Options

[lotusbell]

With everything going on with the pandemic and schools, does anyone else feel like their secondary school age child and the educational impact on them has been overlooked? Obviously years 10 and 11 have a lot of uncertainty with upcoming exams, year 7s have had an awkward transition from primary school to secondary and years 8 and 9 have just sort of been left in no man's land.
This isn't a teacher bashing thread, I'm in awe and admire everything schools are doing in this chaos but it's a worrying time for all parents with a child at school.
We have just this week received a letter about Options with a booklet of info following today. There is to be an online PowerPoint presentation next week with guidance, plus a school report and at least one phone call from tutors before half term.
I'm bewildered! DS gets quite defensive when you approach him about it. He has previously said he wants to take PE. This is despite him doing next to no exercise and no sports. He has enjoyed PE this year though and I think improved according to his last report but he is not particularly sporty. I don't think he realises the work involved and that is not just physical activity but looking at the body, nutrition etc. When I gently push him about it I get "fine, I just won't do it then" so there's definitely a sensible and mature chat needed soon.

As far as I can tell, there has been no careers advice given in school although I think this will be covered in the forthcoming weeks. They've also had some discussions at school last term but anyone else feel its a big decision and one they have to make in a short space of time?
It doesn't help that he doesn't really know yet what he wants to do after school, as a lot his age don't. He is your typical boy - very capable but puts in minimum effort.
Not sure how the school do Options in 'normal' times but I feel unprepared.

Oh Op please don't worry. It will be fine.

IME schools stage am options evening when you go and talk to the teachers about whether your child should take their subject and what the GCSE involves. Obviously that's impossible ATM. Sounds as if your dc's school is offering its best effort - booklet, presentation, chat with tutor all sounds good.

tbh careers advice on this is not really needed - the best advice is to take a reasonable range of subjects and then do what he enjoys.

Schools insist on 2x English, maths and triple or double science. Triple science is sometimes an option, sometimes automatic for more able children, so it's worth finding that out.

Other than that, lots of schools insist on either history or geography plus a modern language. If your school does that, it leaves one or two choices at most.

I suggest he picks what he likes - a humanity is a good idea if not compulsory. Does he like MFL? Then what else does he like - food tech, RE, graphics, art, drama? or sometimes it's helpful to say, what doesn't he like? Mine all gave up art pronto!

Re GCSE PE - ds2 did this and has to offer three sports, one team, one individual and one either. I would only advise it if you do a sport out of school (eg play football for a team). Some can be done in school but not all three. Ds does athletics and footy fir local clubs. HTH.

Thank you @clary, very helpful. I don't think there is a particular push towards history or geography but I agree, it would be a good idea. I don't think he has really found his way just yet and there is no real stand out subject for him.
He has grown up with no real interest in sport, having started playing football towards the end of primary with other children who had either played from a v young age or were naturally more interested. As a result, he never felt good enough. He joined a local team with some friends but dropped out after a few sessions as he realised how competitive it was. He just wanted to play with his mates, not train 2 nights a week I really don't think PE is the right option for him, being realistic!
Ultimately his love is gaming so may be worth looking at computer science or IT media. Decisions, decisions!

That's a good start, maybe see which he prefers of history or geography, then computing and/or IT media (sometimes a BTEC which may or may not suit him).

If he doesn't know what else, start with "what do you want to drop?" and get rid of drama or French or whatever. I agree that PE doesn't sound a good idea.

My ds is also year 9 so I’m waiting for his school to start giving out option information. From what I remember from my older ds he had an options interview with his firm tutor and when asked what he wanted to do for a career he said no idea, like lots of 14 yr olds they have no idea. So they asked him what he didn’t want to do and that ruled out a few things. ie he didn’t want to do anything medical so could do double science instead of triple.
He wanted to do product design but there wasn’t enough pupils to make it viable which was a shame so ended up doing PE as his second choice which I was disappointed with but it actually really helped him with confidence as a part of it was leadership skills and it also improved his biology grades as what he was learning he was putting into practice.
My advice is to rule out some subjects that he really doesn’t like and then you’re left with less to choose from.

Do you have a parents evening coming up? That is a good time to discuss whether your DS is suitable for a course. e.g. You could ask PE teacher 'If he took PE would he pass?' or 'if he took PE how 'good' would he need to be? (e.g. school team ability or what)'.

You DS could be feeling defensive/scared about making the choices so just picking the first thing that comes to mind.

Get him to read the booklet to understand
a) what is mandatory
b) what choices there actually are
c) content of each course and how they are examined.

e.g. I understand there is a lot of biology in PE. There is also a lot of science in Food Prep & Nutrition.

If he might want to do science A levels, then triple science would help (though not essential). However some/many/most schools seem to have some kind of eligibility criteria to do triple.

Enjoying playing computer games is not a criteria for computer science. otoh, being good at maths and enjoying tinkering with computers could well be.

Some schools mandate an MFL, or mandate an MFL if doing other options. Many enforce History or Geography.

As you say he is capable, to keep his choices open later then go for a range of subjects that are traditionally 'academic' with maybe 1 or 2 for lighter relief.
Don't go for Art unless he is keen as it appears to be a time eater. Don't go for Music unless he plays an instrument and practices.

Hi @lotusbell.

We have a year 9 son in state who sounds very similar to yours! He has actually thrived over the lockdown periods because he enjoys the autonomy and lack of uniform!!

We were lucky to have a well timed parents evening last week so we could clarify the triple science question. As others have said, a good starting point is a language, a humanity and something that they really enjoy. DS wants to continue computer science as he has gotten fascinated by coding python this year. His PE teacher wants him to do PE but this is because he is good at biology! There is quite a large theoretical component to it muscles, nutrition, nervous system, respiratory system etc, so DS needs to be happy to take that on.

There was a good thread on computer science geography that might be worth a read. A whole range of viewpoints presented..

Thank you all,much to think about and helpful advice, much appreciated.
No parents evening planned, just reports and a phone call from form tutor i think, as well as the online presentation.
They didn't do a parents evening at all during Covid which is annoying although I'm sure they'd be open to discussion if you had any concerns.
I really do feel they've become one of the forgotten year group as taking Options is a big shift in their education and their education is already suffering but I suppose it is the same for all our kids.
His school have been really good with lockdown and setting work so I've no real complaints.

They all have to take Combined Science Trilogy.

My daughter is year 9 and will pick options next month. Not a huge amount of choices to make as she only actually has 4 subjects to choose. She will take Spanish and PE for definite and then two from history, geography RE and French. No idea yet which of those she will pick as predicted 8's in them all. Told her to just pick the 2 she enjoys the most.

As for PE, I agree I wouldn't take gcse unless your son plays one sport outside of school. My daughter plays basketball at regional and now national team level and is in A team for netball at school (never played for a club as always clashed with her basketball training which is 4 times a week). Individual sport is a bit harder but she is a decent swimmer so we think we will go down that route (or possibly badminton).

Do you know if they have to choose from blocks? Some schools give you all the options whereas others you need to choose from ‘blocks’ to help with timetabling. It should say in your booklet.
As per other posters it’s definitely easiest to start with what he does NOT wish to continue. Maths, English language & English lit will be compulsory, then either double or triple science - so that’s already either 5 or 6 subjects already ‘chosen’. Does your school insist on a language and/or a humanity? Does it say in your booklet?

@lotusbell

They all have to take Combined Science Trilogy.

Is there an option to do triple science? The combined science trilogy is confusingly named, it's double science ie two GCSEs. Some schools offer triple as an option - good of he is keen on science or may do one or more for A level.

@NotDonna, yes there are 3 blocks to choose one subject from each which im.not 100% clear on. Is it just for timetabling?
Does not insist on a language or humanity subject but does say most students get 2 out of 3 of their chosen subjects and that most schools now no longer offer a free choice. It does reiterate it is schools duty to ensure pupils don't pick something that would disadvantage them but also stresses the importance of picking for the right reasons!
@clary, yes it's 'double science'. It says some pupils may be selected to follow the separate science course.

The right reasons are

• enjoy subject
• likely to do well

The wrong reasons are

• like the teacher
• friend is doing it
• think it will be a doss

Honestly, go through it, cross out all the ones he says 'no way' to. You probably won't be left with much!

I was going to say that at dds school even if you didn't take GCSE PE there was still PE on the timetable each week. It would be worth asking if that's the case for your ds.

My son did PE GCSE (think it had an odd name like academic PE). He goes to quite an academic school and we had the lecture about not getting hung up on "soft" subjects as times have moved on since our day apparently. I don't think it helps that, every time I think about PE GCSE, I remember that scene from the Inbetweeners where all Neil has to bring in for his GCSE PE assessment is his shorts. Which he forgets and has to run round in his boxers. Anyway, I digress...

You had to be assessed in three sports, and at least one individual and team sport then either for the third one. That made up about 30% of his mark. He plays county hockey and cricket. I don't think you need to be county level, but playing regularly for your school A team or a decent standard of club sport. He did skiing for his individual sport which was his lowest mark (and slightly overshadowed our ski holiday taking the various parts of footage needed). Others did tennis, badminton, table tennis or athletics for theirs. There was then a project for 10% and the rest on exams.

There was a reasonable amount to learn, some biology, some food nutrition type stuff and the more specific training programmes etc. Not as content heavy as geography and history but not a doss either.

I do think it helps to rule stuff out, so for Ds2 who is now in year 10 that started with art, music and drama.

To get a wide range Ds's school recommend taking a language and a humanity so history, geography or EPR (ethics, philosophy, religion).

What does he like doing now subjects wise? Computer Science is more problem solving, maths and systems, less gaming and coding.

The three blocks are timetabling but if he can find one in each block that he likes it is a start. At Ds's school they are not allowed to take some subjects together so I think art and photography as they were too similar.

At this stage this is about what subjects he enjoys and which subjects he is good at. Hopefully they overlap and he will do well. This is ultimately about GCSE results, the higher the grade the better.

@TeenPlusTwenties

The right reasons are

• enjoy subject
• likely to do well

The wrong reasons are

• like the teacher
• friend is doing it
• think it will be a doss

Honestly, go through it, cross out all the ones he says 'no way' to. You probably won't be left with much!

haha brilliant Teen, that's it in a nutshell!

Yes, he'll still be doing some PE regardless. He does nothing extra curricular sports wise so I really don't see why he would do it. He probably would allowed to anyway.
The good and bad reasons posted above are pretty much what the booklet says too, they have obviously seen far too many kids make the wrong choices!

We'll be having a serious sit down discussion where hopefully he won't get defensive. He tends to think he's not very good at much, no real desire to push himself or better himself,which I really struggle with as I know he's capable.
Thanks again for all the continued replies, its all v helpful.

We've got this coming up for DS though I went through options and he has to choose four from about 12 and he said no to 11 of them. Then he started saying there was more choice than on the form but no there isn't.

He had to choose 4 out of 8 for y9 options and made really silly choices like he's ASD and rips up his art most lessons and he was insisting that was number 1 Then he's not gone to design in 2 years and he insisted that was choice 3 saying with a different teacher all would be fine I think he just uses the criteria of what will be the least work and that's why we just have one choice out of 4 so far.

His 1 choice is stats which comes with further maths and that's his best subject so makes sense but I have to get 3 more out of him. When I ask geography or history which is a box he says put no. French he says yes but no speaking test which also is not an option.

I'm going to have to choose for him as he cannot make a sensible decision - I had to change one of his options this year and we just agreed with the school to say the other one (design) was full.

He did say he may just do identical options to his sister in y10 apart from RE - I'm quite tempted by that as they are subjects he is good at and will put another one instead of RE, probably geography.

If he's interested in PE but isn't doing sports out of school then he could consider the sports science option if his school do it, it's either btec or Cambridge I think.

Mine doesn't know what he wants to do so picked engineering, geography, triple science and German.

Just a note on Computer Science, lots of schools only allow top set maths to take.

It is also perfectly possible to take GCSE Computer Science without a computer.

Obviously using a computer makes it easier to debug programs but as a PP said it's not gaming.

One thing I learnt from my older son is that geography and history are both content heavy. He took both, though was in last year's cohort so didn't have the last two months of panic, trying to learn everything. I think my son had more content to learn for his geography GCSE than my geography A level (and degree!), particularly in terms of the number of case studies.

It didn't really cross my mind until a friend said he was brave doing both geography and history for that reason. My younger son is choosing his GCSE options at the moment and we'll think carefully about doing both. Just in case that's useful to bear in mind.

Completely agree with plg21 that both Geography and History are content heavy. Both my sons chose History, for Ds2 his Geography teacher tried to tell him he could do both and I told her absolutely not as I know the volume of stuff to remember for History having been through it with Ds1.

I think now would also be the time to lay down your expectations of him too. Just by making sure he is putting effort into his homework etc.

Re geography and history GCSEs - both my DDs have taken both subjects simultaneously and to be honest I don’t think any subject at GCSE is content light. What some people view as softer subjects like art or drama are incredibly time intensive. Choices really need to be guided by what he enjoys and is good at. Don’t let him think that any option will be easy. The ‘easiest’ for any DC will be the subjects they have an affinity for. Hope that makes sense.