Recommended number of GCSEs ()

[dianamarcus]

My DD is Year 8 and we have to start thinking about her GCSE subjects.
She is set for: Maths, English, English literature, Triple Science, History, German and Spanish - 9 subjects.
She is also thinking at Religious Studies and Computing, but my concern is that having too many subjects might dilute her performance. I would rather have her study less subjects, with higher potential of good grades. On the other hand, would having a minimum no GCSEs (8) look bad for universities?

I think it is useful to mention extra curricular activities that support the subject and certainly studying a musical instruments or two to a high level us worth mentioning. It shows dedication and is not something a student has suddenly taken up yptrying to look like a rounded character. Computing or RS is neither here nor there and totally depends on the student given that both these subjects are "extras" and not compulsory. Mine would have hated computing so RS a much better fit. For more science minded people computing would look more attractive. Neither are needed at GCSE level for university entrance.

I disagree. The notion that computing is irrelevant to university entrance is likely to change now that it is becoming more coding-based rather than the discredited faffing with office or ICT. It is now a valuable skill to be taken seriously both vocationally and academically. I never took RS seriously when doing admissions work, and there were several occasions when I asked candidates why they had wasted time on it. If it's not philosophy and ethics based it's hard to imagine a greater waste of a GCSE slot. In some cases it is downright damaging - look at this ghastly monotheistic drivel and tell me this is OK:

www.deni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/de/religious-education-core-syllabus-english-version.pdf

That's the Northern Irish syllabus roguedad - they have a certain view on religion not necessarily shared by the other UK nations.

roguedad- I agree totally, Computer Science is now a very hard academic subject and will be very valuable for Uni admissions.

RS is a complete waste of time, its one of those subjects like general studies or citizenship. Unfortunately RS is in effect compulsory at KS4. In reality its a myth that DC can opt out of it as schools dont have an alternative provision. Certainly my DC's school take the line "if they have studied it for 2 years why not take the exam in it, its an easy A". So I will probably not waste my energy making my DC an outlier and try and exercise my supposed right to opt out of it.

The problem with the 'quality over quantity' approach, which in theory I totally agree with, is that it does mean they narrow down very early. Looking purely at compulsory subjects, DD will be taking 8 GCSEs (Eng lang & lit, Welsh lang & lit, 2 x maths, 2 x science), plus third science which pretty much all the top set take makes 9. That's as many O levels as I took in total.

Her school then just gives them two slots for free choice - DD wants to take French & Drama, which are both good choices for her, but means she ends up without a humanity at all (not counting the 1/2 GCSE in RS). It also means she drops all her practical subjects, which is a shame as I could imagine her really enjoying Resistant materials or Engineering.

Roguedad , my smile was only about the "always"

My Ds did RS iGCSE - I don't recognise the tenor of the syllabus you have linked to. DS's exam at that level seemed to have a lot more ethics in it. He then did Theology and Philosophy in 6th form. A lot more Philosophy than Theology (he is very much an atheist FWIW) but a good academic subject. Somewhere between the two he said they covered some logic - never a bad thing.

Sadik tbh your issue is a Welsh one isn't it?

You have 2 extra not very helpful except in Wales compulsories compared with England before you start. Then usually people only do 1 maths, or if they do 2 it is in the same time as the core maths, just faster.

There are millions of jobs that do not require coding! One DD is doing law and the other is doing a fashion degree. Coding? I don't think so. My DH has an Engineering Consultancy. He has an IT specialist. Does anyone else get near coding? No. Do whatever subject makes you happy. For some jobs coding is helpful, for many it is not remotely needed (medics, teaching, HR ..... The list is endless. Another member of staff does it - thank God! Train to be a computer expert by all means but this idea that everyone needs to code to get a job is way off the mark. Shall we forget arts subjects altogether? Useless for the world of work aren't they?

It's very true, Teen. TBH I imagine the two x Maths exams will be taught in the same time as the old one (and DD is good at maths so won't find them a struggle), and of course Welsh lang/lit duplicate a lot of the skills from English lang/lit in terms of things like essay structure, different styles of writing, analysing texts etc, so again it won't be twice the work. But it does mean they end up with a silly number of exams.

I think the actual real difference from when I was at school is that it's now the norm to take 3 x sciences for an awful lot of pupils. Which is probably a good thing, on the whole, I guess.

Also very true that mother tongue Welsh not very useful except in Wales. But I live in hope think that dd will stay here and hence need them and not choose to emigrate!!!

Exams are valued not only for the subject content Sadik, but as evidence that someone is able to learn, and use that learning. So Welsh is as valuable a GCSE as any other, anywhere.