Is GCSE PE a good choice for an academic child?

[sheep73]

DC1 is top quartile for academics in year 10 and school has been unable to accommodate her choice of GCSEs so she is now thinking of GCSE PE instead.
We hope she will get 8s and 9s. So is it worth to do PE or will it take up too much time?
She plays an individual sport to a high level (regional) but it's not on the list.. she also plays netball and hockey at school.
I'm concerned if we add pe it will turn into a time sink and she'll spend alot of time on one GCSE which she won't want to take for A level.

Hey OP a few things to unpick here

Firstly – if she is in year 10 why is she only deciding options now? Or is it a last-minute change? What are the alternatives?

PE GCSE is a good qual and fine for an academic or indeed any student. I think you do need to enjoy sport and ideally participate outside school but ignore anyone who says you need to be playing for England – DS2 got a great grade offering footy for a local grassroots junior club and athletics for his county.

What sport does your DC do outside school? Is it martial arts as I think that’s not on the list for some reason? But she sounds sporty so it should be fine.
DS2 didn’t find it a thief of time at all but then he always has done loads of sport outside school – so that was already there IYSWIM. But it’s not like some creative subjects IME where there is a lot of extra work.

One thing struck me in your post – “we hope she will get 8s and 9s” – I mean that would be great, but I hope she doesn’t know that. Pretty much nothing is lost even for an academically able student if grades range from 7 or even 6. Not saying you are putting pressure on your DC for sure but just to be aware.

She spends a lot of time on an individual sport which is not on the list. She plays 3 school sports and does one of the sports and a.n. other outside of school. So time is squeezed to put it mildly.yes she has already started year 10..
Yes we hope for 8s and 9s.. 7s would be ok but I think 6s less exciting.. some of the more selective sixth forms where we are require a minimum number of 7s.. no I haven't told her of my hope 😜

I have an academic child in year 11 who is taking PE, they play two sports competitively outside of school (but will never be in the Olympics) and we are hoping for 10 GCSE's at level 7 or above. They are absolutely loving the PE syllabus, it complements the sciences very well, and its the one course that throughout year 10 they were telling me interesting things they had learnt, or for example answering questions in quiz nights that i hadn't expected them to know and "learnt that in PE" was the answer.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it and am a little embarrassed of my initial reaction when they chose PE 2 years ago!

So she is three weeks into term without one option? Or has she started something else and wants to change?

Tho I guess that’s not the point. If she does a lot of sport then she is busy with that, but PE GCSE is not going to make her any busier really IYSWIM. Check with her PE teachers about the sports that they suggest to be suitable, especially if her “main” sport is not on the list (that’s not a disaster tho).

If she is academic she should be well able to gain a good grade in PE GCSE. And it won't be any barrier to her going forward. DS2 did PE A level and got offers from RG unis.

I doubt if any sixth forms ask for only 7 and above in every subject. But that’s another matter – the key thing is for your DD to be set in her GCSE choices asap. PE is great (with the caveat above of which sports) – what other subjects are on the table? What has she been doing so far this term?

My very academic and sporty daughter did PE GCSE. Lots of science involved as I recall.

PE’s great-goes well with science and food tech with a smattering of politics, psychology and general knowledge.

It’s a great one for an academically able child, especially if they’re sporty.

We’re in Wales where the kids take some GCSEs in year 10. My DS has got 12 A* and really enjoyed the GCSE PE course.

There is some overlap with the sciences and maths. You need her to get started asap. Do talk to the teachers about what she will use for the practical element though. It doesn’t sound as if it will take up any more of her time if she does some sports reasonably well out of school. Something like art would be far more draining on her time.

I'd gently point out that Y10 in NI is equivalent to Y9 in England...

Is the OP in NI then? Apologies I didn't realise that. Less of an urgent issue then!

I've no idea lol just an assumption on my part

She is sporty and will enjoy it. DS chose it because he's sporty,, everyone who chooses it is sporty (so many existing team mates) and it didn't take more time outside school than he would have played anyway. Achieving a 9 in it is easily doable.

My academic dd took it, was already doing two sports outside school - one at a county-ish level one below but ended up being assessed in 2 sports performed in school and only one outside. Got a strong grade 8 and enjoyed the subject.

As others have said, it’s quite science-y. If memory serves correctly there are two exams and written elements of the NEA to be submitted alongside practical assessments.

The PE department at my daughter’s school were great a helping students find sports for assessment. My daughter’s sport (cheerleading) isn’t included on the list but they had a group try indoor rock climbing which she was able to get a very high mark for. She also did netball (played for school team) and trampoline (only done before on the backyard tramp and in PE lessons but used skills from cheer).

79% was a 9 this year, given to the top 5%, so I‘m not sure it’s “easily doable”! My DD got one, but plenty of her friends who are smart and play sport at a regional level, got grade 8s or less.

My son is academic and I have encouraged him to take design tech and PE. I want him to enjoy his education and become a rounded child. I know that he will do well academically no matter what subjects he takes, but my main want as his mum is for him to be happy 😊.