URGENT GCSEs

[gcsehelpneeded]

My dd has chosen: art (she is not very good but enjoys it and thinks it will be helpful in her chosen career path), geography (does not enjoy it but guaranteed A and needed for ebaac), french (easy) and psychology* (interests her) her fallback is PE which she is very good at but thinks its a bit irrelevant. Are these good choices?

What is her chosen career path?

What is she predicted for the other subjects?

My first thought is that Art is very time consuming and challenging- it may not be the best choice if she does not absolutlly love it.

Did you not ask about this the other day?

And that nobody is guaranteed an A*........

These subjects sound fine. A couple of DS1's close friends are doing Art GCSE and the workload is heavy, but she probably knows that.

How can a subject, Art GCSE , that you are not very good at, help with a chosen career? GCSEs are of little value in any career, on their own. What they do is show you have achieved well at a variety of subjects from which you choose specialisms later on in school. There is nothing wrong with her choices but don't expect A*s as the curriculum is getting tougher. Not sure when the new grading system is coming in, but fewer are likely to get the top grades.

My first thought is that Art is very time consuming and challenging- it may not be the best choice if she does not absolutlly love it.

I agree. Ds1 has just done his and was horrified at the sheer amount of work invoved. He regrets choosing it and he was pretty good at it.

Her chosen career path is Fashion journalism, and yes she does love art but is just not great at it.

French is not easy, unless she is bilingual, perhaps. DD1, who was predicted A* for every subject, will be content with a B, even though, in RL, she can have a reasonable conversation in French, and her written exams are very good.

Art is a big commitment. It takes a lot of time each week to keep up with the coursework. A Lot.

Geography contains a lot of rote learning. You need to learn statistics for 15(?) case studies, then be able to use those in arguments in your written questions. To get an A*, she needs to both know the facts, and apply them to he arguments she is making.

Why does she need the EBacc? None of the high performing schools near us insist on it.

If she wants to do fashion journalism, she needs to start writing a blog, if she hasn't already.

Ah. What's her fall back career path?

Yes, she has her own blog for this very reason.

French is not easy- but it's great she has chosen it. Good luck to her!

My dd is just at the end of yr11 so about to finish.

She has enjoyed Geography and found it interesting. Chose it as a bit of a wildcard but now is considering it for A level. It's a mix of science and humanity which she likes.

French has been very hard for her. She is not bilingual and has got through it by sheer determination, slog and a good memory.

Art she chose because she was good at it and loved the subject. She was prepared for the workload, but ultimately it has been a disappointment. It is very controlled, lots of 'copying in the style of' and lacking in encouraging personal creativity and development. Quite surprising that so much joy has been sucked out of such a visual subject. The teaching too has been chaotic and badly managed which hasn't helped. I will not be encouraging my younger dc to do it.

Psychology wasn't on offer to her at GCSE, but she's keen to do it at A level.

Also would agree, guaranteeing an A* before she's even started? How is that possible?

Not guaranteed no, but targeted and is very good at getting good marks in geography.

Agree with the heavy workload for art. Students don't need the ebacc. It's only the school that's measured on it. Pick subjects she's good at/interested in and are relevant to her possible career choices, whilst keeping her options as wide as possible, in case she changes her mind.

Iirc this choice involves a change of school and location. You cannot guarantee that teaching will be of consistent standard or even to same curriculum. French for example can vary from an oral of rote learning and practice to spontaneous conversation on a variety of topics. Some subjects may involve controlled assessments and coursework , others less. What is the track record of new school for results? Art especially could be particularly telling.

Echoing others on Art - it is very time consuming and labourious. When I did it we were expected to stay late after school for at least 2 hours a week, not including the work we were expected to do at home, and speaking to the teens I know not much has changed. If she chooses it, make sure she knows what she's let herself in for.

My dd has absolutely loved GCSE Psychology, and if your dd is interested in any kind of journalism it might prove to be a good choice.

Is the art course 'art & design' or just art? Does the school offer textiles, which might be another useful possibility?