Gcse options... computer science vs creative I media

[RuggeryBuggery]

The IT department at DC’s school are offering computer science GCSE and also a creative imedia course which is an gcse equivalent qualification and they come out with merit/distinction whatever.
Dd is doing the essential ones so
English
English lit
Maths
Science most likely triple
Spanish
History (prefers this over geography)
Art (greatest passion at the moment, spends hours doing it and currently thinks she wants a career in it)

Has one option left
She’s top set for everything that’s streamed and generally very academically inclined although doesn’t always believe she is.
Maths teacher wanted her to do statistics/additional maths gcse. She’s not sure, was interested in psychology but had pretty much decided on computer science. She doesn’t code in her spare time or anything but I think has a good aptitude for it. But then IT teacher has been talking about the choices and she really likes the sound of creative i media which j think is the more creative side of current IT lessons - web design, animation etc.
I think she’d really enjoy it.

She is generally very sensitive and very easily overwhelmed with school work. Has been really struggling with low mood anxiety and suicidal thoughts/self harm and we have been referred to Camhs.

I want her to do what she’ll enjoy but am concerned that even if it’s not easy, because it is not a gcse but is an equivalent qualification it might be looked upon unfavourably later and whether we should steer her away from it?
She was happy doing computer science with statistics as back up option before this course came up as a choice.

Any advice welcome!

Just checked and it’s called “Cambridge Level 2 Certificate in Creative I-media”

I work in a high school where both subjects are taught. I would go for imedia. It sounds like it’s a BTEC so although coursework heavy, she will finish it before the GCSE exams so there will be less pressure at exam times. Lots of schools run a computer science club so there is a chance she could attend that and learn some of the skills there too.

Computer science is hard and generally at our school only taken by those who are interested in coding to start with. We also run the iMedia course for those who want a less full on option for it or those who want a more creative course. I wouldn't worry about it being a 'lesser' qualification than gcse - lots of the more practical subjects are btec / Cambridge now. If that is where her interest lies then let her do it. It will be a good change from the other very academic subjects she is taking.

We had the same discussion. I joked about creative I media not being a proper subject etc but dd chose it anyway. She really enjoys it and because it was the 10th subject I was happy she'd still have 9 GCSEs.

@RuggeryBuggery

I’m an exams officer and a parent. DD is doing Creative iMedia (Cambridge National Level 2) and it’s a great course. Like your DD, mine is arty but academic with a tendency to not believe she is. She’s loving iMedia! It’s one of her favourite courses and allows her arty side to come out in another form.

As an EO I can say it’s not looked down on in any way. There are more and more courses now that are not GCSE’s and colleges and universities are on board with them.

Let her be happy and enjoy the course. It’s a well recognised qualification and DD is really loving it.

Thank you, that’s very helpful and especially from an exam officers perspective @PorcelainCatStack

Do you know if the coursework is all individual or any group projects?

@RuggeryBuggery

Thank you, that’s very helpful and especially from an exam officers perspective *@PorcelainCatStack*

Do you know if the coursework is all individual or any group projects?

@RuggeryBuggery no it’s all individual work. No group coursework. Glad to help. It’s a great course with lots of module options that can vary by teacher/school. Worth finding out what modules your DD’s school choose as this may further help the decision.

For level 2 they’ll do 2 compulsory modules:

R081: Pre-production skills (the written exam)
R082: Creating digital graphics (coursework)

Plus 2 more coursework modules chosen by school... Choice from:

R083: Creating 2D and 3D digital characters
R084: Storytelling with a comic strip
R085: Creating a multipage website
R086: Creating a digital animation
R087: Creating interactive multimedia products
R088: Creating a digital sound sequence
R089 Creating a digital video sequence
R090: Digital photography
R091: Designing a game concept
R092: Developing digital games

It an interesting course that lives between art and IT.

My child is really interested in Graphic Design so we thought this might be good. Trouble is they really don't like the options chosen by the school - so that's half the course. We also weren't worried about it not being a GCSE as such, but are a bit concerned that there may be a lot of students who think it's a soft option, and although the work is individual obviously this does have an impact on the experience.

It’s not a soft option and it’s not seen that way in my school.

Well that's good. The ability profile is definitely much weaker for CiM than for CS at our school.

Yes Computer Science is more difficult/academic. That doesn’t mean iMedia is a lesser subject though and it shouldn’t be seen that way. If anything perhaps CS is more niche.

DC does both the computer science GCSE and the creative i-media BTEC - the CS is more mathematical and the i-media more hands on, but it’s not an easy option.

Due to all the school disruption they’re only taking one of the optional modules and they all sat the exam in January (good practice for sitting the real thing, although I’m still not sure how the BTEC will be awarded given all other exams were cancelled).

Are you sure it’s a BTEC @LostToucan?

BTEC are run by Pearson Edexcel and they run “Creative Media”

OCR run Cambridge Nationals and they offer “Creative iMedia”.

They are both being awarded via assessment this year if certificating this summer and there is scope for mid flight learners too although we are waiting for more info there.

Yes, you’re right - it’s the OCR CNat.

School reports always call it Creative Media but the exam entry is for CNat Creative iMedia.

Yeah they’re easily mixed up with only the “I” difference in the name. Don’t worry, OCR are giving teachers guidance. It’s not all settled yet with exam boards but they’ll be assessed and given grades between May-June. In reality some coursework based subjects may have more easily obtained evidence of grades so iMedia will be fine I’m sure.

My bad, I just always assumed it was a BTEC (still getting my head around the English system, so many options).

As they’ve sat the examined content in January and they’ve been working on the compulsory and optional projects I’m sure there’ll be plenty of evidence available for the assessment.

Don’t worry they confuse me and I work with them

DD has just started GCSEs (yr 10), she wants to drop Business Studies (Cambridge certificate) and pick up Creative I media (Cambridge certificate).She is already doing GCSE computer science. We think if she does this she will be limiting her options later on.

Gcse options
History
Spanish
Computing science

Cambridge
Business Studies

Plus Maths, English etc

Well, what sort of thing does she want to do in the future? Something with computing? If not she has a language and humanity so leaves her with those, plus Politics, Economics, Sociology, and all the core subjects. Business Studies certainly doesn't open up any avenues at L2.

because it is not a gcse but is an equivalent qualification it might be looked upon unfavourably later

As a 'last' option, surely no one is going to look down on it because it is a BTEC (or similar) rather than a GCSE?

If anything it may give a a different skill set to develop, and as a PP said, will hopefully be mainly done before final exams so lower revision load.

Hi All,
DS is planning to take CS as GCSE option, but we are not sure as in his School very few children opt for it (25 out of 190) so may be the support not be great .. please advise if some one has gone through this and is there any external help available

@MLak

This is an old thread, and your question is likely to get overlooked.
Can I suggest you start a new thread?

My DS has taken Imedia and has loved it! He's doing GCSEs this year and has almost finished all of the imedia work. He is also doing Art which is very full on! Interestingly he has chosen Computer Science for A'Level which he is able to do despite not having done it for GCSE.