Page 2 | My son wants to take GCSE Child development

ThePandoricaOpens · 2025-03-19T11:09:06+00:00

My son is in year 9 and has to submit his GCSE options by Monday. He's hoping to take triple science, history and psychology. He had his heart set on food tech as he loves cooking, but the school are no longer offering it and now offer hospitality and catering, which tbh sounds rubbish! He wants a career in health care/science/medicine (not totally sure but he's only 13!) so I suggested sociology or statistics. He thinks either of those with the other subjects he's chosen will be a bit full on, so I then suggested something like DT or photography, which he said he wasn't interested in as he's not creative. He now has his heart set on child development, but the teacher seemed to be trying to talk him out of it as he's a boy! I'm worried that it will be a bit of a pointless subject for him (although I get anything creative might be?) or are A levels more important for getting into university? I just think that History, Pyschology and Sociology would be better, but I don't want to push him into taking a subject he doesn't enjoy!

NeedSomeComfy · 19/03/2025 13:52

ThePandoricaOpens · 19/03/2025 13:16

I think you've taken my post in the wrong way. I didn't mean 'pointless' I'm a graphic designer so took mainly creative subjects. I actually think creative subjects are really important. What I should have said is that I don't think they'll be useful for a future career in what he wants to do! I want hhim to choose what he wants and be happy and in no way would I force him into something he won't enjoy

Show quote history

What you've said just reinforces my point. The point of these extra GCSEs is not just to be 'useful for a future career'. It's to allow him to explore his likes and dislikes, widen his horizons, practice skills, and hopefully learn some interesting things.

I'm a scientist. Have my GCSEs in music, textiles and 2 foreign languages been 'useful' for my career? They have not.
Have they all enriched my life in numerous and unexpected ways since I did them 20 years ago? They have.

Original poster

ThePandoricaOpens · 19/03/2025 13:56

MadKittenWoman · 19/03/2025 13:25

DH is a retired senior lecturer in Psychology at an RG University and was involved in admissions. this is what he thinks:

All the above comments have validity - it’s a multidimensional issue. Bottom line is do well in core subjects and carefully check what the A-level requirements are for chosen degree. As long as core stuff is covered at GCSE then A-level grades for chosen degree are the most important. Most disciplines need you to be able to communicate effectively (both written and spoken), so anything where these skills are developed is good. Many universities no longer do interviews, so what’s on paper counts. Keeping options open is always a good choice, but ultimately a decision has to be made! Child psychology will be covered in Psychology - so can be seen as repetitive or supporting the core. It might even be the topic that cements or disengaged interest. For the chosen subjects, having good numeracy and literacy skills is a must. Many of the degrees interested in are female dominated (e.g., psychology is typically 70% women), but the BPS (British Psychological Society) is working hard to change the perception of the subject at school level. Statistics would be great to strengthen numerical skills but won’t provide the essay-based skills which Child Psychology would. The only thing that matters is the grades.

Hope that helps!

That is really helpful, thank you so much!

OP posts:

Original poster

ThePandoricaOpens · 19/03/2025 13:59

KnickerFolder · 19/03/2025 13:30

Are you sure that the teacher is discouraging him because he is a boy? Shocking if that is true. DS’s GF hated her textiles class because a lot of disruptive kids chose it because they thought it was an easy option and they could mess around.

That's the impression I got from her, because when we went to her to show interest she said 'you do know that there will be some focus on reproduction and pregnancy?' It just threw me a bit - I've probably taken it the wrong way though!

OP posts:

Original poster

ThePandoricaOpens · 19/03/2025 14:01

Cookiedough123 · 19/03/2025 13:47

Do you know whether the course is Cambridge national or Btec? As they are both a little different. The Cambridge national includes a lot about anatomy, contraception, childbirth etc for the exam. I played a childbirth video also to my pupils. It then has coursework about a nursery setting and child development between specific ages. It actually does make the course much more interesting than the BTEC which is mainly about child development/skills etc. It is worth looking at both specifications which are easily available online to see what topics will be taught to see if they interest him.

It's a Cambridge National - from what you've said I think he'll find it really interesting. Thanks 😊

OP posts:

jackiesgirl · 19/03/2025 14:03

I wanted to do this when I was at school and was dissuaded by the teachers saying it was meant for the less academic pupils and I was too clever to spend time learning to look after babies, if I wanted to go to uni I shouldn’t pick it. Tbh the reason I wanted to do it was for some relief from the academic subjects! A younger relative was also told the same a couple of years ago, it’s very much seen as something for the students who aren’t going to do well academically

Original poster

ThePandoricaOpens · 19/03/2025 14:04

Carryonlaughing · 19/03/2025 13:51

I’d say let him take it, what if you prevented it and he always regretted it? I took it in 1995 and it got me onto a health and social care NVQ as a result, after that I’ve enjoyed an amazing career in nursing and Midwifery- 20 years now as a midwife, and I don’t regret my choice (Dad was very against it at the time). Let them make their own path, there’s so much he can use it for if not nursing.

Yes you're absolutely right, my parents forced me into subjects that I hated and I wish I'd studied things I had more interest in!

OP posts:

Miloarmadillo2 · 19/03/2025 14:13

My son has applied for medicine this year and nowhere that we looked specified GCSEs subjects beyond maths, English, science. The ones that score them look at the top 8 grades so choose whatever he will do best in. Not all universities use GCSE grades anyway - there is most emphasis on UCAT score which they sit summer of Y12.

KnickerFolder · 19/03/2025 14:18

'you do know that there will be some focus on reproduction and pregnancy?'

As there will be in biology GCSE… 🙄 Are you sure she wasn’t saying that because she thought your DS was taking the subject because he was mostly interested in psychological development?

TBH, if she is genuinely trying to discourage your DS, that would be my only concern about choosing it.

Carryonlaughing · 19/03/2025 14:20

jackiesgirl · 19/03/2025 14:03

I wanted to do this when I was at school and was dissuaded by the teachers saying it was meant for the less academic pupils and I was too clever to spend time learning to look after babies, if I wanted to go to uni I shouldn’t pick it. Tbh the reason I wanted to do it was for some relief from the academic subjects! A younger relative was also told the same a couple of years ago, it’s very much seen as something for the students who aren’t going to do well academically

How sad. So would those people who mistakenly thought it was for those of reputedly “less academically” lump everyone taking a more vocational route as inferior?! Writing off swathes of people who wished to pursue child development then nursing? I’m not sure anyone should be talking anyone out of their dreams if they have their heart set on a particular gcse.

Pyjamatimenow · 19/03/2025 14:28

I did it as I thought it would look good because I wanted to be a teacher. When I did there was a fair amount of biology in it. I enjoyed it and it was an easy A* at the time because I was interested. Better for him to do something he has an interest in.

HappySheldon · 19/03/2025 14:35

I think it would be a brilliant subject in combination with psychology.

Good on him!

Carryonlaughing · 19/03/2025 14:39

I feel that if you’re keen on something and enjoy it you’ll perform better. A good teacher should encourage people to take subjects they are passionate about. (Not sure as I don’t know any teachers, but surely?).
As for him being the only male in the class I wonder if that could work to his advantage? I found that the odd male on my previous courses meant that they were really determined to be there and always did very well.
Whatever he chooses OP may we all wish him success and a long and happy career.

Thistooshallpass. · 19/03/2025 14:45

When I worked in secondary childcare and development was offered to a lot of the less able students as it was seen as relatively easy . So in this sense he will probably enjoy it and find it an easy one to get a good grade in . Also it is interesting! I really don’t think it matters in his long term prospects - good to have shown an interest and really it’s the alevel choices that will matter .

jackiesgirl · 19/03/2025 14:48

Carryonlaughing · 19/03/2025 14:20

How sad. So would those people who mistakenly thought it was for those of reputedly “less academically” lump everyone taking a more vocational route as inferior?! Writing off swathes of people who wished to pursue child development then nursing? I’m not sure anyone should be talking anyone out of their dreams if they have their heart set on a particular gcse.

Show quote history

Yes it’s awful looking back and sad that it still seems to be the same attitude. Although in hindsight my school was not set up at all for vocational routes so maybe they had to save all the places on that course for the people who wanted something vocational as there was nothing else for them. Which is the schools fault, not theirs!

Chunkilumptious · 19/03/2025 15:18

NeedSomeComfy · 19/03/2025 12:59

What a shame that at GCSE, which is maybe the last time in your life where you are actively encouraged to take a wide range of subjects to (hopefully) become a well rounded person with diverse interests and understandings, that you are so focused on what will be 'useful' for his future. I can't believe that you describe a creative subject as pointless! Honestly, let the lad poor choose what he loves and is interested in. Even (shock horror) healthcare and science professionals are allowed to have other interests too.

What are you on about? Nobody described a creative subject as pointless. The son said he didn't want to study photography and isn't particularly creative. Creative GCSE and A Level subjects are very worthwhile but time consuming and not the easiest to get top grades in for all rounders without particular aptitude. If he doesn't want to do it, he's better off doing something else and enjoying photography as a hobby or learning in his own time (uni society maybe). If he'd said he loved and was interested in studying a creative subject, responses at GCSE would probably be different. Mine would have been.

NeedSomeComfy · 19/03/2025 15:27

Chunkilumptious · 19/03/2025 15:18

What are you on about? Nobody described a creative subject as pointless. The son said he didn't want to study photography and isn't particularly creative. Creative GCSE and A Level subjects are very worthwhile but time consuming and not the easiest to get top grades in for all rounders without particular aptitude. If he doesn't want to do it, he's better off doing something else and enjoying photography as a hobby or learning in his own time (uni society maybe). If he'd said he loved and was interested in studying a creative subject, responses at GCSE would probably be different. Mine would have been.

Show quote history

From the OP: "I'm worried that it will be a bit of a pointless subject for him (although I get anything creative might be?)"

FKAT · 19/03/2025 15:41

I wanted to do this when I was at school and was dissuaded by the teachers saying it was meant for the less academic pupils and I was too clever to spend time learning to look after babies, if I wanted to go to uni I shouldn’t pick it.

This was the impression I got when I chose Child Development for GCSE as a straight A student. Teachers were quite shocked but there wasn't anything else I was interested in the option segment. I loved it. It's come in very useful as a parent and generally in life. I went on to get a first class degree from a RG uni so definitely wasn't held against me (although it was a humanities subject). I'd really recommend it - and looking at the world around us - it's a really important area of study.

DS chose Hospitality and Catering and regrets it hugely FYI. It's very basic and uninspiring. He was a complete foodie and great chef and it's put him off cooking for life. He said the other day he wished he'd done triple science instead!

HomeBodyClub · 19/03/2025 15:43

My daughter has taken this and she loves it. She is predicted to get the highest grade possible and finds it very straight forward and an easy subject.

Some of her boy best friends are doing textiles. I don’t see why anyone would even question it.

Chunkilumptious · 19/03/2025 16:06

NeedSomeComfy · 19/03/2025 15:27

From the OP: "I'm worried that it will be a bit of a pointless subject for him (although I get anything creative might be?)"

Show quote history

My apologies. I missed that bit completely. I did look through the comments to date and wondered what you were paraphrasing (possibly mine or others). E minus for me!

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 19/03/2025 16:33

He might inspire more boys to take it in future. If you can see it you can be it.

LittleGreenDuck · 19/03/2025 19:17

When I was at school, many many years ago, some boys took Child Development purely for the "reproduction" element. Basically, they thought they were getting a GCSE in sex. Sounds like your DS is a lot more switched on than the reprobates at my school. Best of luck to him.

DuckyLuck · 19/03/2025 19:27

Learning from experience with my older son, I advised my youngest to take the options he thought he would enjoy. He took Citizenship, RE, and Film studies. He was doing triple science as well. He did well as he enjoyed the subjects and went on to take 4 A levels. College didn’t care about the subjects apart from maths, English and science as he wanted to do those subjects at A level.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/03/2025 20:06

Let him take it if that's what he wants.

Gender equality isn't just about women in STEM subjects, it's about men in caring professions.

FrodoBiggins · 19/03/2025 20:08

CarrotParrot · 19/03/2025 11:23

Let him take it. Not only does it fit perfectly well with someone interested in science, healthcare and medicine (paediatrics for example), we need more boys to grow into men who know that children aren't the sole responsibility of their mother. Good for him and for picking something he is interested in.

100% this

iamnotalemon · 19/03/2025 20:12

I took child development. Can’t remember what I learnt and I am now child free. Take from that what you will 🤣

The teacher sounds set in their ways and sexist. If your son wants to do it and it’s a worthwhile subject, then let him do it.