Not AIBU but asking here for traffic. Y8 options! Please help with the following two choices Ds needs to pick.

[SweetMarmalade]

AIBU is always busy do I guessed more of you would have been/are in this position.

Ds still has to pick his Y8 options, his last subject and he’s decided possibly Photography, it was D&T Product Design!

The other subjects he HAS to take at his secondary are:-

English
Maths
Triple science

He wants to take

History
Geography

His other option he’s going to take is

Creative i-media and then the final subject was going to be D&T product design but then he saw photography as an option! He’s not artistic in the slightest, although he does like to take photos, albeit on his iPhone no snazzy camera here!

Help needed please!

Any lovely Mnetters who have been through the Y8 GCSE option choices and can offer advice would be most appreciated! It doesn’t help that he’s not at school and can’t talk to any of the teachers about photography!

I have emailed the school which they’ve encouraged, but haven’t had a reply up to now.

The other ‘safe’ third option would be RE!

Anyone?

Police?
Lots of variety in jobs there. I have several friends in criminal justice. One is a cyber crime investigator- so computer science. Another is a crime scene photographer. Three are regular police officers. Ones a public prosecutor (solicitor).
Doesn’t U.K. now require a degree to join the police force? I remember reading about degree apprenticeships for Constables. You could look up the requirements and work your way back to ensure he’s got all the GCSEs he needs.

I'd push for a language TBH, perhaps lose one of History/Geography.
If he loves nature / rocks he could do geog /geology at degree level and a language will take him far in terms of career choices in this field.

If he wants one day work for Interpol, French is the language he will need as its headquartered here in France.

(Btw Interpol is not an EU thing, it is separate so British agents are still being hired and are welcome)

Hi mine has chosen
Maths
English
Triple science
French
Geography
History
Art
I imagine he will do triple science a levels

Can they change stuff at end of y9.

My daughter is y8 and going through options process. They keep most subjects and then can start 2 more (they have to give 4 choices in case of timetabling)

They actually had to prove they had discussed options with teachers and researched possible career choices before anything was submitted. So they cannot just 'pick' with no specific thought process.

Then at the end of y9 they can change. So for example in y9 they still do history and geography but only need to take one forward for gcse. However if they don't like the 2 new subjects they picked they could drop one and take both history and geography forward.

I quite like this idea as I was a bit worried about making these choices when she is only just 12.5!

Just firstly replying to all asking, no he doesn’t have to take a language.

Sorry, also need to clarify, he’s taking the sciences but not going to take triple science as his extra subject, you can tell I’m new to this.

@TeenPlusTwenties coming back to your question about info sheets.

Yes, fortunately there are PDF info sheets on each subject.

Photography has the following info:-

Unit 1 - candidate portfolio which includes skill development and personal investigation (bullet points of info under these two headings)
Unit Assessment - 60% (120 marks) coursework project

Unit 2: externally set assignment
Prep period - externally set assignment set by EDUQAS, internally assessed and then externally moderated. Then..
10 hours of sustained work
Unit assessment- 40% (80 marks)
Coursework project & 10 hours sustained work (exam day)

To be honest I wouldn’t have a clue how this all relates to the workload needed, compared to other subjects? This is the first time we’ve been through this so any advice would be hugely appreciated.

Year 8 seems too early to have to make such important decisions. I assume the school is covering GCSE content over 3 years?

It isn't unusual to not take a MFL at GCSE. It isn't compulsory at all schools. I think we are really bad at teaching languages in the UK. I have A level French, and was horrified at the way DD was taught it. She dropped it as soon as she could.

Those of DD's friends who took photography had to buy an expensive camera, so that needs to be taken into consideration. You may need to buy Photoshop or Photoshop Elements as well.

So really his final subject, which I would hope would be an enjoyable one could be one of the following:-

Computer science
Photography
D&T product design
D&T Food & Nutrition - unfortunately he has had a negative start in this subject (only taken during certain terms) and doesn’t like the teacher. I have discussed not being influenced by who is taking the lesson but I don’t think he’ll change his mind here.
BTEC music technology
RE - he does like discussions
Media Studies
Business

We’re going to have a look through the info sheets today. In the meantime if you have any experience in any of the above would be great to hear from you.

I can then give ds the info and he can decide.

Mainly it's a balance.
Count up the exams he already has end y11.
My guess with the subjects you listed in your OP it is ~19.
Does he cope OK with exams. Can you bung in another 2 or 3 easily?

Is he likely to be diligent about coursework subjects, or will he leave it all to the last minute, or get over stressed, or conversely be such a perfectionist he neglects his other subjects?
What subjects appeal?

I think your job is to make sure he has all the info, then he decides. At least them he has made the choice and should be more 'bought into' it.

In my experience having a bad relationship with the teacher will negatively affect your son's motivation. The opposite is also true.

So, I would give food and nutrition a miss.

Don't know if this will help, but I did my GCSEs not that long ago. My subjects were:
English Literature
English Language
Maths
Science
Spanish
French
History
RE
Music
(And Sports Leadership, but it was compulsory and I'm crap at sport :D)

I am musical, so it wasn't a wasted subject, but I found having one 'fun subject' really helpful. However, definitely made a difference that I didn't have to create a portfolio or spend 8 hours in an art room each day for a week doing coursework. That definitely bumped up the stress for my friends.

My sister took drama as her fun subject and loved it. She grew in confidence. Of course, most of the class were not 'cool' but some of the guys were and it didn't impact their status. He just needs to embrace it.

@TeenPlusTwenties no, based on his current last minute approach to homework he wouldn’t be diligent about coursework. That’s basing on how he is now though, he could of course start to knuckle down once he’s taken his options.

He doesn’t get too stressed about exams, he just thinks he knows enough to get by and doesn’t push himself to do even better.

@Ginfordinner yep, agree.

@Malone98 that’s good to know, I’m not sure how ds would cope with being in one area for that long doing coursework. It’s useful knowing this as I wouldn’t have a clue and without the school being open ds can’t talk to the head of this department to gauge a feel for the subject.

@SweetMarmalade Happy to help. I left secondary school in 2015 and my sister in 2017, so if you have any specific questions, I might be able to help. Obviously, things change but I have relatively up-to-date knowledge :D xx

@Malone98 thank you

GCSE level language will have no bearing on a future career. He'd have to enjoy it enough to go on with further study and experience to become very confident in it. He doesn't enjoy it so may as well leave it behind.

Ds year 10 took DT and changed to drama after 5 weeks as he hated it. He loves drama now- school production doing lighting etc. In his school it’s ‘cool’ to be in the productions and do music- trips to euro Disney and New York to perform.

He also took media which he really enjoys, computer science is okay, and the rest English, maths, science, Welsh, Welsh bacc and RE are compulsory obviously ( Wales and catholic school).

I think he’s possibly going to go for Media Studies but he’s still not 100%. So hard without the school input and having someone to talk to.

Just a caveat with drama. There is quite a lot of group work involved and if your son takes it and gets lumbered with students who don't pull their weight it will affect his final grade.