Please critique these GCSE option choices

[PeacewithinLily]

Recently had options evening at school. Dd is thinking of:
Geography, Art, Creative media ( btech) and psychology.

Not sure about creative media..is too much coursework with art?

Is it too artsy overall?

Thanks for any replies

GCSE choices can be important in terms of A'Level options though, it can be difficult to get onto an A'Level course for a subject that was available at GCSE (assuming sixth form at the same school) but not taken. Other than that it makes likely difference, as long as a good result is gained in English and Maths.

I definitely advised dd on her choices, I attended meetings at school and was involved in the process, but it was ultimately her choice, she had to do the work.

Yes..she follows rad vocational syllabus and the graded syllabus ..dance is well covered!

Honestly, people overthink GCSEs far too much. They need maths and English, and some form of science. Anything more than that should be what they enjoy or what they're interested in, given they have to spend 2 years studying it.

Whether they have an impact on future life choices or not (depending on how far into the future you are thinking) is a different discussion and I actually disagree with your stance. The main point I was making however is, there is nothing wrong with OP asking their question and it's very ignorant of that poster that was telling OP to, 'step a step back!'.

I think they're fine as options.

DD is doing the Creative Media BTEC and loves it - it's wider focus than an Art type GCSE and so far the homework has been very manageable. Lots on things like identifying audiences etc. Would be a good fit with psychology and the Art.

Plus one less exam.

If she is into and preferably quite good at arts subjects, that is fine. Geography and psychology are the study of humans (geography in part as there is obvious the geology side in there too) and go well together, and psychology goes well with arts. She'll be doing some sciences too and maths I assume as they are compulsory, so the geography and psychology also pair up with. It's a myth that you need to have sort of one subject from each "category" that often doesn't make sense for an individual who knows what they like and are good at. It is good she is being given 4 options. What does she want to do at A-level/Level 3?

Btw it's called BTEC these days (it has gone through lots of variations though over the decades).

GCSE choices don't make much of a difference if any, unless you let them. GCSE grades are more important than subjects except when a specific course at a specific 6th form has a specific.

Every "wrong subject" and "bad grade" at GCSE (allegedly a B for some 6th forms to do that subject - ridiculous, I've got a degree in a subject I got a C at GCSE in although one does need to be prepared to work hard at Level 3 to mitigate this and that includes not just the set homework) can be dealt with. Some children are getting far too stressed because their parents or schools keep telling them they will ruin their lives if they get it wrong at 16. She should do her best at her core subjects and choose options she will work hard at. That's it.

*has a specific entry requirement

Thanks...how much time a week would you say she spends on it?

She’s in Y9 so only started it this term - so far everything is done in class (3 hours a week). Her school aren’t big on homework though - max 30 minutes per subject every 3 weeks or so, if that.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow my dd hasn't that option..a lit if subjects they barely touch on...makes it hard to make a decision

Ah, DD’s school do a 3 year GCSE course so options are picked in Y8.

My DD (now Y11) is doing Creative Media BTEC and loves it. I had reservations when she chose it - both about time commitment but also how "academic" it was - (and posted on here about being an academic snob!) but I have been really impressed with the course content. Really interesting coursework about target audiences, use of different media as well as practical skills in filming/editing etc. I genuinely think it is one of the most interesting and potentially relevant courses for any number of future careers/interests. It doesn't seem to have been a big time commitment (and she is getting distinction plus in her coursework so she is not shirking!). She is doing it alongside 10 GCSEs (usual Maths, English x 2, 3 x science + Geog and Spanish and now Further Maths in Y11 only) so I'm delighted it will be one less exam next summer. You can tell how impressed I've been with creative media BTEC!

@Nowfeeltheneedtopost Thanks that's very helpful.....although dd hasn't started yet when I read through the course content it did look good!!