that I'm bothered about that bit).

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ErrolTheDragon · 15/01/2014 07:50

Computer Science will also count as a science on the EBacc
which is bloody ridiculous. Gove clearly doesn't know what a science is if he thinks CS is one.

KittyVonCatsington · 16/01/2014 19:09

40% is a one and a half hour WRITTEN TASK!

It is not a task- it is the written examination paper (assuming it is OCR) so will be testing binary and hex skills, describing what the components of computer do (motherboard and the like!) and binary logic/circuits etc.

The other 30% will be three programming tasks that have to be designed, programmed, tested and evaluated in 20 hours. There is also a research investigation on a topic set by the exam board for the other 30%. I have found over the past 4 years teaching it (I was part of the original pilot) that those that got the highest grades, were excellent at Physics-Maths was not that useful as an indicator TBH!

Original poster

kitchendiner · 16/01/2014 21:16

Thanks Kitty. The reason I thought it was a written task was because the info sheet describes it a "written paper" but I guess that it's more of a "question and answer" exam. Yes, it's OCR. The info sheet recommends that "only students forecast a B and above in Maths sign up for the course".

Also interesting what you say about the Physics. What aspect of Physics do you think it is that crosses over?

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ErrolTheDragon · 16/01/2014 22:24

Kitty may have a different answer, but it could be that people of a scientific bent tend to have the same sort of aptitudes for logical thinking and problem solving as are required for dealing with computers.

Original poster

kitchendiner · 17/01/2014 06:52

Very interesting. I think DS is probably quite good at "logical thinking and problem solving" but he is very mediocre at maths (dyslexia). His ICT teacher thought he had an aptitude for programming so when further reading revealed the need to be good at maths, it caused a bit of concern. His Science Levels are certainly way higher than his Maths Level.

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Original poster

kitchendiner · 17/01/2014 06:55

Actually, rather than logical thinking, it's creative thinking that he excels at. Is creative thinking useful for Computer Science or could it even be problematic?

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MrsAMerrick · 17/01/2014 07:09

When my ds was choosing his GCSE options we went to talk to the head of ICT. My ds knew he wanted to do Computer Science at A level, so asked about ICT GCSE as his school didn't do computer science at GCSE.

Head of ICT advised that he would probably be bored rigid by ICT GCSE so he didn't do it ( chose Philosophy instead which he really enjoyed). He's now doing Computer Science A level.

Original poster

kitchendiner · 17/01/2014 07:59

Just looked at recommended qualifications for computer degree courses and was surprised to see Philosophy there, along with the Maths, ICT and Physics etc. Very interesting.

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ErrolTheDragon · 17/01/2014 11:02

kitchen, I'm not entirely clear what GCSE comp.sci requires, but if he's thinking of a job in software then creative thinking is definitely good!
Think of it by analogy with English - in order to write a book you need not only a grip of the language but also you have to have something to write about - and beyond that, sometimes you'll be faced with a task which you need a creative approach to solve.

KittyVonCatsington · 18/01/2014 17:11

Couldn't have said it better, myself, ErrolTheDragon! That, and the cross-over with circuitry and electricity, means students often understand those concepts more easily. Technically, there is very little Maths (as long as he can add up to 128 and do basic addition and multiplication in his head, he will be fine, kitchendiner) Memorising definitions 'parrot fashion' will serve him better than an A grade in Maths. (in my opinion/experience)

Original poster

kitchendiner · 18/01/2014 21:16

Thanks Errol and Kitty. All very positive information! Definitely has dyslexic creativity, scientific mind and almost photographic memory but an A Grade Maths is totally and utterly out of the question!

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Creamycoolerwithcream · 20/01/2014 11:18

My DS is gluing to pick it as his 'easier' option. All his other choices are traditional academic subjects.

MumInVillage · 21/01/2014 00:20

Kitchen, it sounds like your DS goes to the same school as mine, in Oxfordshire? The announcement at options evening that computing GCSE is being offered has resulted in a rethink of our original ideas. If it is the same school, I heard parents discussing with the head of ICT about the math's grade issue, can't remember what was said exactly, but there seemed to be a willingness to consider rather than turn down straight away.

Original poster

kitchendiner · 21/01/2014 06:26

Thanks Mum. I have spoken to an ICT teacher and the maths grade issue won't be a problem.

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