Choosing options- how important is doing a humanity?

[Foxjar]

Gets good grades in both.

Has got to choose 3 out of a language,humanities,CS and DT. Gets good grades in all of them. 1 has to be a language.Wants to be an engineer or scientist. DT A level not crucial( sciences and maths are which he is doing).

I think a humanity and then either CS or DT. Ds thinks both CS and DT.

Any thoughts?

History is his preferred humanity subject.

I'd take a humanity and then CS or DT. It keeps his options open. Plus, if he is considering a russell group university then having the ebacc subjects is a strong foundation (english, maths, science, languagr, humanity).

Is he doing RS as a non option and if so is it a full gcse?

Because if so I would say let him do CS and DT. Both of which will be more relevant to his future career aspirations.

If not then there is the argument that GCSEs should be about breadth and he ought to have a subject which is more writing/essay based (which he will get with RE).

Personally even if not doing RE I’d still go with DT and Cs if it’s what he wants to do.

Schools will certainly push ebacc but I’m not so sure that universities care.

“Plus, if he is considering a russell group university then having the ebacc subjects is a strong foundation”

Russell Group don’t care what GCSEs you do. Oxford and Cambridge look at grades. UCL (I think) still likes a MFL.

A Humanity will give him a broader education- and gives him options at A level if he changes his mind about what he wants to do next. G9 for a History.

BertrandRussell
That's what we get told to advise and what comes through from careers. It keeps their options open and means they demonstrate a range of academic skills.

It's not that they must have them, but we are advised to steer more academic students towards that.

I thin k a humanity gives skills that you don't necessarily get to practice with other subjects_ critical thinking, seeing both sides of an argument, being able to interpret things on your own (not necessarily a right/wrong answer, but having to use the facts given to you).

I don't think it matters that much. He should do subjects he's interested in and thinks he'll get good grades in.

Yes there is an argument about essay subjects, but it's likely that he'll pick up essay skills again at A Level and if not, at university - and if he's struggling due to lack of practice, there are workshops he can go to to learn this skill better.

I think language teaching in schools is generally crap and if he wants a language he should learn it independently and focus on gaining it as a skill rather than grades, which means choosing one that he'll have a realistic opportunity to use in real life.

Our secondary pushes the ebacc. Children have to do a humanity subject. History is the one supposed universities prefer as it's a more academic subject than Geography. Having said that, your ds should really choose what he enjoys and what he's good at so he has more chance of getting the grade at exam time.

History is the one supposed universities prefer as it's a more academic subject than Geography.

Wrong on both counts.

Computer science rather than DT.

"but it's likely that he'll pick up essay skills again at A Level"

Not if they only do science subjects. DD is applying for medicine. One of the universities she looked at stated at the subject talk that they prefer the applicants to have 2 science subjects and a humanities at A level as it shows a wider breadth of education.

Titchy I'm just going by information given from both school and university.

Metal not one university has told you that GCSE history is better regarded than GCSE geography. Not one.

I suspect your schools history dept are making it up to get kids to pick their subject though.

He should do the subjects he wants to do. He doesn't need History unless he is likely to do an A level in it. CS and DT would be more relevant to engineering but he may change his mind over the next few years.
My DD is studying engineering and took a language, music and geography as her options.

lots of dcs at dc's (fairly academic) indie with almost all going on to russell group unis don't do either history, geography or RS. It's certainly not mandatory.

Considering you have to do Maths, English x 2, MFL, 3 x science it doesn't leave much to choose from
History, Geography, RS, DT, Art, Music, Drama, CS, Latin, second MFL etc etc.

a common choice is a second MFL, Latin and a creative.
or DT, Art and CS.

I work in science.
I guess the advantage of history is it's practice at good quality communication (writing). This is not always a common skill in science!
DT & CS sounds very good, though.
Should be his choice.

As DH is an Engineer (Civil and Structural, Transport and Environmental) I would suggest Geography. There is so much work to be done on managing flood plains these days, Geography has its uses.

DT is good for budding for Engineers too and obviously CS helps as well . One or the other at GCSE is neither here nor there because the universities are not really looking at individual GCSEs taken. I do not think he needs both on top of sciences and maths. DT may allow him to be more creative but I would do a humanity and that should be Geography I think.

Strange how people are suggesting RS as a humanity but this isn't included in the Ebacc.
If the school don't insist on the Ebacc then there is nothing wrong with your ds' preferences. DT can be great for potential engineers but bear in mind that the coursework element can be very intensive.
If RS is taken then that is an essay subject. English Lit is an essay subject too so surely this is already covered without either History or Geography.
dd is taking A level essay subject(s) without either GCSE History or Geography (did GCSE RS/English Lit/DT) so it is possible.

History is considered a very good GCSE to do. DT certainly used to be considered a bit like doing Food Tech as a GCSE but times and views may have changed.

Geography is a more science based humanity than History. So, if the subject that was being considered at univ. was Law (for example) History would definitely trump Geography.

My relative who is a Russell Group Prof in Law says that the last thing they want is GCSE's or A levels in Law or Sociology, Film etc.