A level choices - History, Sociology, Govt and Politics

[AChickenCalledDaal]

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?

If your daughter does fancy economics speak to college and see what they say rather than rule it out. There’s an element of understanding data obviously but I would have thought grade 6 Gcse maths would be ok. Not everyone in DD1s Economics class are strong mathematicians yet are predicted A’s.

Also please remember that something like 75% of careers don’t require a specific degree - any will do! So it’s always best to do what most appeals.

It’s a bit sad that a history teacher thinks history closes doors. It absolutely does not. The civil service, law, HR, marketing, NGOs, and virtually any job that isn’t scientific is open to you.

I think it’s wrong to assume that strong political convictions equal enjoying politics A level. These concerns of young people are not the syllabus and it’s certainly not all about debating and student angst. Maturity will be required.

There’s nothing wrong with her choices. Economics at university would largely be out with no maths. So she should do what she’s good at. Plenty of courses and jobs will be open to her.

You should definitely look at the topics covered and see if she likes the sound of them.

If the school are still calling it Government and Politics I would be checking out the teachers as it hasn’t been called that for several years! If it is the Edexcel course, the global politics option is horrendous in terms of content but there is a USA option too which I would have thought is better??
It’s a great course if taught well. I think it’s status academically is higher than before.

It always had a reasonably high status. Plenty of successful Oxbridge applicants have it with History A level. As DD did. It’s no back number and never has been.

@Zandathepanda

If the school are still calling it Government and Politics I would be checking out the teachers as it hasn’t been called that for several years! If it is the Edexcel course, the global politics option is horrendous in terms of content but there is a USA option too which I would have thought is better?? It’s a great course if taught well. I think it’s status academically is higher than before.

My son does Edexcel Politics and they do USA for paper 3 which seems really good - they’re doing it at the moment which was fantastic with the backdrop of the election.

I thought history was widely viewed as one of the most facilitating degrees to have? Isn’t it the most common degree for solicitors / barristers to have? (Certainly all the ones I know are history graduates).

I’m sure our school calls it gov pol.

Roughly 50% law degrees. 50% non law degrees for Barristers but History is obviously a good prep for law. It’s a good degree for lots of jobs as is politics.

Yep, just double checked their 6th form online brochure and it’s edexcel Government & Politics. 1st year U.K. and 2nd year USA.

NotDonna they haven’t updated it for 4 years then

DDs school is also still referring to Government and Politics, but it is the Edexcel Politics course and they do the USA option.

Their sixth form prospectus is new, so I don't know why they haven't updated the title in there. But the flyer DD has now received from the subject teacher is correct. Looks like an interesting course.

Greta combo, and no overlap between sociology and politics in terms of content.

DS does history and sociology : at the moment he is doing Thatcherism in both! He certainly is using his sociology knowledge to build an enquiring approach to capitalism. He also does economics. Less keen. Best grades but constant graphs and short answers and he likes essays.

The stuff you say your DD cares about and loves sound more like sociology than politics in terms of the A Levels specs tbh. (Other DS did politics: mainly about parliamentary systems)

great! Not Greta! Although she will be mentioned in sociology no doubt!!

@NotDonna

Yep, just double checked their 6th form online brochure and it’s edexcel Government & Politics. 1st year U.K. and 2nd year USA.

It’s definitely just politics- ds is doing it. They clearly haven’t updated since the introduction of Linear A levels.

qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/politics-2017.html

Lots of people do still call it gov and pol. It's a more accurate name really. No idea why it was changed. Just for a clean break, I guess , after reform.

My daughter did those very A levels (well just politics rather tha g&p). I teach (criminology) at a University and these are a fab combination for so many subjects.

Watching this as they are my Y11's choices as well and she sounds similar to your daughter, OP.

Re needing maths for economics. Not always. Some universities offer a BA route as well as a BSc route. Manchester University does not need a maths A-level. www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2021/05134/baecon-economics/entry-requirements/#course-profile

Yes that’s true but the better jobs are often taken by the more mathematical grads. It’s not necessarily an even playing field. People who don’t like maths should really be advised to swerve economics but do business studies instead if they want a business based course.

PiggyWasPushed having now looked at the spec, I agree G &P is a more accurate name and that may well be why school are still using it. It highlights that you are going to spend a lot of time learning about how govt works rather than enjoying lots of fun debates. I think she'd enjoy the course though.

DS did the US paper in Govt & Politics (what his school called it). They were lucky enough to go to Washington DC for an 'overlap' educational trip which covered their history A Level too (they did an American Independence module).

The exception percy probably would be the Manchester BA which is very clear that you do the BA with a particular end goa in mind and not to 'be an economist' as such. It actually looks really human and interesting. But, yes, not for people who want to work for Goldman Sachs.

It must be a bit confusing to graduate with an economics degree then have to explain its not one that means you could be an economist!

Surely no-one is "an economist"with just an economics degree? And do many people choose their degree subject to only work in that field? Lots of graduate jobs just require a degree and blind recruitment doesn't even want to know where it's from.

DD1 is doing History, Sociology & English and loving the fact that they are all in the same kind of field so that she can cross-fertilise essays with info from her other subjects. She's loved Sociology and I think a large part of that has been the fact that it's completely new to her.