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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

french - to study or not study at GCSE

21 replies

astronomer · 30/01/2007 14:18

DS (year 9) has to choose year 10 options soon. He would prefer not to study french and prefer to do history and geography. Some universities are considering making a foreign language gcse compulsory. His subject teachers all want him to pick their own subject. Any advice?

OP posts:

tiredemma · 30/01/2007 14:20

Has he got any idea what he wants to do at Uni? ( Having to choose in yr 9 has always seemed stupid to me- how can a 14 yr old have firm ideas about what they want to do in the future?)

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 14:24

He has wanted to study medicine since year 5!!! I know it seems very young but DD decided she wanted to teach at that age and has been qualified a couple of years and loves it. DS1 decided he was doing chem,phys and maths A level as soon as he started secondary school

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tiredemma · 30/01/2007 14:30

have you looked at specific uni's websites with admission criteria? I would have thought that as long as he achieves high grades in his science related subjects and maths, that he should be ok to get into Med school? He sounds like a very promising young man!!

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 14:31

Don't know where we got him from can't be one of ours

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tiredemma · 30/01/2007 14:32

im hoping mine turn out the same.

Fauve · 30/01/2007 14:42

Astronomer, my ds has got to choose GCSE subjects soon, and we've had no direct info from the school about the constraints. What we hear from ds is based on Chinese whispers with the boys he travels on the bus with. But we think we may have a similar dilemma - he may have to give up history, which would be a shame. Could you say what subjects your ds is being asked to choose from - does he have to do an arts subject? I know different schools will differ, but would be interested to hear how he's constrained.

winterpimms · 30/01/2007 14:47

Lucky you - dd has not got a clue what she wants to do! We are also doing options and dd has to choose 4. French is one of her core subjects (have to do a language), so she has no choice.

But what 4 to pick! Hoping all will become clear after our option evening next week

Good luck!

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 14:48

english, maths, science (single double or triple)compulsory, as is RE (well it is a catholic school) plus a technology I think french was until recently

performing arts not compulsory

history would be ideal for him as his school teaches history of science and medicine

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Fauve · 30/01/2007 14:57

Ds says he has to do 2 English, triple science, maths, RE, IT and one modern language; then he has to choose three more from the rest (he thinks). Geography is a must for him, and the Latin teacher is fantastic, so he wants to do Latin. We'd like him to do history; but he thinks he may have to do an arts one - either music, art or DT, none of which he's that keen on.

I have to say in your situation, I think I'd argue for French, unless he really hates it. My thinking on my ds giving up history is that he can always read up on history in his adult life; but I think it's very hard for an adult to study a language (although obviously many do). It's a very tough call, though. If he loves history, he'd be more likely to get a really good grade in it.

snorkle · 30/01/2007 14:58

Message withdrawn

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 15:18

DD got a very decent grade in French and knew very little
have emailed a couple of universities

maybe the compulsory french is for non science degrees

OP posts:

QueenEagle · 30/01/2007 15:21

dd was going to drop French when she chose her options.

The careers advisor told her she would be better to do a language at GSCE and drop it for A levels, rather than drop it now and try to take it up again at A level should she need to.

So she has (reluctantly) carried on with it. Can your ds speak with a careers advisor, see what they say?

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 15:29

The borough careers advisor spoke to his class recently and he felt she wasn't very good (have met her before with DD and she is useless)

Will speak to his science teachers at parents evening next month who also teach A level, at least he has a sixth form at school

Hopefully technology (food, graphics or textiles)will no longer be compulsory

OP posts:

snorkle · 30/01/2007 15:30

Message withdrawn

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 15:34

I think he would do it if he had to and is lucky to have been taught by native speakers from lands more exotic than france

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Lorina · 30/01/2007 15:38

If he is bored of French could he do German or Spanish instead ?

If they do a language then they usually go on trips to that country, which is a great opportunity for fun as well as learning

stleger · 30/01/2007 15:42

To get into an Irish university you have to have English, Irish and another European Language at leaving certificate! I'm amazed you don't have to have one European language at GCSE!

Original poster

astronomer · 30/01/2007 15:43

They do not do german at all, and he chose french over spanish for year 7 and cannot change. The thought is that it will probably improve next year as an option as there will not be the real reluctant students in class

OP posts:

amicissima · 30/01/2007 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

portonovo · 30/01/2007 19:49

I would say go for French - but then I'm a languages graduate!

I think it helps for a 'rounded' education, but whether it will stand in the way of a career in medicine is another matter.

My children's secondary school is one of those where a foreign language is still compulsory at GCSE level, and if they like (and have the aptitude), they can do a second one too.

It would be a shame though if he had to give up a subject he really liked. It really depends how the options choices are arranged - at our school you have to do one language, one DT option, one humanities, one art or performing arts and then you have a 'spare' choice which can be another of the above, subject to timetabling restraints.

mumof3teens · 31/01/2007 10:28

My DS1 is a second year medic and did GCSE French. He got offers at 3 out of the 4 Med schools (although don't know if the language had anything to do with it) and I know that the Uni he is at (Manchester) do a language with Medicine option, where the students spend a year at a French, German or Spanish hospital etc. He wanted to be a Doctor from age 5 and has never wavered (yet!) So your son could well be the same. He didn't study GCSE History (although the school do a short history of medicine course)as he preferred Geography. DS2 is in year 11 and (now) wants to study Dentistry. He is taking GCSE Spanish. I think a language shows a good range of academic subjects, so would encourage him to take French.

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