PE GCSE

[winterrabbit]

DS1, year 9, is thinking of doing GCSE PE as one of this options. Do 6th forms/unis take this seriously as an option or are we better sticking with something more academic. DS is very sporty and his teacher recommended his take this but he is not interested in doing anything sports related further down the line.

I have added a reply to your other similar thread.

It depends on what other subjects your son is considering. If PE comes under his optional choices (he's already chosen the sciences and history or geography and a foreign language etc), then why not? There is quite a bit of class work - anatomy, physiology etc, plus three sports with at least two (I think) at a competitive level. My son did PE because it IS what he wants to do as a career, but many took it because they were sporty and interested. He did rugby and rowing competitively and I can't remember third sport, but those first two were outside school so took up a considerable amount of time. It shows dedication and discipline as well as an academic side, and as it is one of 8 to 11 subjects I don't see why it wouldn't be taken seriously at all.

I doubt anyone cares two hoots which other GCSEs they've done if they can see six or seven EBacc subjects in the list together with anything required for the course they're applying for.

It’s totally fine. 6th forms and unis couldn’t care less about it and they do it in all the top private schools. I will say it’s hard though. It’s fairly rough academically and really hard sport wise. My v sporty DC got his lowest mark in it - a 6 when his other results were pretty much a straight run of 8’s and 9’s

I don’t mean rough academically, it’s tough academically and not an easy option

Totally fine OP as others say.

There is often (understandable) anxiety on this board about what subjects to choose for GCSE, and having had three DC go through this and come out the other side (and also having been a teacher) I can confidently say that, once you have got your core subjects, the rest of your choices really don't matter, with two caveats:

1. Pick subjects you will enjoy - don't do history because you think you should
2. Make sure you are not excluding any A level choices - but then, if you wanted to do MFL A level you would want to do the GCSE as well.

FWIW DS2 took PE GCSE and A level, and is now on a competitive course at a popular university. A mate of his also took PE A level and is now studying maths at a very popular uni for maths. No issue with the PE GCSE/A level in either case.

Your DS needs to do at least two sports out of school, ideally, and be at a reasonable level in both. DS2 played footy for a local club (Sunday morning level) and competed for his county in national comps at athletics.

I am not sure that it is necessarily an especially tough GCSE - DS2 got an 8 and was a couple of marks off a 9; and he did not get all 8s and 9s, plenty of 6s and 7s in there too. But I guess it might be about teaching of it, cohort, student's interest as well.

Thank you all. That was another question I had, i.e. what are the grade boundaries and how hard is it to do well in this subject. I didn't have the impression it was easy at all, quite the opposite. He does 3 sports outside of school to a high level, in regional competitions etc, and a couple in school, one of which he is very good at and his teacher said he should score at least 20/25. I don't want to put him in a subject he'll struggle to do well in though.

My ds is v sporty and v bright he did gcse pe got A* and then did A level - he is now in university studying medicine.

PE GCSE is really hard academically, definitely not an easy option. DS will most likely get equivalent of a 9 in his practical. He will hopefully get a 7 overall. He is pretty academic but said the paper was really hard and is worth 60% I think, practical only 30% with 10% written work about the practical.

I have never known it to be looked down upon, almost every school in our area does the vocational PE course rather than GCSE as its so tough. Luckily DSs school does both.

It is more academic than many people realise. 30% of the content is a paper on applied anatomy and physiology, inc. skeletal structure, major joints, cardio-respiratory system etc.

I think you should start with what your son enjoys and what he wants to do. Rather than viewing it as something you'll put him in for.