What A Level with English Language and History?

[UserAtRandom]

Thinking ahead here but DD (currently in Year 10) has started pondering about what she wants to study after GCSEs.
She is pretty sure she wants to study English Language and History.
She is totally unsure about a 3rd A Level.
She would like to go to university - possibly to study English or History or possibly Primary Education. But that might change.

I'm not sure there are any "wrong" answers but interested in thoughts.
Of the other GCSEs she's currently taking
Maths, Science and Spanish - she hates
Art - she loves but is too much of a time killer
RS - she is good at but a bit ambivalent about, a possible
English Lit - she finds very dry, but is a possible
Drama - she loves but she's not the strongest of performers (her view; her teacher is pretty positive about her) although will do well at the written/analytical bits. However her school doesn't currently offer at A Level (chance this might change) and there are personal reason why she would be reluctant to move to a different sixth form.

Another possibility (not studied at GCSE) is Sociology but I don't know if this would be too similar to her other choices. Might suit her in terms of playing to her strong analytical/writing strengths.

Any thoughts, or other suggestions for a 3rd A Level very welcome!

Many years ago my husband, sister and I all took English and history A levels (though we all did English Literature). Our third subjects were RS, politics and music. All worked very well in combination with English and history.

From the subjects you've mentioned, I think RS or drama would work well. My daughter did drama A level. She wasn't one of the strongest performers but did ok on the written exam and ended up with an A. Alternatively, psychology might work well if your daughter is thinking of teaching. My daughter did that too. She is not good at maths but was fine with the statistics needed.

Not quite the question you asked, but is your daughter sure she wants to opt for English Language as opposed to Literature or Lit/Lang? The other two are likely to be a bit better regarded for university entry if she's considering English.

She will need English Lit or at least English Lang & Lit to have a chance of studying English at University.
I'd recommend Philosophy & Ethics with History, English Lit or Lang & Lit. Still sort of RS so if she's good at that she should find it still accessible but also much more captivating.

@GU24Mum

Not quite the question you asked, but is your daughter sure she wants to opt for English Language as opposed to Literature or Lit/Lang? The other two are likely to be a bit better regarded for university entry if she's considering English.

No, she's not sure. Her school only offer Lang or Lit so it's a binary choice (though she could do both, but not sure that would be desirable). She's been both put off by the GCSE English Lit teaching (but they studied a set text in each of the 2 main lockdowns, so hardly ideal and they are now going through them again) and enthused by her English Lang teacher going on about how great the A Level is. I have said to her that A Level is different to GCSE and I think she needs to look very carefully at what is covered in both courses. (Everyone else in the family is very scientific/maths based so we are all a bit clueless about how to advise a child that's has strengths in humanities/creative subjects!)

Yh I wouldn't do lit/Lang for sure. I agree with others tho, Eng lit much better for English at uni.

Research it a bit and you'll see what we mean. Tho if she is not a fan of analysing a set text then Eng lit A level and degree are probably not for her.

English Lit would be v useful if she went on to do History at university, and also if she chose to do a linguistics degree. If she’s finding it dry then it’s not being taught properly…

What does she hate about Spanish? Could you send her abroad for some language courses to help with getting better at Spanish? Seems like a natural one to take with the other two. I hated French GCSE but at A level it got better, I had a much better teacher.

Also, think of trips to Spain, to S America, Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico.... all the incredible things you could do with that language...

Dd is doing history, eng lang and drama. She did start off doing lit instead of history but struggled a bit with the reading (processing disorder) so swapped to history.

Dd slightly regrets drama, tho she loves studying it. Mainly because now she is looking at uni, she feels it's not a serious enough A level. She wishes she had done french instead. Though she is looking at doing language and linguistics at uni and doesn't need the serious A level necessarily.

No real help but just what thought process a year 12 is going through atm.

Sociology goes very nicely with history

@WhyNotNow21

What does she hate about Spanish? Could you send her abroad for some language courses to help with getting better at Spanish? Seems like a natural one to take with the other two. I hated French GCSE but at A level it got better, I had a much better teacher.

Also, think of trips to Spain, to S America, Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico.... all the incredible things you could do with that language...

I think it's partly that she finds it hard. I don't really know why she's so switched off from it- in theory it should be fine and be the sort of thing she is good at!

We had planned to visit Spanish speaking countries last year as an encouragement and there was a school trip planned to Spain but ...

I would suggest geography. I think it's a great subject and is important for the future with combatting climate change. And it goes really well with English (whether lang or lit) and history although may be a little content heavy. However, Eng lang will be less content heavy than the other two.

I didn't do it for A level because I fell out with my geography teacher and switched to RE but DH did it with English (lit) and history.

DS did Spanish A level but regretted it. However, without covid he would have probably got to go there which would have made a real difference I think. It's difficult to get enthused when you can't use the language (and Brexit hasn't helped as he knows he can't go and work there anymore).

Thanks for the suggestion but there is absolutely no chance of DD taking geography. It was the subject she was most desperate to drop (behind science, which she wasn't allowed to).

And, from a practical basis, her school (slightly bizarrely I think) doesn't let students take both history and geography A Level. Actually (now I've looked at the option blocks) there are a few combinations that are not possible (she can't take both English Lit and sociology either, for example).

Though I am looking at info for Y12 starters in September 2021, and it might be different for DD's year. Just one more thing to factor in!

Sociology goes really well with that combo. LOTS of content to rote learn (but not so much rote learning for Eng Lang so a nice balance)

At my school they require really good science and maths grades for A Level psychology these days.

Although technically allowed , I wouldn't go for Eng Lang and Eng Lit as separate A Levels.

I think sociology, or politics or philosophy.

Eng Lit and sociology is one of the most common A Level combinations so that is plain weird!!

ps Art absolutely is a time killer at my school so that does depend. they practically lock our students in the art rooms!

Just noticed the teaching bit : sociology has a whole unit on education so it's an obvious one to me!

If primary teaching is a goal the English is helpful, as is the history Art and drama would be too, that said.

I did Eng (but Lit not Lang) History and RS A-levels. They were all really interesting and complemented each other well. Very essay heavy though and all with very hefty specifications. A well-regarded combination though I think.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned economics ?

Politics would also go well with history

I did A level RS and it was really good, it was half christian theology and half Islam. Definitely one to consider.

Try and get to Spain this summer if you can. It's one of the only countries at the moment with no quarantine.

I hadn't visited France in a nice place until I went when I was 14 and we visited the Provence and stopped in Paris along the way. it changed my view of the country completely. Up until then I'd been on a crappy visit to Mont St Michel in the cold and rain when I was 11 through a school trip and I thought France sucked.

Then had this later trip and realised it was a beautiful country and made me decide to do French A-level.

Seeing the country makes such a difference if you find a nice part. Can be so motivating, especially (the thought) of talking to all those interesting dark-haired handsome strangers :) Didn't have any confidence aged 14 though LOL.

There are loads of courses she could just fly on her own. Very exciting!

www.languageinternational.co.uk/course/intensive-spanish-course-ail-madrid-spanish-language-school-68169

Psychology has SOME science in it but it definitely does not dominate and I wouldn't say the science bits are any harder than GCSE level. In terms of the maths stuff, it's only really when you get to degree level when theres abit more maths (and science) x I think the most important thing is that she does something she's interested in x

I'd say sociology or politics would work well with those choices.

Theatre Studies (Drama) A level is a very English/essay based subject and could be combined with English at university. The practical element gives a break from the writing side. Someone mentioned that high scores are difficult obtaining in a group performance this is absolutely not the case. Every performer should be marked individually.

What about Classical Civilisation? Ancient history without the Latin or Greek.

I think Politics could fit too.

I think the most important thing is that your DD does what she enjoys and don't worry that an A level is considered less weighty. My DD is in year 13 and lots in her year are going onto top universities with Art/Theatre Studies/Music A levels.

My DD has decided on History, English Language and Sociology. She wants to be a primary school teacher. The linguistic and application of English really sparked her interest which is why she's chose language over Literature, Sociology as it's thought provoking and may have some benefit in her future career, and History because she really enjoys it! I want her to do three subjects she really enjoys and for her they fit the bill.