Gcse options: history, geography, re, french

[DorothyL]

Dd doesn't really want to do any of the arty subjects, but this seems a bit heavy... Not sure whether to discourage her?

What do you mean, "a bit heavy". Do you mean you want her to drop one of those subjects & do art/drama?

Very essay-heavy. I was wondering whether it's taking on too much?

From my DD's experience, she thinks that a language is a good idea (it is compulsory at most schools I think) and either History/RS and geography is a better idea than all three, because history and RS are very much essay based and that can be extremely heavy when you consider English Literature and Language as well.
What other subjects does your DD enjoy? Two humanities and a language plus another subject would probably show that she is more well rounded, but in the end it's what she chooses. Some other ideas, if her school offers them: Food Tech, PE, Media, Business, Music, Computer Science, Psychology, Childcare?
Hope this was helpful

Thank you for your reply. Not many of those offered at my dd's school!

It's so individual. Humanities essays were fun to me at that age. I'd have been delighted to be allowed to take all three. In fact I was annoyed that it wasn't possible and agonised quite a bit over which to drop.

Well DD chose Photography, because of the way her options were done, and it was by far and away her heaviest workload. Essay subjects she enjoyed and found much easier

This is what I did (7/8 years ago) except I did Spanish instead of French. I was fine and those subjects are what interested me.

Also the essays expected of you at gcse level are tiny compared to what she will get at a-level or university. I wouldn't worry about it being heavy. Like a pp my friends who took art/photography/dt had the most coursework.

Looks fine to me- GCSE essays aren't too taxing.

Those are all sound academic GCSEs (assuming she's that way inclined); my DD has done those with an additional language and it's been fine. The language options have been the least work for DD. She's also taking art because she loves it. The workoad is huge so it's lucky DD enjoys it enough to view it as relaxing. Art also has a large written component-more than for MFL or RS.

My DD in Year 11 and doing geography, RE and a language (as well as eight other GCSEs). She does this on top of attending three lunchtime and three after school clubs, as well as attending 3 sessions for hobbies elsewhere. She's happy and copes..

To be honest it's the art subject that takes the time. As well as homework in preparation, she has often spends her spare lunchtimes and after school time evenings doing her coursework.

DS is in year 10 and doing all those GCSEs. There is definitely a lot more work than in year 9, and suddenly he's required to remember and process things that were spoon fed last year, but from what I've seen they aren't essay heavy so much as lengthy answers of a few paragraphs to 12 point questions.

Maybe RS is different as I haven't seen anything from that yet.

My DD is taking this combination, simply with Spanish instead of French. She seems to have less to do than those taking art/graphics etc whilst still doing plenty of homework. Go for it.

Really the big difference is in getting used to havign to be specific e.g. you can't say "x policy helped lots of people" any more, instead you have to say "x policy helped of people by providing them with a,b, and c"

Language gcses don't have essays, probably good to do one. As to the others - if that's her preference then why not. As others have said, its the 'arty' subjects, and also some of the more practical ones eg electronic products with project work which are more workload.

It is a bit unusual to take all three humanities. My DD did History and Re plus two languages (she loved languages) and drama for her art subject. Drama turned out to be very useful in her chosen career and definitely helps with self-confidence and public speaking. Often schools suggest History or Geography but if you like both, why not? Same goes for RE. I think doing an art subject demonstrates you are an all-rounder but it doesn't suit everyone and drama is best done at a school which has a top notch drama department.

My son is doing history, geography, rs and german so similar options and is handling it fine (along with Maths, English lit, English language, Triple Science and an HPQ).

If they are subjects she wants to do then she'll enjoy them and the work won't be hard. If forced to do something they are not keen on it becomes hard work to motivate!

At our school she'd have to do French/re and history or geography. If she's not arty then why would you want her to choose those? Art takes up a lot of time.

OP at the school where I work everyone does RE an nearly everyone does history or geography, so doing all 3 would be nothing so very unusual.

If that's what she likes why not?

What would you suggest she does instead? Drama is not for everyone and art is as others have said a massive workload.

French will be the new GCSE which is really good, no stupid coursework, lots of speaking (MFL teacher here :))

That wouldn't be unusual at my school. Everyone has to do RE and either History or Geography and the vast majority also have to do a foreign language. A fair number do History and Geography as both are popular. Art and DT subjects have much heavier workloads according to the kids I teach.

My DDs are both doing this combo and really, it is fine. Essay writing skills are hugely useful and transferable. Arts subjects are where the really heavy workload is. My DDs are both doing triple science too. If your DD genuinely loves these subjects, just let her do them.