Help with GCSE choices

[mummyof2boys30]

So we have to pick GCSE choices. Hes my eldest and finding it very daunting. He thinks he wants to do engineering, architecture or youth work. I feel youth is probably the best option but want him to make own choices.

So compulsary is
English lang
English literatue
Maths
RE
X1 science (choosing physics).

His other definates are
Design and technology
Learning for life and work
Digital texhnology multimedia.

He has one more to choose. From the following 3 is any a better option. Trying to keep options open and also not to be swamped in coursework too.
The choice is from
Moving image art
Health and social care
Chemistry
Geography
Business communication systems

How academic is he?
My guess from those options is perhaps not very, in which case Architecture won't be viable.

H&SC - is that a BTEC? Might be useful background info for future youth work, plus as a BTEC will be lighter on exams.

What is 'Learning for Life and Work'?

Chemistry and Geography are probably going to be the hardest in terms of complexity and will have high revision load. I'd avoid if he's a 4- student but they would keep more doors open if he's a 6+.

I find it sad that there's no foreign language in the mix!

British teens are falling so far behind their European counterparts in this respect

This is quite an unusual set of choices and I’d be concerned about him limiting his options in the future. For example, only doing one science seems quite narrow, is there any opportunity to perhaps do something like dual award science? If I were him I’d try to identify what courses I might want to do post GCSE, thinking widely, and aim at keeping my options open. Good luck.

Assume not England as not combined science. Geography or Chemistry good choices for engineering or architecture.

Also assuming not England, so my info might not be right, but I'd look into the volumes of coursework involved in his option choices. It may be a massive amount. Our school limits everyone in terms of BTEC courses. 3 is the absolute maximum for all kids.

Agree. If he is serious about either avoid the vocational subjects.

Not England no, Northern Ireland. He does well in school, but would rather be socialising. Its a selective grammar school with 98% of grade c and above 🙈. 100% alevel pass.
I think architecture is out of reach too and am encouraging him to look at engineering. Problem is at 13 he doesnt have a clue.

We also dont understand the whole system. Its changed so much from my time

All are GCSEs and not btech options.

Languages is definately a no go as he absolutely hates them

He can only do single award science or can choose 1,2, or 3 of them. Maybe chemistry then is the needed option

My dc is studying Engineering and I would strongly encourage Maths, Further Maths /FSMQ and Physics. I'd probably recommend all three Sciences actually.

Chemistry or Geography. I would be inclined to encourage him to drop one on the definitely list and then take both Geography and chemistry.

If he is at a selective grammar then I am somewhat surprised by his choices.

I have no idea what 'Learning for Life and Work; is, but I'd drop that and one of the others and replace with Chemistry and Geography.

I think if he might be interested in engineering I’d definitely add chemistry. And maybe review his other choices again.

Given your update, I'd drop one of the definites, and put in Geography and chemistry.

yes I agree with others, I'd drop whatever learning for life is (?) and take chem and geog. Or even better, chem and biology. If he is a sciency type then three sciences is a good idea. He must be bright if he is at a grammar so I wouldn't waste time with the learning for life. I've never heard of it and it certainly isn't needed for any future choice (unlike chem and bio).

quickly googled Learning for Life and Work and it sounds like the sort of thing that should be covered in a decent PSHEE curriculum. The face that we are all ??? tells you what you need to know!

Yes just googled too: https://ccea.org.uk/key-stage-4/gcse/subjects/gcse-learning-life-and-work-2017

He'll be the only lad in the class if he does H&Social care. That is not a bad thing.

H&SC is the only one that sounds even vaguely aligned with his other expressed interests. Fine if he likes BusStudies or Geography instead, too.

If he's potentially interested in some form of engineering he's right to choose physics and Design and technology for sure. Chemistry would be essential for chemical (and maybe materials) engineering and useful for some of the other branches too.

Most engineers don’t need Chemistry. They don’t need Further Maths either.

I agree it’s a strange selection. Architects still draw. There’s no art in there for a portfolio. If architecture’s out (?) engineering isn’t looking too hot either. Definitely do science double award. Geography can be helpful for built environment. It’s good knowledge for environment engineering and building design.

Youth work doesn’t happen where I live. I guess it’s mostly done through charities. Engineering has a better return on the degree. The better courses will want high grade A levels and usually physics and maths. However there’s quite a lot of building design and project management degrees that are not fussy and usually offered by lower ranking unis. Grads should get jobs though so definitely worth looking at.

I hear you on the engineering @TizerorFizz but I at least and perhaps others were concerned about the idea of taking only one science. Especially if science (engineering usually seems to ask for science at A level) was a later aim. Why wouldn't you take chemistry? It feels to me a bit less narrowing than taking a GCSE in life learning.

Agree OP is there any way he can do double science - all three sciences studied, but counting for only two GCSEs? Or does the school not offer it?

Most engineers don’t need Chemistry.

They don't need A level chemistry but this is gcse. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of things in the material world that engineers work in which will make more sense with a basic grasp of the subject. (Actually my DD said she wished she had done chemistry A level because there were some topics in her engineering degree where the people who had were at an advantage).

Chemistry as then then it opens chemical engineering routes

Work backwards, is he likely to go on to university/college? What courses might he take? What academic requirements do they have? What grade boundaries do they have? For engineering I'd expect a student to do A Level maths, FM and physics so they would need a least a grade 7 at GCSE.
Of course he might prefer to go into construction to combine the architecture and engineering

I used to work at a 6th Form and the number of students that were prevented from applying for their preferred course was quite high as they had chosen the wrong level 2 and 3 courses

Definitely chemistry, in case he wants to follow a chemical engineering path.