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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Geography or Computer Science GCSE?

36 replies

BeachCrow · 09/04/2019 19:43

DS needs to choose by Thursday and Can't decide. He enjoys both subjects but we think he's more likely to get a better grade in Geography and find it easier. He thinks he might want to work with computers but is very unsure. He has been told Computer Sci at A level could be an option without GCSE but it would be hard.

He has to take Maths, English, 3 Sciences, RPSE and 1 language. He wants to take a 2nd language as he is very good at languages (French is his favourite and best subject) which only leaves one option.

I know nobody on the internet can decide for him but wondering if anyone has any advice?

OP posts:

CraftyGin · 09/04/2019 19:56

Without a doubt, computer science. There is a shortage of computer scientists in this country.

TheFirstOHN · 09/04/2019 20:07

My children have done and are doing both.

The new Geography GCSE is harder than they were expecting. Both went in to the course with geography being a favourite subject and it quickly became not a favourite. They have to use the exact key words to get the marks and needed to memorise a lot of statistics for the case studies. DS2 managed to get a grade 9 but had to work for it. DD used to exceed her targets in geography but now is hoping for a 6.

The Computer Science GCSE is quite straightforward if they are strong at Maths (7+) and do a bit of programming in their spare time. DS2's year group was affected by the NEA debacle which was a shame, but otherwise he enjoyed the course. He didn't have to spend an excessive amount of time on revision and got a grade 8. DS3 (half way through the GCSE course) loves Computer Science, it's his favourite subject. Also aiming for an 8.

Out of the two, I would say Computer Science has been more enjoyable for my children, but Geography is possibly a more useful subject in terms of opening doors for further education. There are no courses that require Computer Science GCSE.

TheFirstOHN · 09/04/2019 20:10

If your son has a mathematical / logical mind and enjoys programming, go for Computer Science. If not, Geography sounds like a safer bet for him.

Original poster

BeachCrow · 09/04/2019 20:23

Thanks for the useful replies. He is very good at Maths and very logical.

OP posts:

PostNotInHaste · 10/04/2019 17:57

DS wants to do Computer Science for A level when the time comes but hasn’t been able to do it for GCSE as his schoool decided not to run it. We’ve started to look at 6th forms and found that the lack of GCSE in it is limiting his options.

havingtochangeusernameagain · 10/04/2019 18:01

Geography is a lot of work. But ds hasn't found it hard.

DS' school said computer science was very hard and you had to be quite committed to do it.

What does your ds prefer? I'd choose the subject he expects to do best in.

Either can be picked up at A level without having done the GCSE.

havingtochangeusernameagain · 10/04/2019 18:03

This could be useful: www.altoncollege.ac.uk/sixth-form/finding-a-course/a-level/computer-science

RedSkyLastNight · 10/04/2019 18:07

Does he want to program? As opposed to just working with computers. DS says there are lots of DC in his computer science group who thought it woild just involve doing lots of things with the computers, who are really struggling.

LucyFox · 10/04/2019 18:15

Geography is a solid academic subjects that will let him do various things in the future
Computer science is heavy on programming so if he has other interests, it will be a hard course (also be sure it is the GCSE course they would be doing not a BTEC etc)
With his other choices, I would definitely go for geography - it shows he can handle an academic subject & will give a broader base for future

Original poster

BeachCrow · 10/04/2019 18:46

Thanks everyone. He thinks he's going to go for computer science because he might want to work as a programmer in the future, although he's not sure. He's also very good at Maths and Physics which fits in.

OP posts:

YeOldeTrout · 11/04/2019 19:55

let us know if there are any girls in his computing class.

I'm a geographer who programmes for a living!
Not sure he should have to choose.
DD did both & liked geography better.
Suggest he goes for the one that seems funner.

Aragog · 11/04/2019 20:04

let us know if there are any girls in his computing class.

DD did GCSE Computer Science last year. She was at an all girls school - think there were 6 in her class.
She's now doing A Level at a mixed state school and she was a little concerned she might be the only girl in a class full of very techy-type boys. However, there are 3 girls in her A Level class and the rest boys. There is a second class too - think that has a couple of girls in, though not sure.

It's actually her favourite A Level subject currently and where she has met most of her closest friends.

DD isn't a maths and science type. She's always been more artsy really. She had a tutor for Maths as she always found it hard, though with the tutor she managed to get a 7 in the end. She was often worried about being borderline in Science though in the end did get 5/6 with lots of revision.

Despite this she has always loved Computer Science and she is very very good at the coding side by all accounts. Though does none in her spare time as a hobby or anything. She was very annoyed at that part of the course no longer counting - she'd finished with pretty much full marks! Fortunately it does count at A Level. She never sees the subject as being Maths based - clearly it is, but she just seems to not link them too much so her "I can't do Maths" thoughts don't come into play and she does well regardless.

Its not an easy option but DD says its really interesting and definitely with doing. It was one of her favourite subjects at GCSE, along with Drama.

Piggywaspushed · 12/04/2019 10:42

It may be too late to say this but Comp Sci is a subject with high recruitment problems : our Comp Sci teachers are usually not very good/ qualified, and there is a high turnover. Geogrpahy is much more stable. It might be worth digging to see how stable the Comp Sci dept is at your school.

Imo the single most important requirement for computer programmers is excellent mathemtaical ability.

All that said, my DS took geography and was disappointed by its very physical content. He preferred human geography, so that's also worth thinking about.

RedSkyLastNight · 12/04/2019 10:43

DS has 4 girls in his GCSE class of 24. From what DS says the girls are all doing pretty well though and a fair proportion of the boys (read everyone bar DS and about 5 others) chose it thinking it would be a doss subject.

Fazackerley · 12/04/2019 10:46

Both and one language!

sashh · 12/04/2019 10:52

If you have a logical brain CS is good because it is very logical.

Programming is a mixture of art and science, any one doing CS GCSE should be able to program, but only a few will create elegant programming solutions.

Piggywaspushed

I did A Level Computer Science i the early 1980s, 2/3 of the class, me included, were also doing A Level Art.

Original poster

BeachCrow · 12/04/2019 12:23

Thanks for more responses. He's put Computer Science on the form but the teacher that's coordinating it all says that they're all going to be interviewed after the holidays before anything is finalised.

The school has a stable Computer Sci dept but the results for Geography are better at GCSE. He doesn't want to drop a language as French is his favourite and best subject and he is also very good at Spanish.

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 12/04/2019 12:25

I'm not quite understanding why that was for me sassh but jolly good!

Piggywaspushed · 12/04/2019 12:26

Why are they interviewing them crow ?

sashh · 12/04/2019 12:33

Piggy

Sorry I put the wrong name that was for the poster who's daughter isn't a mathsy child.

BubblesBuddy · 12/04/2019 13:05

I’m delighted he’s doing two languages. So few DC do this and this keeps lots of options open.

Original poster

BeachCrow · 12/04/2019 13:55

Piggy I assume to make sure they think they're making sensible choices. They do regular progress chats that they call interviews too.

OP posts:

letsgohooray · 12/04/2019 14:13

BubblesBuddy what options does taking 2 languages keep open? Other than the option to continue them into A-Levels and then a degree in those languages, I really don't see many options being made available from doing languages at GCSE. Computer Science is far more valuable and computer language is a far more relevant subject. Pretty much all business and politics is done in English anyway.

LoopyLu2019 · 12/04/2019 14:54

Languages are great, if they gets fluent then it opens up so many doors to work abroad. I work for a global company in tech and if I was fluent in another language I could easily work in that country on one of the contracts. The contracts are sold to our customers as either in native language or English so those with multiple languages can work on native language contracts too and get more diverse work. It's the really kicker for me that I suck at MFLs. But of course fluency doesn't come from GCSE, they can pick this up outside.

Computer Science vs Geography, don't know GCSE syllabus but I do know it's not a compulsory a level for degree level. I went to a top level RG uni for comp sci with out any experience in the subject. It's not listed as a necessary (only desirable as it makes the students life a bit easier). So go with what will get him the best grade as ultimately gcse are only tick boxes, no one really looks into the subjects.

Piggywaspushed · 12/04/2019 14:56

hooray that is simply a way then of foreign businesses taking advantage of the British. Evidence has shown that better and more transparent business is done when both parties are able to converse in the language 'native' to the business... as I sadi upthread, a recent study ahs shown we would put ourselves at a better advanatge in business of more Brits spoke German. There is nothing to say OP's DS might not want to do an MFL degree and, any road up, he is not choosing between two languages and Comp Sci.

Computer science is , of course, valuable (not everything is about value , mind!) but it is routinely badly taught in schools so I would imagine much needs to be retaught or even, untaught! OP has said her DS's favourite subject is French. A competent linguist computer scientist would be a fantastic asset.
A LOT of politics is done in French.

OP, call me cynical, but I am suspicious about the interviewing bit. It might work out well for your DS, mind, as it sounds like they are trying to weed out students who opt for Comp Sci for all the wrong reasons. But, if they interview for all subjects , fair enough. We stopped doing interviews at my school because of a) workload but also b) notorious interviewer bias dependent on subject specialism!

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