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Secondary education

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Original poster

Gcse language - is this really essential for uni?

45 replies

HeyMacWey · 22/02/2018 17:33

Yes, it's that time of year again!

DS brought his options paperwork home last week and he's really struggling to choose from the limited option groups (three of his favourite subjects are in one box and he can only choose one of these).

He's tempted to drop language and do an arts subject that he really enjoys. He'd still have one additional ebacc subject so six in total.

He's more than likely to end up doing some kind of arts degree or possibly teaching. He has no concrete plans though.

Would it be a big no-no if he dropped language? School are saying he would really have one language and one humanities.

OP posts:
PerfumeIsAMessage · 22/02/2018 17:36

Language as in English?

pieceofpurplesky · 22/02/2018 17:36

In order for the ebacc he needs a language.

noblegiraffe · 22/02/2018 17:39

School want him to have a language and humanities for the Ebacc but this is a league table measure for schools, not a qualification for the student. It won't make any difference so long as he's not planning to do languages!

gillybeanz · 22/02/2018 17:39

I don't think it matters if he knows what he wants to do and languages don't feature in that.
if he wants to go into Art, it won't matter that he hasn't taken a language.
I suppose it's like anything else, if you are going for the best uni's they may want a broad a range of subject as possible.
If he wanted to attend the best Art College, then I don't think they'd be bothered.

TheFrendo · 22/02/2018 17:39

He does not need a foreign language to go to university. It is not a requirement, so it is not a big no-no, it is not even a little no-no.

gillybeanz · 22/02/2018 17:42

Schools have their best interests at heart, this is sometimes at odds with the best interest of the child.
He should take the subjects he wants to, they don't get much choice anyway.

Original poster
HeyMacWey · 22/02/2018 18:00

So, he'd be OK doing the following:

English lit & lang
Math
Science
Geography
Drama
Music

And one other non ebacc subject.

They do get so few choices don't they. I'm shocked at how limited it is.

The only choices I had to make when I was at school were out of the creative arts and cdt. Two languages and two humanities were compulsory

OP posts:
gillybeanz · 22/02/2018 18:18

Can he not take Art GCSE and A level if he wants to go into this area?
I think they are good choices.
Mine is doing compulsory:
Music
Eng (Lit and Lang)
Science (single combined)
German
Maths

Options:
Drama
French

She knows what she wants to do and these are her best choices.

MongerTruffle · 22/02/2018 18:20

The EBacc is pretty much irrelevant for students. It's a pointless measure for schools invented by Gove. Oddly RS is not counted as a humanity.

SueDunome · 22/02/2018 18:24

It is necessary for UCL. If they don't have it, they have to do it before they graduate, regardless of the course they are on.

www.ucl.ac.uk/clie/CourseUnits/Pre-course/MFLrequirement

Soursprout · 22/02/2018 18:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EvilTwins · 22/02/2018 18:29

OP specifies “some kind of arts degree” not a degree in Art.

ScipioAfricanus · 22/02/2018 18:32

OP said arts degree, not art degree. So art is not relevant.

I’d say he’s fine not to take a language.we should all ignore Gove as much a second possible. If you were looking at a tough uni (top Russell group, Oxbridge) they would likely give more weight to a GCSE in a language than one in drama, but otherwise I don’t think it would make a difference. The most important thing is to do subjects you enjoy as you’re far more likely to do well in them.

ScipioAfricanus · 22/02/2018 18:32

Ignore Gove as much as possible

crunchtime · 22/02/2018 18:36

i wouldn't recommend drama AND music
one or another
and then another academic subject

EvilTwins · 22/02/2018 18:39

crunchtime why not?

Original poster
HeyMacWey · 22/02/2018 18:39

I didn't realise the ebacc was a gove invention.

Yes - I meant a BA rather than a BSc. So humanities/social sciences etc.

I agree that he'd get a better outcome in those that he'd enjoy the most. I feel less likely to pressure him into a language now.

OP posts:
gillybeanz · 22/02/2018 18:39

Ooops! Apologies OP, I read Art for some reason, just ignore me Grin
I still think they are good choices if that's what he wants to do.
Everybody doesn't follow the prescribed xyz to get into a top Uni, some people want alternatives.
What's wrong with Drama and Music? maybe the OP's ds likes these subjects and will have a career in the Arts.

crunchtime · 22/02/2018 18:46

because you want to show a broad spread of subjects and they are too similar.

crunchtime · 22/02/2018 18:48

plus- both subjects are hard work and need a lot of extra work doing for them. rehearsing/recording/playing in bands/doing productions.
If you do both then it's a lot to fit in with the homework for all the other subjects

EvilTwins · 22/02/2018 18:56

Utter nonsense to say that they are “too similar”. If a DC wants to do both, they should!

Piggywaspushed · 22/02/2018 19:06

scipio I'd go for ignoring Gove once per second Grin

gillybeanz · 22/02/2018 19:07

because you want to show a broad spread of subjects
This only applies to a particular type and situation. Not everybody who applies to uni will need a broad spread, what's the use of choosing irrelevant subjects?

EvilTwins · 22/02/2018 19:12

And DC generally do better at subjects they enjoy. Once the basics are covered, I’m a huge advocate for choosing subjects you actually like.

ScipioAfricanus · 22/02/2018 19:15

PiggyGrin