Critique these GCSEs please

[GCSEQuestion2288]

Looking for some opinions on these GCSEs…..not enough academics?

triple science
English lit
english lang
maths
art
photography
music

Why no humanities or modern language?

This. Unusual to do three practical and no other essay or language based gcse. Also workload and deadlnes can be demanding and not spaced out.

I’d swap either photography or art for another essay based subject- History or RE/Philosophy. And remember that Art is a very time consuming subject. What grade does he have in music?

When looking at options ours were told to pick subjects they enjoyed, subjects relevant for any career choices, and subjects they were good at. ( I can't remember the exact order).

They were told not to pick subjects because a friend was, or they liked the teacher.

Bassd on the list it sounds as if your DC is on the creative side.

You have questioned not enough academics but the list includes tripple science. Also whilst there are a number of more practical/creative subjects in the list, I don't think you can say music isn't academic. ( they have to perform, compose and do a written exam).

Art and photography are both portfolio based, but there is more writing in art than you would think, because they need to write about artists they are studying, explain and critique things etc.

Just be careful with the amount of portfolio work in terms of time, and keeping on top of things. Depending on how the school works out options, I wouldn't be surprised at there being a few that choose both art and photography because they compliment each other. I know of a few in DC's friendship group that do both.

Is this a child trying to avoid essays, by any chance?

Art tends to be a time sink, and there will be a lot of coursework with three practical subjects, which could be very difficult when that's all due in. Depending on how the school organises its options, there is a fair chance that two of the three will clash, too, so they may be asked to think again.

If they're likely to go on to anything academic, another essay-based subject may be useful for developing that skill. If not, and essays is what they're avoiding, swapping out one of the practical ones for something like geography, which doesn't have any very long answers, might be a good bet.

..... not enough academics? .... for what? It all depends what this young person aims to do next and what they enjoy and will do with enthusiasm (and therefore do better).

There are lots of academic subjects there:
Triple science
English lit
english lang
Maths
Music

Is art an academic subject too? I would argue yes. It does have a big practical element but also elements of history of art and understanding of cultural history.
photography

Photography? - again lots of academic aspects - physics features (I speak as a retired photographer).

Is academic good and practical bad? - depends entirely on what they want to do next.

Subjects like art and photography can feature as career assets, and also as life-enhancing knowledge.

I think you also need to factor in DCs strengths/weaknesses.

How are they are writing essays - strong or weak?

How are they at remembering and being able to apply facts? -my understanding is that subjects like history and geography have a lot of content to remember.

How are they at languages? I know I got reasonable grades in French beford options, but chose not to take it for GCSE. I was guessing a lot, rather than feeling I understood it. I felt to get a decent grade in French would have been detrimental yo other subjects.

How are they at organisation and time management with subjects that are heavily portfolio based?

Do they have a passion or flair for any of the subjects, that would make doing the work less of a chore. If they are happier with the subject they are more likely to get down and do the work than alone they don't want to take

If your child is very creative and really loves the arts, then I think they are lucky to be able to make those choices. At our school you have to pick one of either history or geography and if memory serves you can only do one art subject so you wouldn’t be able to do photography and art.
English maths and triple science are all academic.

It cuts off or makes much less likely languages and humanities at A level.

But it depends on ability and interests.

You can only critique them if you have an idea what the plan going forward beyond GCSEs is.

That route cuts off a huge swathe of study options but that might not matter if there is no interest there anyway.

I wouldn’t do art and photography as they are both coursework heavy and it could lead to stress. In fact I thought you couldn’t do both as they are usually option strands of the same GCSE?

otherwise it seems fine.

Are these options already taken, by someone about to/recently finished Y9?

Or planned options for someone to take on future?

Or something else?

If they have not yet been taken, are you sure the school will let them do Art and Photography and Music? The dc’s high school would limit to 2 of those and expect a language.

If at all possible, I would encourage your DC to go speak to the art teacher and ask their opinion of doing both art and photography. Photography can be part of an art GCSE but the balance of how it works best in your school will be known by those who teach the art GCSE. Talk to them and see what they recommend and try to take on board.

Art and music will both take more time than anyone ever realises. If music is already a big extra curricular commitment, then that’s helpful, but if not, it will be a shock.

Personally I would encourage a language if at all possible but that’s not something consistently supportive across all schools so it might not be a good call for your child and/or the school.

Is your child taking 7 subjects total?

in my experience, art took a huge amount of time. Far more than any other subject. I’d be checking that photography and music don’t have a similar commitment.

apart from maths and English, I don’t think there’s much point in doing a subject if the child doesn’t enjoy it or it doesn’t feed into any career aspirations.

I'd say if your child is inclined towards photography/art and planning to take them further, they've got a good selection. It's ultimately their choice not yours though. Art is one of those GCSEs that if you don't have it, you can't really do art afterwards.

@Gazelda triple science is 3 GCSEs.

Art is a massive time sucker.
Photography can be a massive time sucker.
Music tends to eat up lots of time - not the actual GCSE, but because you are also in the choir and the orchestra and have instrumental lessons.

Id seriously consider dropping one of those 3 for sonething thst eats up a bit less of your time.

To me this looks like a very bright student who prefers creative/arty subjects over academics.

I assume they will do well.

Thanks all. School has approved the options. Child “didn’t want” to do a language or humanities. Seems there is no issue in general with the options though.

Ah yes, of course.

Hmmm

I am normally a big cheerleader for "do the GCSEs you want as long as you have the core subjects" on the basis that you will do better at subjects you enjoy.

BUT in this case I would say that that is an awful lot of CW and controlled assessment. Art GCSE is known as a big thief of time, and music to some extent is the same (tho I appreciate that if what you love to do is art and music then it may not feel like an issue). Photography also requires development of a portfolio. DD took music and had to put in a lor of work for what ended up as her worst grade. Does the YP already take music lessons @GCSEQuestion2288? What kind of level?

I would be tempted to suggest swapping either art or photog for a more exam-based, less portfolio-heavy subject. MFL possible at all? that has IMHO a fairly straightforward suite of exams which don't involve huge tracts of end-of-year-11 learning of facts and writing of essays, if that's an issue (looking at you history). Or geography? Or yes RE/Phil and ethics?

There's no need to take photog GCSE in order to do the A level. Or music really as long as you are covering theory and grades in lessons. Art GCSE is useful if planning to pursue tho.

As others rightly say, these choices make MFL and I suspect geography A level impossible, and history or something like sociology or psychology (where evidence of success in an essay-based subject is often needed) less likely. But ofc that may not be an issue for the YP (presumably not tbh).

Art is hard. My DD is just finishing Year 10 & has loved art since she was tiny. It was her favourite subject up until Year 9.

Art GCSE is a different ball game (she’s doing Fine Art) and struggling. It’s the only subject she’s struggling with & she’s gone from loving art lessons to hating them.

If she could choose her GCSEs again, she’d pick something else.

No formal music lessons. Self taught guitar at a basic level but no “proper” knowledge. Certainly no theory exams etc.

@GCSEQuestion2288based on your update I’d rule out music.

Check with the exam board. I think they are supposed to perform pieces that are equivalent of grade 3 or above. They can perform a piece that is lower than that but could get a mark reduction to reflect an easier piece.
Having said that, DC does music and I don't think many have had formal tuition.
I would expect the music teacher to say if they thought that the standard of performance they were at was going to be an issue.