GCSE options time....Classical Civilisation?!

[ChoicesDecisionsOptions]

So, it’s that time of year and my eldest is on with his choices......I’m from a Scottish education O Grades and S Grades, so this is all new to me really. DS is very much Maths/Science/Computing orientated, but needs to make a decision between Classical Civilisation/Design & Tech - Graphics.....and possibly Latin.
What is the consensus out there - is CC an easy option? I’ve seen other threads from quite some time ago that say it is....so is it still the case? The exam board for CC is OCR, DT is AQA and Latin is Eduqas WJEC. All of those mean nothing to me but I’m hoping it will to those more in the know. He’s right at the beginning of the process, still got interim report, parents’ evening, head of year interview etc to go, but I’d just like to hear what the mumsnet opinion is so I can help him with his decision.

I wouldn't say it was an 'easy' option. In my case studying classics sparked a lifelong love of Greece, Rome and mythology. It's been one of the greatest joys of my life

When ds used to go to a private school Classics was an alternative option to Latin. It's a mix of history and literature from what I gatheres (am still bitter my parents didn't let me switch to Classics A level when I was struggling with history)

Looking through the info in his booklet, it does sound interesting - I love the stories from Greek and Roman mythology Waitrose I was just surprised when I searched on mumsnet about it that most people said it was the poor mans choice and the easy option to Latin. I really have no idea myself about how it is perceived and am just wondering if this is a justified view or just snobbery?

Well, compared to Latin it is probably an easier option. But its on a parr with History, English Literature etc and not everyone has an aptitude for languages. The only schools I know that actually offer Latin anyway are private (I'm sure there are some state but none round here).

He’s at a state Grammar not a private school, which is why it’s still on the options list.

What are his other options? I think classical civilisation is seen as a more straight forward humanity option. It does sound really interesting but history or geography would probably look better on a CV. (Not that is seems to matter beyond A level choices).

Design tech graphics will probably have lots of coursework - will that suit your son? Is he doing another humanity or creative already so that he can look at balance of choices. The advice at my son’s school seems to be to do what they most enjoy as they will then work hard and get better marks.

Many (many) years ago, I was the only person in my year at school to choose both Latin and Classical Civilisation at GCSE. Classics was as PP says a mixture of history and literature and I loved it. Was definitely pitched at those not doing languages, thought of as a soft option, but I found it complemented the Latin brilliantly and was quite smug all through the course at being the only one who knew the "civilisation" bit, and the wider Lit properly, in Latin and the one who knew Latin in the Classics class.

As I said this is yonks ago so can't attest to current syllabus, but surely it can't be considered less challenging than, say, RS?

Has he studied Latin before? I wouldn't recommend starting it from scratch in Year 10.

If he's more maths/science/computing would he not choose Design & Technology? Surely that would be a better fit?

My DD currently in Yr11 and doing Class Civ OCR. She is absolutely loving it, and has chosen to continue it into ALevel. She also does History, and will be carrying that on too.

She did Latin and Greek in Yr7 to Yr9, and Latin she never got on with, although Greek for some reason she got. So Latin was not an option, however, she loves all things ancient, myths, legends, gods etc, as well as the historical side of the Greek and Roman empires. She is also really interested in the literature side of the ancient world. If you DS likes this, he will thrive in Class Civ. It wil certainly give him a bit of breadth to his other choices. DD also does three sciences, as well the core, and her other option being Drama.

Well it's apples and oranges. English is different to maths, I wouldn't say either was easier...they're just different! I took Latin gcse and A Level alongside classics, which was very common. It goes very well with philosophy, too, although I didn't study this (the pull of politics was too strong! Given the chance I'd love to study philosophy now!)

We looked at CC for DD1 for A level. It appeared to be a cross between History and English Lit in terms of skills.

(ps Our comp offers Latin as a twilight subject)

Freud, Tolkein, JK Rowling, Boris Johnson, Stephen Fry, my real mum Mary Beard, all classicists!

Thanks for all responses, he is looking for a subject that will be enjoyable and currently all of those appeal to him. He’s already in his second year of Latin, so is fairly immersed in it already. At the start of this year - year 9 - he had to narrow down four languages to two (German, Latin, Spanish and French). He chose to continue with Latin and German - the latter being his language choice from that set of options. As he’s in the top set for maths he’ll be doing further maths too. They have to do all three sciences as individual gcse’s and he has chosen Geography as his Humanity option. He then has two options from:
Art - Fine Art
Art - Textiles
Classical Civilisation
Computer Science
Graphics
Drama
Food Tech
French
German
History
Latin
Music
PE
RS
Spanish

So Computer Science is his first choice and so now he’s stuck on his next. I thought he would have gone for Graphics as he does enjoy it and previous reports say he’s good at it, also I would have thought he might have done Music (but he really doesn’t like the teacher so it’s a no no for him). Classical Civilisation does sound interesting and I would be happy for him to do that - I’m just taken aback by what I read on previous threads as I didn’t expect it to be slated really.

He's doing a good balanced set of subjects already so I don't think it matters what he chooses now. He should definitely go for whichever one he thinks he will enjoy most, if there are is no obvious subject he's better at than the others. Latin is hard but impressive. Classical Civilisation sounds like great fun. Graphics sounds like hard work to me (barely progressed beyond stick people) but if he likes it and is good at it, why not!

If all his other GCSE choices are traditional academic subjects I really wouldn't worry about having one outlier. I'd go with whatever interests him most. If he is STEM oriented it might be useful for him to study something completely different and essay based. Look at the syllabi to see what interests him most and, yes, don't underestimate the amount of time he'll need to devote to the practical elements of D&T and Graphics.

Yes, I think it would be good to explore just exactly how much work he would have to do for Graphics. He’s not a natural artist, but has good ideas and can easily operate those onto a computer - but put a pencil in his hand and he’s probably still at stick figures too I’ve been reading through the proper bumf online for CC and tbh I would enjoy studying it!!

Check the syllabus for Latin. DS is currently doing it and it covers Roman civilisation studied in English eg essays on chariot racing. There's no oral element so this 'compensates'. A good way of keeping a finger in the history pie if he decides against CC.

The Latin info says:
Component 1: Latin language - comprehension questions and translation.

Component 2: Latin literature and Sources (A Day at the Races) chariot racing etc all of which will have been prepared before the exam

Component 3: literature Germanicus and Piso - a mixture of Latin and English q&a

So not as Language-y as German, French or Spanish, but still sounds interesting. Not sure it would be as fun as CC to ds, but probably enjoyable.

DS did classical civilisation GCSE and is now studying Ancient History at uni, so it was a no brainer for him as he hadn't started latin soon enough.

DS certainly found CC interesting - a balance of ancient art and literature as well as more normal history and it's not considered particularly easy. I think your DS should do whatever he thinks will interest him most and he can get the highest grade for as it doesn't look like ancient civilisations will be his choice for future study.

matey DD looking into Ancient History as a degree..... slight issue is she has the most terrible phobia of anything "dead" eg: skeletons, mummies etc, so has to be very careful what course she chooses!! Any tips??

I don't think DS has had to confront anything very dead but then again it wouldn't phase him!
The courses with an emphasis more on egyptology should perhaps be avoided. DS had to do one term and hated it.
Also some courses have an archaeology element, but most don't unless it's a joint honours.

If he is science top heavy, I think he needs a bit of an antedote to the sciences. MY DDs were asked to do an arts subject to keep the curriculum balanced. Both chose Drama. It has proved invaluable for increasing confidence. It needs to be well taught though. No one is really going to worry about what the last subject is, but if he has a humanity, English, languages and sciences, why not an arts subject or at least Graphics! Another humanity would not be a concern either but its more writing.

He keeps on swinging from Graphics to Classics.....I think he may continue to do so for some time!!! Hopefully things will become clearer to him once he’s been through the school decision making process.

Thanks everyone for your comments - they have made interesting reading and have given me food for thought!