Creative Media Production BTEC, or Graphics or Drama GCSE...

[AnonymouseGCSE]

DD currently in Y8 and at a school that has a 3 year GCSE programme.

Choices need to be made by the end of the month and trying to weigh up the options.

DD is clever, but not very interested in anything academic, and has significant SEN which means we'd rather avoid subjects with a lot of essay content.

Music, Drama, Art and the Design Tech departments have all contacted me to say they'd like her to do their GCSE, but with only 2 options allowed, we have to pick. School has strong departments in all the subjects and they're popular choices.

Drama - my concern is how much written work there is. The idea of writing play reviews or studying the history of theatre gets 'that look' from DD. There have also been issues over last 2 years with group work where she is infuriated and in tears when others in her group don't take it seriously or their contributions let the group down (kids walking out at last minute etc have been a feature).

Creative Media Production - this is a new one for me, but it looks good and as if it would play to DD's strengths. Would love to hear if anyone has a child doing this as to how much written work or group work is involved - and anything one should ask in advance to avoid problems.

Graphics - again, how much written work is involved in this?

I can't help with graphics or the creative media options but DC1 did drama last year and the bulk of the grade is from written work including a devising log. DC1 is good with language and writes well so the subject was a good fit - even though they didn't get to see a single live performance during the course thanks to covid. The main performance pieces were created in groups that the students had no say in.

Hopefully your DC's school will be able to provide you with details of the exam boards being used for each subject so you can look at how much of the assessment is based on written work.

Thank you, that is very helpful.
Off to look up exam boards!

Look at the curriculum and assessment method. Drama is predominantly written with less weight given to performance, for example.

A friends ds did creative imedia BTEC and really liked it. Not sure if that's the same thing tho. Think it was quite creative, and being a BTEC the assessment is staggered, not all kn exams.

If the graphics is part of GCSE Art and Design then there is very little writing. Most of the marks are for their designs and practical work.
If it's DT (graphics) there is a written exam as well as the practical portfolio.
I am assuming that Creative media production is a BTEC. You need to check whether it's level 1/2 which would give all GCSE grade equivalents (both Higher and Foundation) or just level 2 which only gives the equivalent of Higher level grades. There are now some exams for BTECs as well as project work.

DD is taking Eduqas GCSE Drama. 40% of the GCSE is the written exam (where they have to analyse how the chosen play is staged etc). So lots of writing. And you have to do a written evaluation of your performed pieces. i.e. more writing. It's not a subject to do if you're not keen on writing :)

My DD is doing Creative Media BTEC (a level 2 which gives equivalent to a GCSE) and is loving it. She is very academic, doing 9 other GCSEs (and maybe adding Further Maths DCSE if invited at start of Y11) and I am really happy we opted for this choice. I was initially concerned because (honestly) I was academically snobbish about a BTEC rather than GCSE but the content of the course is really interesting, practical and I think it is helpful to have one qualification which is assessed by coursework rather than end of year exam.

@Nowfeeltheneedtopost

My DD is doing Creative Media BTEC (a level 2 which gives equivalent to a GCSE) and is loving it. She is very academic, doing 9 other GCSEs (and maybe adding Further Maths DCSE if invited at start of Y11) and I am really happy we opted for this choice. I was initially concerned because (honestly) I was academically snobbish about a BTEC rather than GCSE but the content of the course is really interesting, practical and I think it is helpful to have one qualification which is assessed by coursework rather than end of year exam.

Thank you - that is really helpful.

And admit I was a bit hmm about a BTEC. But the assessment thing really appeals as one less exam will be very helpful for DD.

@catndogslife

If the graphics is part of GCSE Art and Design then there is very little writing. Most of the marks are for their designs and practical work. If it's DT (graphics) there is a written exam as well as the practical portfolio. I am assuming that Creative media production is a BTEC. You need to check whether it's level 1/2 which would give all GCSE grade equivalents (both Higher and Foundation) or just level 2 which only gives the equivalent of Higher level grades. There are now some exams for BTECs as well as project work.

The graphics is part of the Art Department (they offer 4 choices) rather than Design Tech.

The CMP is a BTEC Level 1/2

She's in top sets for most things at school (bar maths) and on track for decent grades. She's just very dyslexic and so it's more a case of trying to pick an option that she'd enjoy, that would be useful for the future (I suspect it will be in the music/film/arts industry) and is minimising the reading/writing workload as much as possible.

I think the drama is going to be the one to definitely avoid (she does loads of the practical side out of school anyway) and I'm going to send her off with a list of questions to see the teachers in charge of Graphics and Creative Media Production and see if that helps decide.

My DS is doing the creative media one and hates it, he's so bored - but he seems to be the odd one out as everyone else loves it. He's more into computer science which suits him better.