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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE options

98 replies

BetterWithCake · 08/01/2018 15:18

DS has to make subject choices for GCSEs in the next few weeks. He has no idea what he might like to do after school career wise. Is the best thing to keep things as broad as possible and stick with the things he enjoys and hopefully will do well in? I am concerned he will leave something out that he might later regret.

TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
BetterWithCake · 09/01/2018 09:17

I agree Cleo, it seems a shame that they have to narrow things down at 13/14 when many are not ready for such decisions. Some will base their decisions based on whether they like the current teacher for that subject but a year later and a different teacher could have a different influence on this decision.

OP posts:
MirandaWest · 09/01/2018 09:21

DS is doing Maths, English, Science (decision on whether it is double or triple will get made later on) and RE as compulsory GCSEs. They also do PE and personal development which aren't.

They had 4 options and were encouraged to do a humanity and a language. He's doing geography, music, Spanish and PE which all seems fine to me

AlexanderHamilton · 09/01/2018 09:24

PE isn't seen as a soft subject as it's very science based.

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 10:12

Mine has only 2 choices...

TeenTimesTwo · 09/01/2018 10:27

cleo Selective school? Forcing 2 humanities and a language and triple science?

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 10:51

Yes but one humanity only

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 10:52

looks like its triple science, history and french

BeyondThePage · 09/01/2018 10:57

cleofatra - same options as DD15 - she is loving that mix.

TeenTimesTwo · 09/01/2018 10:59

I guess that is the down side of a selective school. They don't let the pupils do perceived less academic options.
So are the 'choices' which out of History&Geog and which language, or are you counting them as compulsory and they get 2 free choices after that?
What about computer science/music/art/drama/DT/textiles/food tech/dance/business studies/media strudies . Are they not offered?

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:00

Ah Good! The sad thing is that mine does well in and also loves music, computer science, geography, Spanish but has to say goodbye to them :(

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:01

teen he gets to choose
1 of a list of humanities and art/music/tech kind of things
between Spanish and French

and that's it really

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:05

Art and Design
Computer Science Design and Technology
Geography
History
A Second Modern Foreign Language
Music
GCSE Physical Education

They can choose one

ReinettePompadour · 09/01/2018 11:06

Mine doesn't really have any choices at gcse. They offer only 8 subjects. Not all options are at gcse, some are btecs.

Compulsary subjects are:

English Language
English Literature
Maths
French
Geography or History (not both)
Science choose either triple or double.

If they chose triple science there are no further options to pick from.
If they chose double science they can also pick 1 other from:
Art
RE/RS
BTECs (PE, health, catering, childcare, engineering)

This is new to our school with the appointment of a new head. The heads theory is that 'less is more'. Less subjects to study = higher grades all round = improved attainment for whole school figures = bigger pay packet for him.

CantRememberHoliday · 09/01/2018 11:07

I had to do Maths, English lit + Lang, Triple science, French or Spanish, geography or history and RS

ReinettePompadour · 09/01/2018 11:08

Sorry there are more btecs including IT, business and music type subjects but my dc havent mentioned those at all.

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:09

Compulsory for us
Religious Studies (fair enough)
Mathematics
English Language
English Literature
Triple science
A Modern Foreign Language
and the usual P.E. and Games , cit ed etc(not examined)

TeenTimesTwo · 09/01/2018 11:09

Wow, that's really not much choice at all.

At her comp 4 years ago DD had 4 quite wide choices and did 2 languages history & drama.

I'm hoping DD2 gets 4 choices this time next year. She will probably go for Geography, Drama, Food Tech + god knows what.

But our school is fully comp going from kids doing Triple Science + 2 lang + humanity down to beauty or construction qualifications.

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:15

I am so lost as to how to advise him.
He has a higher mark for computer studies (4.6 so far) but maybe he should do a humanity to make things more well rounded . Gah!

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:16

(he is in year 8 by the way)

TeenTimesTwo · 09/01/2018 11:23

Y8 is too early to pick GCSEs imo. DD2, y8, will have a mini options for going in to y9 but that is about maybe doing a second language, and dropping a 2/4 tech subjects. Not about dropping languages or a core humanity.

cleofatra · 09/01/2018 11:24

I agree. It makes no sense, He has done ONE year and a term of many of these subjects - and now has to choose . I know that's life but difficult and sad nonetheless.

TeenTimesTwo · 09/01/2018 11:25

And some of those choosing will only be 12.5 years old.

sashh · 09/01/2018 11:37

he has narrowed this down to PE and either IT, DT or Food Tech GCSE. Is this a good balance?
IT will not be GCSE, the government has decided only computing/computer science should be a GCSE so if it is IT then it will be BTEC or something else.

Trumpetboysmum · 09/01/2018 11:56

Ds had to choose soon too ( he's in year 8) his school don't seem to be going down the " less is more route" which is good as unless things have changed since last year he will do triple science, hopefully history and German and then definitely music ( this I have told him may affect what other subjects will fit) plus he hopes drama and RS. ( languages teachers want him to do a second language I have said no I think it will be too much) . This 3 year ks4 keeps more subjects going for longer but I am really worried about how he is going to manage with all these exams in year 11- especially as he has a fairly massive music commitment outside of school which gets more vocational and less like a hobby by the day.
We went to a careers fair recently and they said keep it broad and do what you enjoy as you are more likely to do better in these subjects

CrumpettyTree · 09/01/2018 12:40

Is Computing considered an academic subject?