Is this a poor combination of A levels

[Comefromaway]

English Lit
Drama
Film Studies

Child thinks she would like to be a drama teacher in the future. Doesn't like maths & science. Is very hard working but has no confidence in her abilities. GCSE predictions 4/5 in sciences 6/7 in maths & language 7/8 in English & essay subjects. Doing history GCSE but doesn't enjoy it. Gets very anxious about not being good enough.

Remove film studies swiftly

History, a language?

Ah doesn’t enjoy history.

Anything but film studies.

I'd get rid of film studies

Maybe psychology or philosophy (if available) instead of film studies?

Any option for a ‘new’ subject like economics or psychology (appreciate the science content there).

I agree that she would be better with one more academic subject. But it’s better to do well in the one she choose than tank at one she hates.

What subjects is she enjoying now?

Whilst Film studies is not a well regarded A level I think I would go for whichever subjects your child feels well motivated to work hard towards. A levels can be tricky if you are not engaged in the subject and better to have good grades in the ones he/she enjoys.

If she likes film studies, she'll get a good result. My friend got into Warwick to do film & literature with a levels of both Englishes and film studies.

I'd be interested to see what @piggywaspushed says.

My no-knowledge instinct says they look very strongly linked, which could be viewed as a good or bad thing I guess.

Film studies has a bad reputation, mainly from people who don't know what it entails. It's actually very similar to English Literature in terms of the skills the students develop and are tested on.

Rather than a knee jerk reaction to removing certain options, why doesn't she start to research what the uni's want/expect.

Film studies is a valid A level as any other. Degree wise, not so much, I think it sits well with her future choices, especially as she doesn't seem to be as strong in STEM subjects and doesn't enjoy history.

If she isn't stuck on film studies what about Eng Lang or a modern foreign language to give her options.

It's her choice though.....all you can found advise and offer suggestions about where to look for more info to help with her choices. I think it's important that they should have a GSCE or A Level subject that they simply enjoy and go for the joy of it. If that is film studies then so be it

I did English Lit and Film Studies with Psychology to broaden it out.

Film Studies was the best of the three. I learnt absolutely loads, including about history, technology, sociology, communication, propaganda. The world cinema module was still one of the most interesting things I’ve ever studied (and I’m 2.5 degrees further on!)

On the surface I do think they’re a bit samey because of drama but it will really depend on the exam boards and the content of the qualification and how it’s structured/taught so I’d look into that.

The main thing is that she takes qualifications that she enjoys and is passionate about and will get good grades in.

If she feels she’d like to be a drama teacher in future, has she looked at potential Uni’s? If not I’d recommend she does that and then looks at their criteria. If she’s got two facilitating subjects for the Uni’s she’s interested in, then doing a third A Level - whatever it may be - because she is interested in the subject and will be engaged and work hard in it, is a good idea. And film studies isn’t just watching films for two years. Will she be doing EPQ?

She feels/has been advised that her maths is not strong enough for psychology. I suggested philosophy but she has no affinity whatsoever to philosophical thought or debate.

Her original idea was to do a Btec (1 A level equivalent) in Drama plus A level English Lit but could not decide on a 3rd subject. The college offered a 2 A level equivalent Film studies Btec but it would take her to 4 subjects. Then she discovered a different college offered the Film Studies and A Level drama instead of Btec.

I also suggested something like sociology but she's not keen.

What subjects is she enjoying now?

She is enjoying English Lit and Performing Arts

Ah, too slow at typing missed this from Pasta
I learnt absolutely loads, including about history, technology, sociology, communication, propaganda. The world cinema module was still one of the most interesting things I’ve ever studied (and I’m 2.5 degrees further on!)
👍 👍

@HexagonsHecateAndHecuba

Rather than a knee jerk reaction to removing certain options, why doesn't she start to research what the uni's want/expect.

Film studies is a valid A level as any other. Degree wise, not so much, I think it sits well with her future choices, especially as she doesn't seem to be as strong in STEM subjects and doesn't enjoy history.

If she isn't stuck on film studies what about Eng Lang or a modern foreign language to give her options.

It's her choice though.....all you can found advise and offer suggestions about where to look for more info to help with her choices. I think it's important that they should have a GSCE or A Level subject that they simply enjoy and go for the joy of it. If that is film studies then so be it

By the way, she's not my child but she tends to look to me for advice.

She's not very confident in her language/can't wait to drop it. I think she's intelligent, she writes very well but she doesn't actually think she is good enough for college.

I did some uni research for her as someone had told her that she couldn't teach without science GCSE's (I reckon she will pass but she thinks she won't). I discovered that science GCSE is only a requirement for a tiny handful of secondary PGCE courses.

My own kids are studying performing arts (one music one musical theatre/dance) and my own degree was in drama and music so I already knew that most drama degrees have no specific subject requirements but an essay subject is desirable.

@Judashascomeintosomemoney

If she feels she’d like to be a drama teacher in future, has she looked at potential Uni’s? If not I’d recommend she does that and then looks at their criteria. If she’s got two facilitating subjects for the Uni’s she’s interested in, then doing a third A Level - whatever it may be - because she is interested in the subject and will be engaged and work hard in it, is a good idea. And film studies isn’t just watching films for two years. Will she be doing EPQ?

No, at the colleges she will apply to only the most academic students on the "honours pathway" are able to do an EPQ.

I would think (but she'd need to do her own research) that those A-levels would be fine for a drama teaching course assuming she gets the required grades. But...she's 15/16, and she may well change her mind about what she wants to do in the future, and they are subjects that won't be academic enough for many other options. That said, if she can't do maths/science and subjects that require those skills, she will be cutting down her options anyway. It may well be that because of her own skills profile, that these subjects or very similar ones are the best for her to take.

Another no to film studies plus drama and English lit overlap. Ideally a facilitating subject (aka traditional)

Does she know the course she wants to study, and where, after her A Levels? If she wants to become a drama teacher will she do a 4 year QTS course, or a drama degree followed by her PGCE?

Have a look at the courses she might like to do, and check what the entry requirements for those are. So long as her chosen subjects fit with these, there's no reason not to go ahead with them. There's a lot to be said for doing A Levels you're genuinely interested in, you're more likely to excel if you're enjoying them rather than just studying the subject to get a 'better mix'.

There's little point in changing what she wants to do if it fits with her plans for the future.

GCSE maths and English will be enough to cover those for most roles in the future, and the vast majority of uni courses simply require 3 x A levels. Some might specify that you must have studied that subject at A Level, but it's kind of unlikely that she will suddenly decide she wants to study something she isn't choosing at this point.

And - even if she doesn't study exactly the right things, and needs to take another course in the future, there's always a path to where you need to get to, without worrying too much about subject combinations now.

I don't think there are any 4 year QTS courses for secondary drama.

As I said before drama degrees don't actually specify subjects apart from a few that want at least one out of drama or English Lit and some want an essay subject.

I think part of the problem is that unlike my kids she doesn't have a real passion for anything but she does enjoy literature and drama.

@movingonup20

Another no to film studies plus drama and English lit overlap. Ideally a facilitating subject (aka traditional)

Facilitating subjects don't exist any more.

Is she set on being a teacher or is it an idea she's floating because she likes the subject?
Perhaps she could ask the film studies teacher what careers are open to successful students - they might include options she hasn't considered. Digital media might be an option.
I think she should do a bit more research on what opportunities are available, perhaps not university.

If she's planning a drama degree these sound pretty good to me - English & Drama are both well respected and "traditional" subjects, and Film Studies, whilst maybe not as academica, is related and will cross-fertilise with the other two.

FWIW DD is really enjoying Sociology alongside English Lit.

@Tavannach

Is she set on being a teacher or is it an idea she's floating because she likes the subject? Perhaps she could ask the film studies teacher what careers are open to successful students - they might include options she hasn't considered. Digital media might be an option. I think she should do a bit more research on what opportunities are available, perhaps not university.

I don't think she is absolutely set on it.

She attended an online open evening at the first college but she was struggling to find enough subjects to fill her course there. I could suggest she email the film studies department at the other college to ask that question.

Having two "soft subjects" will limit the number of universities she has a chance of getting into. If she is a high grade student then I would advise her to change one for a more "traditional" academic subject. Otherwise she should pick what she enjoys so long as she understands that it will close off some options.