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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

A level choices - History, Sociology, Govt and Politics

54 replies

AChickenCalledDaal · 02/12/2020 22:02

DD2 is in Year 11 and they are just starting the process of making A level choices. History is her strongest subject, closely followed by English. Maths and Science are a struggle.

She's interested in politics, has strong views about our current Government, rants about how rude the MPs are in parliament and how in her opinion no-one listens to young people's views. Engaged with issues like climate change, gender issues, racism and the ethics of people being "cancelled" online.

Her preferred choice of A levels is History, Sociology and Govt and Politics, which does seem a good fit for the above. Doesn't want to do English Lit and they don't offer Lang at A Level.

We're a bit concerned that both Sociology and Govt and Politics would be completely new to her. Also possibly that all three subjects might be a bit same-y. Although to be fair, we didn't mind when DD1 chose Maths, Further Maths and Physics!

Anyone got any recent experience of any of these subjects and able to tell me a bit more about what they are like?

OP posts:

NotDonna · 02/12/2020 22:34

Those three go well together. A lot of essay writing though! If she wants to go into politics has she looked at desired quals? Or flicked through a few university prospectuses to see what degrees are of interest & if there’s any essential A levels?
History is a good strong traditional subject but I read recently that gov pol was seen as less rigorous. Sociology used to have a similar reputation but I’m not sure if that still holds. Would Economics interest her? It’s another side to politics and would go well with history and sociology but add a new dimension. If she’s politically active, then she’ll be gaining some ‘work experience’ and won’t really need it at A level. Plus she can write about her extra curricular political involvement in her PS. Either way I think her combination sounds fine but worth checking degree courses.

Oly4 · 02/12/2020 22:36

Great combination but I’d check the requirements on degree courses she’s interested in. That will help give her a steer.
I think they’re all strong subjects though

climeybarlie · 03/12/2020 07:19

It is completely normal at our school to have students who take only Humanities subjects at A Level. This is absolutely fine, as long as students are happy with a lot of essay writing. Being engaged with political issues will help her a lot as 1) she should enjoy it and 2) she will have up to date real life examples to quote. However, there is a lot of factual learning as well - remember, Politics is mostly taught by History teachers and this is the subject it is closely aligned to. Sociology fits very well with both History and Politics but it is certainly true that the ability profile is weaker in this subject, (at our school) although still with some high ability of course. Agree that Economics is worth considering as well.

BuffaloCauliflower · 03/12/2020 07:24

They’re a great combo and doesn’t matter that she hasn’t done sociology or politics before, most who do them at A Level won’t have as they’re rarely taught at GCSE. If she’s socially and politically engaged which it sounds like she is, -and likes arguing and essay writing, she’ll love it all. A really good grounding in critical thinking. I did sociology A level then studied it at Uni (at one of the top places for the subject) and that combo of subjects would be a great route in to studying any of those things.

Alyssasbackrolls · 03/12/2020 07:28

English History and Economics might be a more 'classic' combo. It's what I did and got me into great university even though I wasnt star pupil.

Chickydoo · 03/12/2020 07:29

Sounds an interesting combination
My DC wants to take Maths, economics, politics & drama, seems a bit of an odd mix to me.
I suggested history, but that didn't go down well.
I think your DD will be fine with that mix

KittyMcKitty · 03/12/2020 07:31

My ds is in year 13 studying Edexcel Politics and has applied to university to do Philosophy & Politics.

Politics is very content heavy and the A level is all essays - mainly 30 Mark some 24. I think sometimes students feel politics will be a “fun debating” type of subject but a lot of the content is fairly dry - UK Constitution / Political thinkers etc. It is probably most similar to History.

That said my ds really enjoys it.

ShaunaTheSheep · 03/12/2020 07:35

DS is doing history, politics and economics, which are all complementary.

My understanding is that the current Politics A level syllabus is more rigorous than the previous government & politics A level.

Twizbe · 03/12/2020 07:36

I would suggest geography rather than government and politics. Especially if she's interested in climate change etc. It will also give her a science to balance out the humanities

allhappeningatonce · 03/12/2020 07:41

I'd just be concerned that they close some doors for her...I speak as someone who's a history teacher so have a degree & alevel in it.
I did economics instead of politics at alevel myself about 10 years ago, loved it. Tbh if you're interested in world issues, it's a great choice, it's essay based at alevel as well. Politics is very much about the structure of government, I personally love elections & would have liked political topics as a teen but I find it so dry to teach.
My worry for your daughter is she'd close a lot of doors with these options. They would naturally lead to a humanities degree at uni & then what? For most people that's either teaching or a masters in something else. Of course, she could become an academic but that's a long slog. Some of the careers people say you can do with a humanities degree are really open to an elite only.
If she's in anyway mathematically inclined, maybe maths keeps her options wider than sociology.

KittyMcKitty · 03/12/2020 07:45

@Twizbe

I would suggest geography rather than government and politics. Especially if she's interested in climate change etc. It will also give her a science to balance out the humanities

My ds does Politics & Geography and they’re very different subjects! Climate change doesn’t particularly figure in Geography.

I would suggest reading the specs of the boards your school teaches.

KittyMcKitty · 03/12/2020 07:46

At A level it’s now Politics- Government & Politics went under the A level reforms.

Orangeblossom77777 · 03/12/2020 08:08

PPE?

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 03/12/2020 08:09

Sounds like a good combo to me, OP. DS did history, geography and politics. Did equally well in all three. Wished he also done economics though.

TeenPlusTwenties · 03/12/2020 08:30

Just make sure she looks at the specs so she knows what kind of topics they will cover and that the courses are really what she thinks they are.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 03/12/2020 08:38

'he'd also done' even

Original poster

AChickenCalledDaal · 03/12/2020 09:09

Thanks all for some useful insights. I'm asking her school which boards they use, so we can look at the specs.

I also wondered about Economics, but maths has always been a struggle and I think that could be an issue.

I do tend to agree that the combination will close some doors, particularly as she doesn't really have much idea what will come after sixth form. But I could envisage her studying history or some sort of combined social sciences degree, which would be OK.

OP posts:

MrsMiaWallis · 03/12/2020 09:27

@allhappeningatonce

I'd just be concerned that they close some doors for her...I speak as someone who's a history teacher so have a degree & alevel in it. I did economics instead of politics at alevel myself about 10 years ago, loved it. Tbh if you're interested in world issues, it's a great choice, it's essay based at alevel as well. Politics is very much about the structure of government, I personally love elections & would have liked political topics as a teen but I find it so dry to teach. My worry for your daughter is she'd close a lot of doors with these options. They would naturally lead to a humanities degree at uni & then what? For most people that's either teaching or a masters in something else. Of course, she could become an academic but that's a long slog. Some of the careers people say you can do with a humanities degree are really open to an elite only. If she's in anyway mathematically inclined, maybe maths keeps her options wider than sociology.

I have never heard a history teacher rubbish the idea of a humanities degree before!

Op, they sound fine. Economics wouldn't 'open more doors' as she doesn't shine in maths so wouldn't be taking maths with it.

My year 10 loves History and, although she's only year 10, is planning History RS and Business A levels. My year 13 is doing 3 essay based A levels anf it's a LOT of work.

nemeton · 03/12/2020 09:30

I'd suggest geography rather than sociology as it will give her a broader skills base. She will have enormous amounts of reading for history/politics/sociology, something like geography instead will break it up a little. Yes, it's partially an essay subject, but there's the practical side too.

GU24Mum · 03/12/2020 09:32

OP, does your daughter struggle with maths generally or certain aspects of it? Mine never found it easy but had the most difficulty with things like geometry/trigonometry rather than graphs and calculations so although she'd run a mile from a maths 'A' level, her maths is fine for the maths element of certain other subjects.

happybabyunit · 03/12/2020 09:53

I think it's an excellent combination and the greatest path is whatever one enjoys. Encouraging her to opt for a course she's not sure about when she has three she thinks she will enjoy will probably backfire. Of course you have every right to be a part of the choice but letting her truly lead will likely make for long term success and commitment.

Original poster

AChickenCalledDaal · 03/12/2020 09:58

She can't do Geography as she hasn't done the GCSE, which is a pre-requisite at her preferred sixth form. GU24Mum interesting comment about maths. In the long term, I think she'll be fine with handling numbers and graphs. Algebra remains a bit of a mystery to her, no matter what we try!

OP posts:

AlyssasBackRolls · 03/12/2020 11:27

Economics isn't purely mathematics - if memory serves it IS a lot of see-saw graphs ("when x goes down, y goes up") but more theoretical/historical stuff too. My maths isn't strong and Economics wasn't easy peasy but I could cope with it and no way could I have done a maths A Level.

crazycrofter · 03/12/2020 11:53

Just to add (as a History graduate!), there's nothing wrong with a History degree. Granted there aren't many specifically related careers (although my sister went into archives) but all the usual graduate careers are open to you - accountancy, law, civil service etc etc - as well as teaching and academia. The same is true of a Sociology or Politics degree.

I think those subjects sound great. At my school our options were restricted and I ended up doing French and Geography alongside History and not really enjoying either (and therefore not doing well in them, compared to my A in History). My siblings, who were similarly humanities-oriented, sensibly went to colleges where between them they did Sociology, Classics, RS, Politics, PE, alongside History. They all a) did better than me and b) enjoyed sixth form more than me!

PastaAndPizzaPlease · 03/12/2020 12:02

Sounds like a great combination which matches her interests. Lots of uni courses open to her, and plenty of careers.

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