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Secondary education

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Original poster

2 GCSEs to choose from DT, German, Geo, RS - critique is welcome please

99 replies

pasok1000 · 03/03/2023 05:59

My son is choosing :
Maths
Triple science
Engl
Comp Science
History

Now he needs to add 2 GCSEs from:
DT, German, Geo, RS

Please what woudl be your critique?

OP posts:
Original poster
pasok1000 · 03/03/2023 06:05

Sorry he chose French as well as MFL

OP posts:
HappyKoala56 · 03/03/2023 06:06

It's beneficial to have a language, so I would encourage my son to pick German. From the rest I guess it would be whichever he enjoyed the most, or would be most beneficial for a chosen career if he knows what he wants to do

MinnieMountain · 03/03/2023 06:07

German and geography sound the most useful.

Mumdiva99 · 03/03/2023 06:07

Whichever 2 he likes best. He'll work the hardest at them.

HappyKoala56 · 03/03/2023 06:08

Sorry x-post. If he has one language already then just let him pick what he would like to do. What does your child say?

TeenDivided · 03/03/2023 07:07

That's a lot of content to learn already with triple science and history.
He already has an MFL in French.

So I would say RE if the Spec looks interesting, in preference to Geography. DD's RE (AQA) covered Christian beliefs & practices, Islamic beliefs & practices (50%) and then Religon and <Family / Peace / Relationships / one other> for the other 50%. It was interesting and relevant, and more straightforward than geography imo.

And then German or DT whichever he prefers / is good at.

Also think ahead to exam time. Geography was 3 exams, RE was 2. German is more learn as you go along than some other subjects. DT I know nothing about.

Radiatorvalves · 03/03/2023 07:09

Personally I’d go for German and geography, but he should choose whatever he’s interested in.

Binfluencer · 03/03/2023 07:10

Nothing I would never criticise my child's options choices, they don't matter anyway.

thefemaleJoshLyman · 03/03/2023 07:10

Geography goes brilliantly with history and works well at A-level with both arts and sciences, so can be a useful 3rd option later on. I am biased but I think geography is the most useful subject out there (former geography teacher!)

parrotonmyshoulder · 03/03/2023 07:10

Whichever he enjoys the most.

Radiatorvalves · 03/03/2023 07:13

Interested that PPs are saying one language is enough… if he’s good at them and enjoys languages, I’d encourage both. Good life skills and given the decline in languages it may give him an advantage. By the way I did 2 languages as did my 2?boys - albeit French and Spanish in their case.

00100001 · 03/03/2023 07:15

Whatever he wants.

Indigoshift · 03/03/2023 07:19

Binfluencer · 03/03/2023 07:10

Nothing I would never criticise my child's options choices, they don't matter anyway.

This!

TeenDivided · 03/03/2023 07:20

I think the PPs saying 'don't influence' or 'whatever he wants' are rather missing the point.

As adults we are sometimes better positioned to think about the pros and cons of things than 13 year olds. Presumably if the DC was dead set on the last choices it wouldn't be a conversation. So posters here pointing out usefulness of 2 MFLs, or think about revision load, or having the variety of a practical subject are presumably providing points to think about and to use in the decision making process.

RunTowardsTheLight · 03/03/2023 07:22

Does he have any idea what he might do for A level at this stage? Unless it's one of the ones in your list, I'd let him choose whatever he likes.

Axahooxa · 03/03/2023 07:22

Anything he enjoys and maybe doesn’t find too hard. Which have really good teachers? Any with trip/excursion opportunities?

Beamur · 03/03/2023 07:25

DT would contribute a more practical, creative element - his choices are great but very academic.
But DT is not a light load, but it uses/develops a different skill set.
Otherwise I would say RS is relatively easy to get a decent mark if you pay attention and can write a good essay.
Geography is a good all round subject and usually has a good field trip option.
I'm not much of a linguist so have no experience of German and DD didn't take it either.
Is he really stuck between these or does he have any slight preferences?

fivetriangulartrees · 03/03/2023 07:27

It has to be about what your son enjoys, but assuming he likes (or dislikes) them all equally...

When I was choosing GCSEs I had a lot of very essay-based academic subjects and my mum gently encouraged me to choose DT alongside them. It gives a bit of variety to your week and lets you think in a different way. You need to break up the monotony of more academic subjects. I have always thought that was great advice.

I was very academic and it was unusual for people "like me" to choose DT, but I loved it and it showed a different side of me in university applications.

Talipesmum · 03/03/2023 07:28

Mine has all the ones you list above, and is doing DT and astronomy (not on your list). I’d say, to balance out the heavy revision load, DT is a great one if he likes it - it will pull on diff bits of his brain, a bit more hands on design thinking. Only if he likes it though! For the last one - they’re all great choices, languages are always useful, but it depends if he has any idea what he wants to do later on?

TeenDivided · 03/03/2023 07:29

My DD1 did 2 MFLs under the old spec. One thing that helped her is the marking criteria & exam technique were the same for both. So once she had grasped what was required for one it was easily transferable. I believe that is still the same, but @Clary can confirm hopefully.

Tygertiger · 03/03/2023 07:29

He’s already got the English Baccalaureate tick in the box with his choices. I would say honestly pick the two he enjoys the most. Geography, RS and German are all equally regarded in terms of academic quality and DT is a great course if he enjoys it. I wouldn’t pick DT if he doesn’t like it (for the sake of having a practical subject in there) but if he does, he’ll do well. They’re a great set of options for a child who likes academia (as presumably he does, given he’s doing triple science).

Catspyjamas17 · 03/03/2023 07:33

The grammar is tricky with German - I wouldn't advise picking it unless he loves it.

If he isn't sure or particularly passionate about any of them I'd go for Geography and RS unless he hates those subjects.

For DT you have to be pretty good on the practical side as well as the CAD and the project can be time-consuming when he has so many other subjects to think about, so I wouldn't advise picking that unless he loves it either.

Generally he has a good mix and it doesn't preclude any further study unless he wants to do design/art/drama at A-Level.

redskydelight · 03/03/2023 07:45

His existing choices are pretty balanced, so I'd suggest he just picks his favourite subjects.

On the basis they are all quite heavily academic, choosing DT might be a good option to break up them up. It would also reduce the number of exams he had to sit.

sashh · 03/03/2023 07:46

RS or DT.

If he goes on to A Levels and uni he will have to do some written work which will include some form of analysis / essay writing which RS would develop.

DT, as a PP said breaks up the week and gives practical skills, also useful at uni.

CatOnTheChair · 03/03/2023 08:54

That is a fairly heavy, but well balanced, set of choices so far.
I'd go for whichever 2 he prefers, and is likely to do well in. Maybe with a slight preference for DT if he's good as it is slightly more practical which might make a change.

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