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Secondary education

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Original poster

What are 'good' and 'bad' GCSE options?

105 replies

Titsend · 08/08/2020 19:18

Hi,
Dd is moving into Year 9 in September and is already set on three GCSE options. She is very academically able and works hard. I don't want he choices to disregard her capabilities because her option choices are deemed 'soft'. I am not going to disclose her options as I do not want that to sway any replies!

Could anybody give me a list of GCSE options you would deem soft and those you would view as academic?

This thread was initiated by Dd btw. Any replies gratefully received!
Thanks

OP posts:
jiffyjackfruit · 09/08/2020 13:54

My academic DCs did/are doing:

did:
English x2, Maths, Triple Science, Engineering, Art,
Geography, RE, German

are doing:
English x2, Maths, Triple Science, Engineering
PE, German, Geography, RE

both chose their own GCSEs. They asked for advice and I gave it (both asked if it was a good idea to choose one because they enjoyed it, it was).

coronabeer23 · 09/08/2020 13:59

Only do a creative if they are creative. DS did design tech and hated every second. He thought it would be a laugh. He got all 8’s and a 5

TomNook · 09/08/2020 14:00

Agree with the lecturer. Uni might look at graces. Not subjects.

TomNook · 09/08/2020 14:00

Grades

daisypond · 09/08/2020 14:07

For instance it's very unlikely you'd be able to do two languages unless it's language specialist school.
One of mine did three - inner-city comp, not a language specialist school.

Moominmammacat · 09/08/2020 14:20

Three sciences, three languages, compulsory three, then music + history. Left all doors open for A levels.

jiffyjackfruit · 09/08/2020 14:20

A friend of my DS did French, German and Russian (and maybe also Spanish, I'm not sure) at a comprehensive which wasn't a language specialist school and later went to Cambridge A in 4 language A levels.

jiffyjackfruit · 09/08/2020 14:21

Not sure where that 4* came from instead of 4.

BlusteryShowers · 09/08/2020 14:26

Fair enough if two languages are more common than I thought, but it still has to fit into that particular school's timetable model. I work in an outstanding academy and we don't offer two languages at GCSE. My main point stands that you don't just get free choice of any subject combination.

CorianderLord · 09/08/2020 15:24

My mum told me to choose a language, a humanity and one that was just for 'fun'. So French, history and drama. Triple science was mandatory along with English, maths, sports and a bunch of other things.

I ended up down the English route anyway so it didn't matter but the history helped in the future and the French is a useful skill. Drama meant I'm a confident public speaker.

The only ones I wouldn't suggest would be media studies (I work in media and have never needed it). But it depends on their career aspirations.

CraftyGin · 09/08/2020 15:27

If medicine is the goal, options don’t really count. The key subjects are the compulsory ones.

With any broad and balanced curriculum, a humanity, a foreign language. I would recommend RS for medicine as it addresses ethics.

LolaSmiles · 09/08/2020 15:29

TeenPlusTwenties
Whereas at my current school only one is available and one is the norm in my area. Some schools don't offer any or only offer languages to top set/stream.

TeenPlusTwenties · 09/08/2020 16:47

I think the main message is until you school announces how they are doing options for your child's year, you can't assume that any specific combination will be possible.
Things change year on year due to staffing, the way the wind is blowing with league tables, year group interests etc.

clary · 09/08/2020 18:53

Two languages is not very common as an option tbh. In theory it is possible at my DCs' school (with one taken ab initio at yr 10) but in practice basically no one does this.

My old school where I taught was trying to encourage dual linguists by teaching the second language to a small group in yr 9 but not many took both for GCSE - maybe 3-4 a year max.

There are a couple of secondary schools in my city where two languages are taught at KS3 to the more able students (they start with French and then pick up German or Spanish in yr 8) so then they can continue with two to GCSE.

Basically it varies from school to school. But timetabling considerations and the increasing focus on fewer GCSEs makes it less likely sadly. It's not unusual for students to take only 9 GCSEs, or 8 if not doing triple science. That doesn't leave much choice once you have the five/six key ones, MFL and humanity.

lanthanum · 09/08/2020 19:02

Choice of GCSEs matters a lot less than people think. I know someone who chose music, drama and graphic design, wanting to go into performing arts, but changed their plans and went on to read Law at Oxbridge.

catndogslife · 09/08/2020 19:04

The other point I would like to add is that you are assuming that she will have 3 options.
If you take 3 separate Sciences at GCSE i.e. Biology, Chemistry and Physics (tends to be referred to on mumsnet as Triple Science) this may take up one of her options so your dd would effectively only have 2 choices left.
Different schools have their own criteria for "triple" Science but for some all pupils in the top set for Science would be expected to take Triple.

user1497207191 · 09/08/2020 19:14

@BlusteryShowers

Fair enough if two languages are more common than I thought, but it still has to fit into that particular school's timetable model. I work in an outstanding academy and we don't offer two languages at GCSE. My main point stands that you don't just get free choice of any subject combination.
You do in some schools. At my son's school, it was a free choice. They didn't have the "blocks" to choose a subject from. They offered 3 MFL (French, Spanish and German) and you could choose all three if you wanted to (obviously they didn't recommend it) or you could choose all 3 humanities. The timetabling staff created the "blocks" after the pupils had made their choices. The only limitations came later, say, if a pupil wanted to change their options, then they'd be limited to whatever else was in the "block" they wanted to change from.
daisypond · 09/08/2020 19:18

They offered 3 MFL (French, Spanish and German) and you could choose all three if you wanted to (obviously they didn't recommend it)
I’m puzzled by this. Why is it obvious they wouldn’t recommend it? I did three languages back in my day and one of my DC did three as well.

PepperMooMoo · 09/08/2020 19:23

Careers Advisor here in a secondary school... honestly, not much is off limits based on the GCSE you studied. Maybe it would be tricky to get into an MFL A level having not done the subject but that's about it. Some subjects would need you to have achieved a certain grade progress onto A level. It's more important to think about the assessment method, content, and simply, are you interested in it? I think it's also important as PP poster to think about levels of coursework, specifically in arts based subjects and maybe consider how you'll manage when studying more than one.... photography and art spring time mind. Does your daughter have an idea what she would like to do in the future?

mumsneedwine · 09/08/2020 19:38

We have students doing 2 language A levels at a comp. I'd say only do a language if you are going to get a top grade - the new GCSE is tough. NO Uni requires one. None.

clary · 09/08/2020 20:27

"Maybe it would be tricky to get into an MFL A level having not done the subject but that's about it."

There's no maybe about that. Impossible to do MFL A level without the GCSE (unless a native speaker).

It's also impossible to do A level science, maths or English lit without the GCSE, but of course everyone does those. Surely geography is another A level that needed GCSE. Ditto computing. And surely art?

It is possible to do history A level without GCSE but it is also pretty unusual, because most students who were keen on it would take it for GCSE anyway. I guess the same would apply to RS.

Things that don't need specific GCSEs for A level study are subjects not usually offered at GCSE like Gov/pol, psychology, sociology, law.

jiffyjackfruit · 09/08/2020 20:38

@mumsneedwine

We have students doing 2 language A levels at a comp. I'd say only do a language if you are going to get a top grade - the new GCSE is tough. NO Uni requires one. None.
We researched this about 4 years ago, then the only one that needed/preferred one was one of the London universities. It certainly doesn't seem to be a requirement that they'd insist on.
daisypond · 09/08/2020 20:53

At my DC’s school, you could take geography A level without having done GCSE, as long as you’d done history, etc. And vice versa.
One of my DC did all three A levels in subjects they had not done at GCSE.

obscuringstumpy · 09/08/2020 21:05

@daisypond

At my DC’s school, you could take geography A level without having done GCSE, as long as you’d done history, etc. And vice versa. One of my DC did all three A levels in subjects they had not done at GCSE.
You can do a Geography degree without Geography A level so that doesn't surprise me.
clary · 09/08/2020 23:30

@daisypond

At my DC’s school, you could take geography A level without having done GCSE, as long as you’d done history, etc. And vice versa. One of my DC did all three A levels in subjects they had not done at GCSE.
Fair enough, I'm not a geographer so wasn't sure. But I stand by my point about maths, science and computing.