Maths , Economics & Theatre Studies A levels???

[doorornottodoor]

DS has said he’s thinking about TS as his third A level. His strongest subject is Maths and he should get an 8 at GCSE. He’s dyslexic and English has been a struggle. He’s enjoyed drama but isn’t really a “drama” person although he enjoys film, Netflix , Anime.

I’ve no idea how he did in his drama GCSE. I have emailed his teacher to ask her views.

He doesn’t know what he wants to do at University but is quite entrepreneurial and interested in economies/finance. I’m a bit concerned he’s choosing it as it’s not all exam and will be a change from the others.

Maths and Economics sound full on and if he wants to do a 'lighter' subject I can see why. I've always encouraged DD to get involved in drama and public speaking because it builds so much confidence. I have a postgraduate degree and a great job, but I really wish I had that confidence to stand up and speak, he will learn so much from it even if he has no interest in working in theatre.

I think it all depends what he wants to do at uni. If he thinks he might want to pursue the pure maths/economics field then that tends to be very competitive and TS may mean he's disadvantaged. If he's thinking more general then I'd see that as an example of someone who has a broad range of interest/talent. I'm a massive fan of drama courses for teaching teamwork, confidence, creativity and problem solving.

But then I'm a drama graduate who does NOT work in uni admissions so take everything I say with a bucket of salt

So yeah - it doesn't really matter if he wants to do one 'non exam' course, what matters is if that will affect his goals for his next phase of education.

Not sure what board he would be taking but there is a fair bit of writing in Theatre Studies I would have thought (might be worth finding out)? DD is currently only at GCSE level but finding strong ability in English is really helping her with the analytical writing type bits. How has your DC found these bits at GCSE? If he struggles with English, it might not be the best choice.

Thanks all. Not really sure about Uni. He’s difficult to talk to at the moment about anything ! The school has reassured me that it’s a well respected qualification and shouldn’t limit his choices.

His drama teacher has come back really positive. Thinks he’s more than capable of a good grade and said it’s not a huge step up from gcse. There’s only 6 in the class so he’ll get lots of one to one. She’s amazing and was really supportive when he was struggling in lockdown (we had an awful 4 months with him earlier this year)

However he’ll be lucky to scrape a 6 in English so that’s a concern.

It’s AQA if that makes a difference

OP be aware that if he is thinking of studying maths at uni, many courses will expect Further maths alongside maths at A level.

OTOH maths is a great A level (my DS2 has done it alongside biology and PE) and certainly rules in (rather than ruling out) many other uni options. Just you say maths is his strongest subject so it's worth bearing in mind.

@clary I don’t think he’d want to do pure maths. He likes it, is good at at but doesn’t “love” it. I could see him do a joint honours course of some sort.

I'd echo @HoldontoOneMoreDay's point.

Maybe one concern could be if there's an essay/critique part of the Drama course if he finds English to be such a struggle?

I did Maths, Physics and Music at A Level and it was perfectly fine to go in to a CompSci degree. So it won't be limiting outside a few ultra-specialised degrees.

He’s now thinking Business Studies instead of Economics as he found Economics challenging in the taster sessions.

My dd is doing Maths, FM, Physics and Drama. She's thinking of going for teaching.

That’s an interesting combination @MargaretThursday What kind of teaching is she interested in?

I’ve said to my son to look at Unifrog before he decides (he was talking about doing it over the summer but I think that’s too late) .Can parents have a look/get access?

Primary Ed with drama is her ideal, but she is going to take a year out to get some experience first.

@doorornottodoor

That’s an interesting combination *@MargaretThursday* What kind of teaching is she interested in?

I’ve said to my son to look at Unifrog before he decides (he was talking about doing it over the summer but I think that’s too late) .Can parents have a look/get access?

If it's like my DC's school, each student has their own login, so he could login and show you what it says/what he's put in.

In the past few years I've had pupils in my form group (sixth form) take Drama/Economics/Maths (went to Bristol to read Economics) and Drama/Maths/Physics (went to Imperial to read Physics, and was interviewed at Oxford too). Both pupils said they talked a lot about Drama at the interviews, and thought that was really interesting in their subject profile.

@WayDownInTheHole that’s really helpful and encouraging thank you!

I think he will find the writing part challenging but hopefully the small class and support he’ll get will go some way to overcoming that.

Maths and economics is a great combination. History is often the third, but if dyslexic, why not theatre studies. Many universities like some breadth.

@Needmoresleep thanks- he’s now said definitely not History as he’s just not that interested in it. He’s off Economics now too and more into the idea of BS. I’m a bit concerned that it’s not very academic and it’s the less able pupils that do it which may lower his expectations compared to Economics. However, he has been doing taster sessions for both so I need to let him make his own choice.

Just to say too dyslexia isn’t a barrier to History. My eldest is dyslexic and studies History at university. Just in case anyone is reading.

I don’t speak with any great expertise, so happy for a teacher to correct, but I think you are right and that BS is not seen as carrying the same weight as economics at A level.

Perhaps it is too vocational, so at this level, like law A level, it can be dry. Someone capable of an 8 in maths should stay on an academic track, build the basics and do the vocational stuff at university or beyond.

You might note that many super selective schools don’t offer BS. They will all offer economics.

Perhaps the problem is the dyslexia. DD is both dyslexic and good at maths. She really did not enjoy school though her maths/science ability got her through. Never finishing class tests, struggling when asked to read something out loud, unexpectedly low marks in an exam because she had misread a question. She went on to read medicine, choosing a course with a lot of early patient contact, but spent last year taking an intercalation degree in engineering. She loved it. The maths, the science, the thinking, and the practical elements. It is the first time she has really enjoyed academics.

It may be worth looking at what is impacting on your sons self esteem. I think it is hard for dyslexics to see themselves as clever, even if they are. Then what he is good at, and what careers appeal. DD at his age was understandably adamant that she did not want to work in an office. She was sporty so started out thinking of being a physio or a PE teacher, till at around 15 it became clear that she was genuinely strong in maths and science and capable of getting the grades required for medicine. And indeed in sixth form, after bouncing around maths sets through her school career based on wonky exam results, she was told it was a real shame she was not taking double maths.

Take theatre studies if he enjoys it and it supports his self esteem. But take two strong academic subjects that keep doors open in case he is a late developer. Both maths and economics can be quite different at A level than GCSE and many find them more interesting.

Southampton university said at an admissions day that they only care about 2 subjects for engineering (you have to have maths & physics) and that the other subject should be something you really enjoy. I’m sure there are other universities & admissions departments with similar approaches.

I did three very academic a levels alongside theatre studies. It worked well for me, TS was a very welcome break from the other subjects, and the discussions and visits to shows definitely made me more cultured!
I haven't done any drama since but I look back at it with great fondness. As a shy person it definitely bought me out of my shell.

@clary Your post about FM isn't correct. Mainly because lots of sixth forms and colleges don't offer FM.

OP my mantra is always to let students pick what they enjoy. Economics is more academically rigorous than BS.

That's interesting as ds2,who considered a maths degree, was to,d he would need FM if it was offered (and students where it was not offered would need to explain that).

At the time we researched and found that many unis did indeed require it (I didn't say all). I've just checked a few and in fact Loughborough and York don't require it (tho your the offer is lower with it); Sheffield and Warwick do. So I guess you pays your money and takes your choice.

I did worry that ds was narrowing his options (at his school it is encouraged as one of three A levels, not four) - what if he changed his mind about maths? - and was relieved when he dropped the idea in favour of biology.

I’m not sure I’m going to be able to change his mind on Economics v BS! I’ll try and get him to speak to the school about it, he listens to them more than me! He may prefer BS anyway with it’s more practical syllabus as opposed to the theory of Economics . However he was keen on learning about currency/crypto etc... who knows! He barely speaks to us at the moment (16 year old boy grumps) so it’s hard to have a discussion.