GCSE Options, pick your fave or what you are best at?

[Clodthumper]

Dd is choosing GCSE options, and getting a bit stuck.
First 2 choices are “guided”, she has picked History and Spanish, which are her favourite subjects anyway. Fine.
2 more free choices. Dd is trying to decide between separate science, computer science, French, photography, or geography.
Both science teacher and computer teacher have strongly encouraged Dd to take their subjects. Computer teacher was particularly hyperbolic. This has made Dd unsure of her decisions.
DH and I are not even sure what to advise.

Computer science would be new, although she has done computing in KS3. I think this is the subject she has strongest aptitude for, but not necessarily passion. She’s very good at maths, very good at problem solving, very hard-working. Enjoys coding well enough.
Dd is a bit put off by imagining the group will be dominated by the same loud boys from her maths class, and that there won’t be many girls. The syllabus does sound a bit dry. She knows it could be a sensible choice ‘career wise’.

Science she enjoys, is good at, would likely be in a more balanced group of girls and boys. But she currently has no plans to take any sciences at A level (obviously that could change).

French she really enjoys and is good at, I think she would definitely pick this if left to her own devices, but now she is overthinking everything.

Photography is new. She hasn’t particularly enjoyed art. She does like taking photos on her phone. I think the coursework might bring out her perfectionist side (in a negative way). School suggest a creative/practical option, though it isn’t compulsory.

Geography she would be very sad to give up, but I don’t think she would do it at A Level. She is not especially keen on the idea of fieldwork.

Dd will likely be taking further maths GCSE (usually offered to top set and studied in an after school class). So computer science might complement well.

Currently, she says if she had to pick her 3 favourite subjects, they would be maths, history and Spanish. So possibly looking at that sort of combination at A level, but obviously that could change.

So DD’s favourite choice = history, Spanish, French, photography.

Dd’s best aptitude choice= history Spanish separate science, computer science.

Compromise sensible choice = history Spanish French, separate science?

What would others advise?

Feels like it’s probably ok for her to choose what she likes best. If she’s likely not to want to do sciences at a level then no real need to take triple, much as I love it.
I think it’s great if possible at gcse to have one option that is new and fun and broadening. They have to narrow so quickly with a levels. So it might be worth considering photography? But she’d have to really like masses of coursework and if she doesn’t like art, is it taught by the same teachers?

Computer science is also an excellent choice and great to learn how to code well etc. There’s a lot of “how computer systems work” stuff in there.

Find out more about the courses, see if you can find anyone who’s done the photography one?

Realistically it probably doesn’t matter tooo much. I’d be more inclined to encourage computer science over triple science for her, as it would be a whole new strand of work rather than some extra science topics.

You don't need CS at GCSE to do it at A level.
How keen is she really on photography? Does she understand what the course involves?
Compromise sounds good, or her preferred.

I would deffo discount photography as those sorts of GCSEs (looking at you art) can be a pain if you don't have a passion for them.

Agree re CS being mainly boys, sadly. We had a group at my school with one girl; and DS2's CS class was v boy heavy. Not necessarily a terrible thing tho unless they behave badly, agreed.

I would be tempted by separate science - even if this is not set to more able DC (as it was at my DCs' school) it appeals often to more able children so she may find the classes for that are calmer. If she does triple science she will be in triple classes for all sciences rather than double for all if she doesn't.

So overall how about French and science? I see you don't list geography at all on your suggestions. Two MFL is a brilliant opportunity and also the specs (MFL specialist here) are exactly the same for French and Spanish (assuming the same boards obvs), so she would have a lot of crossover which could really help.

My ds was awful with art couldn't wait to drop it but choose photography as he thought it was going to be sit off lesson funny thing is he absolutely loves it has done to lots off mocks this year and got a 8 both times in photography so you really don't need to enjoy art for it.

Let her choose what she enjoys chances are if she enjoys it will she will better at it than just doing it because she's good at it!

Photography and computer science are things she can pick up later, or just do as a hobby.

So, I'd go for the compromise choice.

The behaviour in the separate science sets might be better and 3 individual sciences sounds impressive. She is obviously bright. I would go for this and french. Is their a photography or art club she could go to ?

Yes, maybe French and science is the best path, good point about better behaviour amongst those who have chosen to be there. They are in sets for science anyway, but I assume the triple people are together for the timetabled science sessions for everyone, as well as in the extra option time.

I’m not sure if Dd would actually be considering photography if school weren’t advising a practical-creative choice. In fact she originally wanted BTec food and hospitality, but the food tech teacher(!) talked her out of it, saying she was more suited to GCSE. But then she didn’t want to do GCSE food tech.

Good point about geography always being in the running, but never actually making it into a list of choices 😂. I think we can rule it out then.

History and Geography together is heavy on content.

I'd let her pick what she likes best. Any of those is a perfectly reasonable combination. But if there is any chance at all that she might like to do a science A Level, probably your compromise choice is the best option.

I do think creative/practical subjects tend to have a lot of extra and time-consuming work attached. DD did drama and the workload was very high. Her friends said the same re art so photography might be similar.

I'd avoid any art type GCSE they are a huge time suck. If she enjoys photography there are plenty of tutorials online.

I'd go for separate sciences over two languages unless she is likely to use languages or move overseas for work, science has more transferable skills and links to more careers even if she doesn't go for them at A Level.

Don't forget to work backwards and have a look at potential A-level and degree course entry requirements, you don't want to inadvertently shut any doors at this stage - or at least prolong the situation because she needs to take access or conversion courses later. Less of a issue at GCSE than A Level but still worth doing.

Your compromise choice is probably best.

But
Dd is a bit put off by imagining the group will be dominated by the same loud boys from her maths class, and that there won’t be many girls.

This is so bloody sad, this far into the 21st century. The world of software is far too male dominated. (DDs girls school had 2 sets doing gcse CS, just in case anyone thinks it's remotely about aptitude.)
The fact that the CS teacher was particularly keen she take it suggests s/he is aware of the imbalance and would like to address it but maybe it'd be useful for the school to be explicitly told why she's reluctant.

I think listening to teachers say do a subject is difficult

I was talked out of alevel latin/fr/bio for chem/bio/maths
And i would have done better with my choice. I actually wasnt good at chem just ok. Got a D pre A stars.

I would say pick what she is talented at.
The ones she would get 9 in as more likely to take at a level

If she doesn't HAVE to take an art subject, and isn't interested, then don't take it out of a feeling she should do. As others have said, the arts require a lot of homework, you really need to enjoy it.

Worth having a quick nosey at potential A level subjects at a local college and checking entry requirements. There's an awful lot that don't need you to have studied the subject at GCSE but might ask for a grade 5/6 in English, Maths or a Science depending on the content. It's more about transferable skills as the content will be different to GCSE anyway.

You're stuck doing these for two years, and it's heavy going - lots of content, no coursework just a focus on exams - so choose things that you like and will enjoy. Not things the school want you to do because your grades will make them look better. (I may be a tad cynical here, I'm not a fan of our secondary school system especially KS4 and Gove has a lot to answer for).

As a teacher of one of the subjects you listed I always advise going for what a student enjoys. Two years studying a subject that they are not interested in will not go as well as one they do enjoy.

I would also recommend trying to balance out the subjects so a student doesn't restrict their future options. When I was choosing my GCSE options we had to choose one humanities subject, one language, one technology subject and then the fourth was a completely free choice. Nowdays there are more options available but I would suggest a more practical or coursework based subject to reduce the exam demands at the end of year 11. There are a 2-4 exams for most subjects now.

As above poster said, she needs to do what she enjoys as it'll be hard for her to do well in subjects she doesn't Iike. My DD dropped languages as she really didn't like them even though she was good at french. She also took art (has such a passion for it) history, child development and RE. She was so happy to finally drop the subjects she hated and to concentrate on the ones she preferred and that she will do better at.

Thank you, I have had another chat with Dd about points raised on the thread.

She has decided that French is definitely in.

Photography is probably out due to numerous warnings about it taking up a lot of time. There is a lunchtime photography club which she might try instead.

Last slot is currently triple science - but she will have another discussion with the computing teacher at options evening next week before making the final decision.

It’s not completely inconceivable she might end up choosing a science at A level, people do change their minds, and I know STEM gets promoted quite heavily.
At the moment she says she wants to study history at university, but I could easily imagine her deciding on maths instead, so I suppose keeping the STEM door wide open at this point is sensible.

DC was interested but certainly not passionate about CS. They found it rather dull but easy, and very little in terms of homework. Definitely the easiest 9 to obtain, in terms of effort (for them).

Just thought I would update, we went to the options event, and after a long discussion with the computing teacher, he suggested she could study for the GCSE after school - in classes laid on by the school.

Apparently there are two other kids who might do the same.

Dd initially was v enthusiastic. But it would mean 11 GCSEs if she also does further maths after school. Normal number is 9.

DH and I both did one extra back in the day - in a similar after-school set up. I ended up with 12, DH 11 back in the early 90s.

I think Dd would manage 11 absolutely fine, but maybe 2 twilight ones is a bit excessive.

Dd is viewing this as the perfect ‘have your cake and eat it’ solution.

Have her cake, try it out. She can presumably drop one of the twilight subjects if it doesn't excite her or the work load becomes too excessive.

Yes, good point, of course she can drop one later if she wants, didn’t really think of that!