GCSE options: MFL or not, and Business Studies vs Computer Science

[WeBuiltThePyramids]

Another options one I'm afraid! DS1 is yr 9 and in the midst of choosing options. For background, he is a bright student who will hopefully be aiming for Russell Group etc universities but has no idea what he wants to do! He does currently think he will go down a Maths/Sciences A level route.

He's been doing an MFL since yr 7, doesn't particularly enjoy it, although accepts it would be useful, and his class has had some unfortunate breaks in teaching so they're not in the best position generally. His last set of grades suggested he's on track for a 6, possibly a 7 if he works hard. If he dropped the MFL he would probably pick up a second humanity e.g. history where he's likely to get at least an 8. Anyone know whether it would be better to have a language at a possibly lower grade, or to have that gap with no MFL but a higher grade in another subject?!

Also, DS only has one completely "free" option for which he's trying to decide between Business Studies and Computer Science. I know very little about either and wondering which would be more highly regarded or more useful, or does it not really matter?!

His other GCSEs will be: English Lang + Lit, Maths, Triple Science, Geography, RS, and PE.

Would appreciate any thoughts

Computer science. All the way. The world is going that way and with CS the world goes from being a lemon to a beautiful oyster!

I must say though there's a lot of hard work involved with both but computer science is the better option. Just checked with DS, DD and DD's bf - 19-22 yo

Will be directing younger DS down CS route when it's his turn.

RS is wee buns. Easy peasy!

I read that some unis expect a MFL so you're son may be at a disadvantage if he doesn't have one - I'd seriously research.

No strong feelings about the other one, computer science a solid choice.

Computer science is not necessarily what students expect -more theory and less programming. He needs to look at the syllabus/talk to teachers to see if it will appeal.

Are the school not leaning on him to take French for the Ebacc? If it’s not his thing then I don’t think there are any particular advantages or doors that will be opened through having it.

Unis don’t generally demand an MFL. One prefers it for all students that I know of, but you can take a language course at the uni to make up for it if you don’t have it.

Thanks - DH is firmly of the view that CS is the way to go given the likely future technological advances and the differences it will make to jobs available etc. DS gets v good marks at CS, Maths and Sciences so would probably do well - Business Studies is more of an unknown as he's never tried it and I'm not sure how much he's been influenced by the fact his friends are planning on taking it

Tatapie I agree re the MFL I think...he's going to have to really work his socks off for the next few years to make sure it doesn't let him down.

noblegiraffe yes the school are strongly encouraging EBacc but not enforcing it this year. From next year the MFL becomes compulsory at the school.

Have your school not given you any info on each subject? My DD (Yr9) is also picking options right now. She has had quite a lot of information during assembly, 1 v 1 meetings with her form teacher, an evening where parents were invited to hear how it would all work and also a pamphlet sent home explaining every subject offered, the exam board and syllabus etc.
This has definitely helped us to help her pick her options - the school was very keen to point out that its the students decision which subject to pick and not the parents.
DD gets to pick 9 subjects - although she actually only had to decide between History/Geography and then between PE/Drama/Music/Art/Business Studies & Computer Science.
Her school insists top 2 sets have to do the Ebacc which I was happy with tbh as very keen for DD to do a MFL. It does help that she is good at Spanish and enjoys it.

Business Studies GCSE is not needed for the A level so is of minimal use unless you enjoy it. I think lack of an MFL for academic children shows a lack of breadth and all round talent but most universities are now about bums on seats so for science degrees they won’t care. I would look at the CS syllabus and if it suits, choose it. Has he chosen anything creative such as a technology?

I think it is such a shame Heifer that your DD cannot do two MFL if she is a linguist. Schools don’t restrict to one science but so many restrict MFL choice. Two is a great advantage to a linguist.

computer science definitely

don't know re MFL

Computer science, if he is good at maths and quite logical then he will be OK.

It counts as another science for progress 8.

But agree to check syllabus, it can theoretically be taught without ever touching a computer.

BubblesBuddy DDs school only actually take 1 language in yr 7, they have to pick between France and Spanish, so 2 was never an option.
Although I believe you could opt to do a 2nd language as a fast track in your own time in yr 10 but that is a big ask if you haven't studied it beforehand. I'm guessing there are MFL lunch clubs though if you really wanted to from yr 7. My DD never really enjoyed French in Primary and is loving Spanish so she is happy with just that.

Bubbles no he hasn't chosen a creative subject, that would have to take the place of Business Studied/Computer Science as the compulsory RS and PE mean there aren't many gaps left! In fairness he's not particularly creative although does well at tech and music.

Heifer we have had an information evening but it turned into a bit of a sales pitch from individual teachers, particularly towards any students who were likely to be high performers. I didn't feel we got a lot of impartial information about the subjects. I think I need to find the relevant syllabus for each one and get DS to have a proper look at them!!

Interesting to see so many in favour of Computer Science!

Computer science definitely OP. Shame ds can't do it as he is weak in Maths.

Business studies isn't a real subject as such - it's an amalgam of all sorts of other things, most of which aren't easily taught at GCSE level. Definitely, definitely computer science....

Definitely computer studies

Business studies isn’t a well regarded subject by universities. Have you looked at economics ?

Computer Science! Definitely.

Most schools around here don't even offer Business Studies at GCSE or even A-level.

I would also include at least one MFL.

OP - Which exam board does your son's school use for the CS GCSE?

If you want I can get you a link to the syllabus and then you can see exactly what the CS GCSE will involve?

My dh is a coder and thinks the computer science syllabus looks shite and outdated. Not even sure you need it for A level.

We are in a similar quandary- geography or computer science for us. Our son wants to go into coding like his dad. History is a definite,wondering if geography would be held in a more positive light ie more weighty by unis.

Such a buggar they have to do a language. My ds is predicted much better grades in Geography and CS.

The language our course does is Visual Basic which dh says went out with the ark. He thinks a better more up to date language isn't being studied because they probably haven't got anybody to teach it. Don't get why the gov doesn't liaise with businesses and sort out some kind of expertise loan to support schools.

persiancatlady the exam board for Computer Science is OCR. It's EdExcel for Business Studies.

purpleprincess economics might be the sort of thing that would interest him. Something to think about later on.

Many thanks for all the answers so far!

Most schools around here don't even offer Business Studies at GCSE or even A-level

In 2017 87,450 students were entered for Business GCSE with 32,550 entered for A2 so there must be a school somewhere offering it! latest statistics here

Given I teach Business (note, it is no longer Business Studies, but just Business ) to A Level I usually try to stay away from these threads as I obviously will be defensive about my subject, however as once again there are some misleading posts about not only Business, but also CS (taught in my dept, so whilst I am not fully up to speed on the spec, I do have some knowledge)

CS is a very useful subject and this has been recognised as such with it being in 'basket 2' of the progress 8 subjects; however recently the coursework element was withdrawn and therefore a subject which has a strong practical element is now 100% exam based. The specification of CS has some really useful and interesting elements, however unfortunately there are some really out of date inclusions and a lot of students do find the spec dry and not interesting, it is also very difficult to achieve a high grade. As PP have alluded to, if your DC want to go into CS for a career then they do not need this GCSE (just like with the vast majority of careers).

The issue with Business....it is true that you don't need the GCSE to do the A Level, but neither do you need the GCSE in a lot of subjects to take it at A Level what is not true is the influence on university offers. Undertaking a GCSE which is not considered to be a traditional academic subject will not/does not stop top universities making offers, undertaking a qualification that is not a traditional GCSE does not stop a top ranking university making an offer. I have previous GCSE/A Level/BTEC business students who have gone on to Oxbridge/RG universities to study a wide range of subjects that are not connected to any business field (my current year 13 group of BTEC Business students have offers from RG unis in non connected subjects)

Business as a subject is in my view a 'life lesson'; for students of 14-16 with no experience/knowledge it helps to make sense of the world, why decisions are made, why businesses run the way they do, why they make the decisions they do, what happens if they don't pay attention to competitors, market research etc. It has also (with the new specs) got a lot harder - there is far more content, a lot of more quantitative skills (DfE specifically increased this content) and it challenges students to apply their knowledge of theory to real life cases studies - high level analytical and evaluative skills are required to achieve anywhere near the old C grade

Op - the specification for Edexcel Business is here

Just looked up that Progress 8 thing. CS seems to be in the same band as Geography. If my ds is doing 3 sciences, a language and history do you think something easy like CS would be a good choice i.e. less of an overall study load?