GSCE OPTIONS HISTORY OR LATIN

[KaliforniaDreamz]

This had been sorted but then he had a wobble. Yr9 bright DS.
He's got to do triple science and English Maths etc
options:
RS
Music
French
Latin/History

I think he should do Latin as he's been singing in Latin since age 5 and knows it pretty well. He is really really unsure but probably leaning more to History.
WWYD?

Thank you for any advice u can offer!!

History

I think that as long as you have ensured he is fully informed of the syllabus and skillset needed for each, he should do whichever he prefers, unless school are indicating very different projected grades or you have a reason for believing he will particularly struggle in one over the other.

Does he like chemistry? If so, think about Latin. It’s similarly logical.

I think Latin is useful for certain languages, medicine, science, classics at University level. History, to me personally, is more interesting but only at University level, at Secondary School my teacher focused heavily on specific parts of British History and very biased so it would depend on the current curriculum.

I did Latin many years ago and found it really useful in my nursing career. I'm also a history graduate, so I'd be really torn to choose. No help, sorry!

I'm a secondary school teacher and I always tell my students to choose the subject they enjoy the most. Once the gcse exam period starts they will be so overwhelmed, having subjects they enjoy will make life a lot easier for them and less stressful. Trust me, it gets very stressful! Teenagers these days have to deal with so much pressure at school, I really feel for them. Good luck x

Thank you so much! I didn't expect any replies!

I think he will enjoy History more. But MoreCheesePleaseVicar as you say it will still be heavily focused on Modern British/European history With a slice of Civil Rights Movement thrown in to keep them awake.

He hates all science.

He's doing well in both subkects and both teachers suggested he could very easily do well in either so it's hard to choose.

He's lazy though and i do think you HAVE to learn Latin grammar and vocab...

Thank you so much for your replies, i really appreciate them x

I would do Latin and History and give the RS a swerve. Keeps more doors open for A level for a bright child.

Def Latin.

right if he hates all science, the tell him not to do triple science but do double which would free up a slot so he can do history and latin together

He isn't allowed to just do double - the school requires them to do triple.
Grrr...
He loves RS as lots of ethics and philosophy etc.

He has a shot at a decent uni - which would look better?

They won’t mind in the lightest unless he is aiming for a degree i one or the other.

Slightest

In

Latin

Lots of facts to retain for history, so possibly similar in terms of vocab to learn for Latin. I agree with everyone else, which would he enjoy more?

He should go for whichever he enjoys most. They are both serious academic subjects and no university is going to think one much different from the other (unless, as Urbanbeetler said, he wants to do a degree in one of them).

Yes, you do have to learn Latin grammar and vocab, but it's nowhere near as hard as you might think, and there is not the requirement there used to be to do prose composition (i.e. translate from English into Latin).

Personally, in those circumstances, I would encourage him to do Latin and History but drop Music. If he's musical then he would still continue to e.g. learn his instrument, sing ... but IMO Music GCSE is not particularly useful unless he specifically wants to study Music academically at a higher level. It sounds from your OP as though he might be a chorister, but this doesn't necessarily translate into wanting to study Music for a career.

DD has done both Latin and History at GCSE so happy to share our experience. Both subjects are good and equally well regarded.

If DD could only choose one she would choose Latin as she loves the Classics. Latin is so much more than the vocal and grammar. You also learn and analyse some Latin literature. DD is fascinated by all things Classics so that has been the main reason to do. I would really go with the subject that he enjoys more as GCSE will be more enjoyable for him. Both have a lot of content - perhaps History a bit more.

Also worth mentioning that grade boundaries for Latin are very high in comparison with history - if that is a factor at all.

Latin. Check out the syllabus. DS has chosen Latin for next year and half the syllabus is Roman history, so he would get a dose of history!

What are his plans going forward? If he is thinking about doing humanities then history is probably best, if he is going to do English then Latin might have the edge.

However, if he is more interested in one than the other then go that way. Latin GCSE won't add anything to his uni applications above getting a good set.

I'm a history graduate and have found it has helped me e.g research and analytical skills in my chosen career.

At GCSE I dropped Latin and did History. I found History GCSE very different to my expectations - I really enjoy(ed) social history, impact on people's lives etc, but the syllabus to me was all about battles, treaties and dates, with little on the social impact (our syllabus was 1918-1945). I was avidly interested in WWII, but found little crossover in what I was reading voluntarily (things like Diary of Anne Frank etc) and what I was having to learn.

In hindsight, I wish I'd taken Latin. In my day, it was an easy A .

FWIW I had quite a big history element in my degree (Economic History), and it reignited my love for history. I adored it.

Wow, thank you these are really helpful replies.

yes he was/is a chorister and dropping music isn't an option (scholar) plus highly likely he'll do music A Level and poss degree (a joint one i reckon with English) of course i am only guessing at his degree choice but it's my gut feeling.

I think both will be useful later on so i ill try to find out what the syllabus will be like for both.

Thank you clever women on here!! x

I asked about dropping a science and they said no - although apparently by the end of year 10 if a pupil isn't showing aptitude they take Double Science from then on...

If his plans are music with English at degree level then Latin might be best, as he already knows there is a lot of Latin in music, especially choral.