Can anyone help with GCSE options? (History/Rand P/classics/drama)

[IrisJoy]

My dad is currently trying to choose GCSE options. She has already chosen Latin and German as her ‘extra subjects, but is struggling to choose from above. She really enjoys drama but lacks confidence and isn’t great with working with a group that aren’t her friends so isn’t sure about doing it for GCSE. I think it’s not a bad Idea for exactly the same reasons. She wants to do classics but doesn’t think the school will timetable so that it’s possible to do that and Latin. She likes history and r and p, but isn’t convinced about the syllabus for either. How does she choose?

She is quite academic and has no issues with essay writing etc so no problem there. However she puts a lot of pressure on herself and gets stressed about school so it might be good for her to have drama in the mix as something different?
Are Latin/history/classics all too similar? (Event though that’s her area of interest). She has no idea what she wants to do long term.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated!

Dd! Sorry 🤦🏻‍♀️

I thought Classics was Latin (for GCSE purposes anyway). Do you mean Classical civilisation?

Equally, what is R&P? Religion and Philosophy?

If she's not keen on working in groups, I'd agree that Drama is probably a bad choice. Though a fair bit of Drama is also literature based, which sound like it would fit in with her interests. My DD is studying GCSE drama, and I would not really have described her as particularly confident either, but she's really enjoying all the analysis work and play devising (ironically performance is probably her least strong part as that's what most children take drama to do!

My understanding of Latin/Classical civilisation history is that Latin is more about learning the language and reading texts in the language whereas classical civilisation is a mix of classical history and classical literature and history is similar to the history bit of classical civilisation but covering more recent time periods!

Latin/classical civilisation/history are sort of similar but different (you could throw English Lit into this pot as well). I'd also say that Religious Studies is similar too (they are all about studying various subjects and then showing your understand the facts and can form our own opinions by making considered reasoned arguments about them - Latin is less similar in this respect). Assuming she is taking maths and science as well, it would be as balanced a set of choices as most students focusing on humanities are.

I do agree she's potentially picking a lot of writing heavy, very academic subjects and it would be good to pick one that offers some light relief (though Drama contains plenty of writing too!).

(For info, my DD is taking Englishx2, maths, science x2, Spanish, art, drama, history, religious studies. She finds it fine :) I think she'd find it a lot more onerous if the art was something essay based instead though.)

I think classics would be a lot of overlap. Dd did Latin (until dropping it in early year 11!) and there’s a history and literature element to it as well as language.

She also considered drama and they did some sample lessons in year 9. It was very dry, writing about how something should be acted - she didn’t get it at all, but it wasn’t a long enough exposure to really tell.

She did both R&P and History, and got 9s in both. She would say History has huge content whereas she found R&P easy.

Thank you.
Yes, sorry, it's Classical civilisation and religion and philosophy.
I think she'd be fine with the 'dry' side of drama and I think it would be good for her to do a less essay based subject.
She likes the debating side of R and P. But I think she would struggle with the biblical side as she has very strong views on Christianity!

I think she would love Classical civilisation as she has always adored all the Greeks and Romans, but I don't think she will be able to do that as well as Latin.

It is all very essay based, I agree, but those are her interests and strengths. She isn't at all arty or musical, or sporty, so any of those are a no go. Not at all interested in computer science etc. So it's just choosing between a lot of humanities and drama!

It might help to download some previous exam papers for the boards your school offers.

We did this when dd was choosing A Level subjects. It gives you a feel for the subjects covered and what is required (although of course drama will have the practical element too).

I would say that classics and Latin are perfect together if possible! My dd is doing classics and has loved it. Thought about taking it to a level but she is dyslexic and concerned that level of writing may be too much at that point.

She does drama too btw! She'd be happy to answer any questions I'm sure.

I would do history if she might want to do a degree in classics or ancient history down the line, to avoid closing paths.

If she does history she’ll have a full EBacc if that is something which is important to you/the school? I’m surprised they haven’t suggested it (unless you are private?)

Full EBacc is maths, English, science, a language and geography or history. The government use it as a measure and believe it will open doors for students in the future.

Hello, classicist here. I think it depends a bit on what your DD's future options are. She sounds to me like an ideal classicist - academic, comfortable with extended writing, and apparently happy with languages too (Latin and German are a brilliant combination) - and of course interested in the classical world. Incidentally, if she does pursue classics further, then it's a great route into RG/Oxbridge if she's on that kind of trajectory (NB if she's in a state school, they look particularly favourably on state school applicants, as they don't get many).

If she's interested in that route, then the question for me would be whether she has the option of taking Latin and/or class civ at A level. If not, then I'd be inclined to do class civ now if the school can timetable it. She would still have the option of classics at university if she's interested, as Latin A level isn't a prerequisite now. But if she can do either/both at A level, then I'd be inclined to do history now. She'd still be learning the right skills for a humanities future, she'd be getting her classics fix from the Latin GCSE, and she'd be keeping herself open as a bit more of a generalist if she decides to pursue a non-classics route at A level and beyond.

Drama is perhaps easier to pursue as an extra curricular activity if the school has opportunities for that? If she's not that comfortable with the group work side, then that might being its own pressures as a GCSE?

Definitely push her to find out about the timetabling issue. I'm old but in my day, kids who had chosen Latin were basically the target market for Class Civ, so it would be a bizarre choice to make them choose one or the other.

I see your reasoning with drama. My question is whether the benefit of the group work aspect outweighs the extra pressure it would put on her. I'm inclined to think "no" for my own child, but I obviously can't speak for yours. If there's another subject she is she is really excited about then I'd rather she do that, it'll be great for her confidence in a different way and it might even turn into a career aspiration. A tech or art is good for breadth, but if she could enthuse passionately about Class Civ or R&P in an interview later, that might stand her in better stead than being lukewarm about drama ( and more importantly, more enjoyable for her).

@NeedaLittleNap I think it depends on how the school chooses to frame it. Sometimes, class civ is positioned more as an alternative to Latin, along the lines of 'the classical subject for students who are interested in the classical world but don't enjoy the language aspect'. I agree that it's odd in theory to make it impossible to do both - but if it's a school (state especially) with a small classics department, then it might be difficult to timetable both subjects for the same pupil. (In a similar situation I had to do my Latin A level half self-studied in free periods, because it couldn't be fully timetabled alongside my class civ A).

If she wants to go on to do classics at uni, I would definitely suggest history. History is a great combo at A-level with any language or humanities option.

Fair enough @bathroomblues, I wasn't claiming any particular expertise. Good on you for taking that on so young, and clearly making such a success of it. I'd be delighted if my DD finds that sort of passion for a subject.

I think history is the obvious choice? Drama I totally understand your reasoning and instinctively I would say the same - a bit of a push out of comfort zone and different skills/practical etc could be a good thing - but if she’s unsure and really would prefer a different subject then it would be unwise to push her too much that way when the other subjects are all valuable.

History - keeps more doors open if she thinks she’ll go into humanities. Classics can be taken at A level without the GCSE especially if she does Latin instead, but most centres want GCSE history to do the A-level. Although I see the attraction of drama.

History. Definitely the best option. She might like History and MFL or classics at university. Or even law. History keeps all the doors open.