Yr9 options -media studies

[17leftfeet]

Dd brought her options booklet home on Friday and in typical dd fashion, wants to make her choice now -it doesn't have to be submitted until January!

There will be an options evening later on in the term but she wants to get it clear in her own mind

She will be doing

Maths
Statistics
Triple science
English Lang & lit
Spanish
History (3 options, she's leaning towards ancient)
Ethics, philosophy & religion (2 GCSEs)

She has one more option

She wants to do media studies

She's predicted all A and A* under the current system

If she wants to do a very academic degree will media studies harm her in some way?

Is it a soft option?

I'm already worrying about her doing so many exams under the linear system -this is all so confusing!

12 GCSEs when they're all linear is insane. Media studies is seen as a soft option, but with 11 academic GCSEs would probably be ok. However, that's a lot of subjects involving essay writing and the exams will be long. What else is in that option block? Could she take an art or technology subject balance it out?

The options aren't blocked, they choose a MFL and either history or geography then get free choice depending on ability -top set can literally choose any option

She's chosen EPR which gives her 2 as she really enjoys it but could do RS which will only give her 1

She could do art but I worry about the workload

She has to have 2 back up options incase they don't get first choice and she's thinking Latin and psychology, so not making life any easier

As her EPR is 2 GCSE's (and 11 is more than enough) could that be counted as 2 options so leave it at that. Although soft options may be easier, they can still be high workload wise. And sometimes harder to get A/A* in, especially when taught in mixed ability groups.

Media studies is much maligned on Mumsnet but both of mine took it, one at A level and one at GCSE. As a GCSE I don't think the workload was too heavy compared to Art where the workload was insane.

Both of them absolutely loved it, it is closely aligned to English and it is really very interesting.

DD went on to do a History degree and having A level media studies did not prevent her getting offers from RG Universities.

DS who isn't very academic has just started a BTEC in Creative Media at sixth form college.

I teach GCSE Media - a bright, creative student should find it straightforward - not easy as there is a lot of ongoing controlled assessment etc but certainly for a student who keeps deadlines and takes an interest an A/A* is well within reach. I doubt it affects university applications and adds a bit of breadth to an array of GCSEs. My brightest students often find some of the discussion points very eye-opening!

Don't worry about how Media Studies will be viewed by Unis. With her good range of academic subjects, she could do anything that interested her without it affecting her later options.

I also think Media Studies is much maligned, not only by MN but (ironically) the media itself.

I confess I am not that familiar with the syllabus, but I assume they are asked to look at the different types of media and then at different styles of reporting and possible bias. And also to evaluate media sources.

If studying this encourages a student to question the sources and presentation of what they see in the Media, it can only be a good thing. And possibly far more relevant to their everyday life than the solution to a quadratic equation. (I am a maths teacher).

It may not be particularly career related, but it should be part of the life skills taught to have a savvy population.

As she isn't giving her life over to MS I would say it will be an interesting choice. Lots of lively debate!

My daughter's arts education has made her very aware of people, bias and her surroundings in a way that often goes right over your head when a teenager.

MS is a 12th GCSE and the work will be doing 12, not MS. Mostly As is worth a great deal more than more subjects but fewer As. 10 subjects would be just fine.

Is she taking 3 years to do these?

2 years -she doesn't have the option to do less although I would much prefer that she did 9 and got higher marks

If she is thinking of History A Level then I would steer clear of ancient history... They really are very different disciplines and advice from universities is to keep choices as broad as possible at GCSE and a level rather than taking very specialised subjects.

She's thinking maths, chemistry, physics and Spanish at the moment

She likes to plan ahead

I'm an English teacher and have recently taught GCSE Media Studies (AQA) as an extra-curricular after-school course. We publicised it to the most-able English students and it has proven a real success. Lots in common with English Lang (the analysis of non-fiction texts) and allowed students to develop different skills. The students really enjoyed the opportunity to be creative (these were kids who were taking demanding subjects within the curriculum) and has led to some broadening their options at A Level.

She's thinking maths, chemistry, physics and Spanish at the moment, She likes to plan ahead

She is in Y8 talking about Y9 options (doesn't have to make a decision until Jan) so aged 12/13.

Why are you worrying about these things now? Let her mature a bit before you worry about her academic profile

If she is doing well, let her carry on doing well.

why isnt she doing long course RS?

oh - and yes FGS - tell her to go and snog some boys or something

I think she is in year 9 and has to choose her options at the end of this term, so not too early at all!

Lordnoobson

I'm worrying about it because she's worrying about it

She wants to do EPR rather than RS -it's her favourite subject

And she won't snog boys unless their name is Ashley Purdy and she has no chance with him

And she's in yr9, nearly 14

Don't let her do it- not a good option for someone predicted A/A*.

And it isn't that I don't rate it as a subject, it's just the sad truth. Plus the GCSE course has got increasingly more dull.