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Secondary education

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Original poster

Too IT heavy? GCSE's

92 replies

pansycake · 25/01/2018 15:02

DD wants to do the following GCSE's;

Compulsory
Maths
English Language
English Literature
Combined Science
RE

Then her additional choices would be;
Citizenship
Computer Science
IT
Business

Using PE OR Media as a back up in case she can't get a place on one of her choices.

Wants to study politics & law at A level and college confirmed she doesn't need history for this.

OP posts:
Original poster
pansycake · 25/01/2018 15:03

Oops...question was, too IT heavy? We are trying not to influence her choices at all. She has already said she will not do triple science as she doesn't enjoy it.

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 25/01/2018 15:13

It seems like a strangeish combination to me for someone aiming for Politics & Law. She may not need history, but wouldn't the skills from history be useful?

How 'academic' is she? (As a parent I would look at those choices and think the DC might be B/C grade, slightly science leaning)

Also when you say you are trying not to influence her choices you are making sure she is properly informed aren't you?

(I'm not trying to be pejorative by the way, as my DCs are also B/C grade. But I would think Citizenship & IT & Business a strange choice for an A grade pupil)

LIZS · 25/01/2018 15:20

Neither Politics nor Law careers require an A level the subject. Much better to have broader humanities A levels or Maths. To enable that you don't need both Computer Science and IT nor are likes of Media well regarded as academically rigorous , so including History or Rs(Philosophy and ethics) would be a sounder option to keep options open.

Ollycat · 25/01/2018 15:27

Being really honest (sorry) I would lose the citizenship, IT, Business and Media.

IMVHO History, Geography and MFL or PE would be fat better options.

Ollycat · 25/01/2018 15:27

Far not fat!!

MysteryLovesCompany · 25/01/2018 15:31

History would definitely be a more helpful subject to provide a grounding for a politics degree.

Original poster
pansycake · 25/01/2018 15:34

Thanks all, computer science is her ebac choice. She is very interested in the programming side of things. Doesn't much enjoy history/geography and dyslexia makes MEL tricky. She loves the challenging of ideas and debate around current affairs in Citizenship, business she likes the sound of the economics slant and applying it to real life (she is very mathsy). IT is something she loves to do hence that choice.
She is a very bright girl (top 10%) and yes, we have discussed all subjects fully. I don't want to push her into things she doesn't want to do, so hard when you're trying to guide them for their future!

OP posts:
Ollycat · 25/01/2018 15:34

Agree totally re history- it is a very challenging gcse and teaches brilliant analytical and essay writing skills.

Ollycat · 25/01/2018 15:41

The A levels she is looking to do are very essay type ones but her gcse choices don’t really reflect that. Would Economics rather then law at A level be a better fit? What is she looking to do post A level?

LIZS · 25/01/2018 15:41

If she doesn't enjoy history or geography , (due to essay writing perhaps?) she may struggle with politics and law later. Even media and pe have significant written content. Agree mfl is worth persevering, which has she tried? She is only 13 ish, those options could limit her choices later.

TheSecondOfHerName · 25/01/2018 15:46

Citizenship - Not needed for any post-GCSE options. OK if they are really interested in it.

Computer Science - Yes, if logical & good at maths. Two of mine are doing this course and enjoying it.

IT - Is this course still being offered? Maybe do this instead of Computer Science if Maths is weak. Don't do both.

Business - Not needed at GCSE level but a good choice if they're really interested in it.

If she is academic and might want to go to university, it might be useful to have:

  • Either History or Geography
  • A modern foreign language
titchy · 25/01/2018 15:47

These are the subjects typically taken by weak students. If her target grades are 4s and 5s then great. If 7s and 8s think again. The Computing is fine, but she should add one or two more academic subjects.

Incidentally I though IT GCSE has now been discontinued.

PhilODox · 25/01/2018 15:53

I, too, thought IT GCSE has gone.
Are these iGCSE?
Absolutely no point in doing computing and IT- if she can do computing, IT will be far below her level.

TheSecondOfHerName · 25/01/2018 15:54

In terms of A-level courses:

Government & Politics: DS1 is doing this course and enjoying it. It's not a specific requirement for any university courses, but he is studying it along with History and English Literature and got 5 offers through UCAS.

Law: Again, not a specific requirement for any university courses. If she's interested in studying Law or Politics beyond 18, at least one 'traditional' essay subject would be more useful, such as English or History.

LostInLeics · 25/01/2018 16:00

I would strongly recommend that she take GCSE History if she wants to study politics and law - as others have said, the skills involved in analysing material and constructing well structured essays are very relevant. I did A Level Politics and a lot of it IS actually modern history. If she doesn't like history, she probably wont actually enjoy studying politics.

TheSecondOfHerName · 25/01/2018 16:00

Have just read the update regarding high ability, strength in maths & dyslexia.

Computer Science (not IT).
Geography as the humanity
Economics GCSE if they offer it, otherwise
Business

Politics A-level involves a lot of writing

Oblomov18 · 25/01/2018 16:07

Watching with interest.

TeenTimesTwo · 25/01/2018 16:19

I'm wondering why she thinks she wants to do Law and Politics for A Level having read the updates.

BubblesBuddy · 25/01/2018 16:49

Where would Politics and Law A level lead? What is she interested indoing for a degee? Neither of these a facilitating subjects so what might the third choice be? History GCSE is a better prep for these A levels despite what the college say. The best advice for Politics is to do History. Politics is an essay A level. She is very short of these in her GCSE choices and is avoiding them. It seems odd to choose essay subjects for A level when your skills have not been honed at GCSE. She will find Politics A level a big jump from these GCSEs. I would swap Citizenship for History or the IT.

She will not need a MFL but she does not have an art subject either so it is lop sided. Media, PE and Business are OK but it is not a very academic choice.

Heifer · 25/01/2018 17:19

I have to admit I wouldn't be happy if these were my DD choices. Makes me realise how grateful I am that her school wouldn't allow them for her and therefore makes it an easier process. The top 2 sets have to take a MFL and 1 from History/ Geography or RE. They only take 9 as standard but I am very happy with DD options, as I think they are very balanced Maths English x 2 Spanish History Triple Science & PE.
On the other hand, had DD not been top set material and set on going to uni then I would feel differently. It would then be more about what she enjoys and likely to get a pass in etc.

Original poster
pansycake · 25/01/2018 18:29

Thanks everyone.
Citizenship covers lots of what she is interested in, especially as it looks at politics alto and that's a real interest of hers. Its a non negotiable for her as she loves the subject.
She really enjoys coding/programming hence computer science and the IT covers completely different skills so she feels they compliment each other well.
I would be far happier if she added geography into the mix, she hates history (mainly due to the teacher and there is only 1 history teacher at school).
Economics isn't offered, I agree that would be a good choice for her.
Interestingly, talking to older students they all perceive business as being 'for the brainy kids' which wasn't necessarily my opinion.
So hard trying to advise without pushing to do what I believe would be better, which I absolutely won't do!

OP posts:
LIZS · 25/01/2018 18:33

If she plans to do Law or Politics at uni you really need to check if they look for a specific A level or even gcse. Gcse is as much about developing a range of core skills as the subject studied. Neither Politics or Law A level is a facilitating subject.

MongerTruffle · 25/01/2018 18:34

computer science is her ebac choice
You need to do a modern or ancient foreign language and a humanity (which the government defines as history or geography), as well as the core subjects to do the EBacc. It also has no bearing on the student, and is merely a performance measure for the school.

cricketballs3 · 25/01/2018 18:50

The Ebacc is not a qualification just a theory dreamed up by Gove for the league tables that didn't last long.

"perceive business as being 'for the brainy kids'" this is where the kids are right and MN is wrong! The subject seems to have suffered from the 'studies' part of the title - which has now been dropped Grin.

To get anywhere near a C/4 a student needs very strong qualitative, analytical and evaluative skills and whilst the areas covered may seem easy to an adult with working and life experience, it is far from easy for a 14-16 year old.

As I said in another thread I feel that this subject/qualification is a life lesson for teenagers and gives them the knowledge about the reasons behind the decisions that business make, why they make them, the consequences of them, the influences they face etc although given I deliver this subject I will obviously be defensive/passionate about it

Maddy70 · 25/01/2018 18:54

It doesn't really matter for college as long as the core subjects have been taken. Just take whatever interests and have a reasonable chance of passing. Computer science is so hard though (I teach it so I know!)