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

If the exam spec has changed, and thry get a letter grade, are they doing WJEC?

Clary means her dd took the exam before gcse reforms.

yes sorry DD took GCSEs in 2017 so hers are mostly letters (apart from Eng and maths). It was tough actually as the old spec GCSEs did not lead well to the already new spec A levels (eg MFL) but anyway that's not the point here.

I think it’s a bad idea to do art photography and music. Can’t they do history or geography instead of photography?

Our grammar school would have allowed this. Basically aside from the core subjects they can choose any 3 subjects. My daughter did music, drama and art.

Compulsory at ours : English x2 maths, science x3, mfl. Plus 3 options so total of 10.

I definitely think those schools (the majority?) that have option blocks and only let you do one creative subject are really restricting the achievements of some kids. Kids do well when they do subjects they enjoy.

Having said all that, photography can be part of art so unless a degree in art is the eventual goal I'd say they're a bit too similar. My daughter's friend did gcse art by purely using photography as they didn't offer gcse photography.

Also it's true that creative subjects take a lot of time. Dd2 did art gcse as well as design tech gcse which the school warned against due to heavy coursework load, but she is very dedicated and made it work (now heading for an Illustration degree).

Art and photography too similar

Edexcel music was 40% written exam (listening/appraising), 30% performance (solo plus duet or group) and 30% composition. It's much more than being able to play a grade 4/5 piece. Grade 3 standard at the end of year 9 would be the minimum levell.

DC school would not allow 2 art GCSEs e.g fine art and photography. Could cause issues with the timing of the practical exam and I think they are actually variants of the same exam specification so definitely double check if that is allowed.

A humanity or MFL would be a good addition. If state school will want DC to fill the Attainment 8 buckets.

I would ask what they want to do after GCSEs, some students don’t think any further than subjects they like.

What can they see themselves doing post 16 - Alevels or vocational? Do they have uni plans with any ideas of what they would like to do?

I would also caution about music - that will be tough with no formal lessons or any theory. I would be advising a different subject to keep more options open going forward. Not more academic (nothing wrong with any of those subjects) but quite a narrow choice.

@enok My Dd did these two at A level but had a career in mind. It’s a hard combo and you don’t need it at GCSE so it should go. Music isn’t strong enough really. It’s an unbalanced set of GCSE because there’s MFL or humanity. It’s not a broad or general education and music is an art - there’s 3 arts chosen.

My DC’s friend chose separate science, art, photography and BTEC performing arts (or something, not sure of the correct title) - he ended up finding the art and photography together quite challenging because of all the extra work, and regretted choosing both.

I would caution against music as others have said. Our school says you need to be grade 3 on at least one instrument to even choose it. Which Dd took to mean people with grade three should expect a 4 at GCSE, so decided against it.

If it were my Dc, I would advise just taking one of art or photography - ideally art, and definitely swapping music for something else.
Maybe another arty subject if they are set on it(drama, perhaps?) and a final non-coursework subject dependent on interests - business might go well alongside creative subjects if you are thinking of making a career out of them. Or geography fits well with science.

Thanks all, you’ve confirmed my thoughts. I took GCSE music (albeit 20 years ago!) with a grade 5 instrument and grade 5 theory and still only came out with a C due to the composition side of things.

Was talking with a family friend earlier about their DDs choices and was shocked. She is known for doing the bare minimum so art & photography I feel are huge mistakes.

Unfortunately all subjects are confirmed for September start 😣

Oh wait it's not your own DC? It's a friend's DD?

Doesn't sound as if any of them will be great options if they only do the bare minimum - but then that would probably be the case for all subjects.

@GCSEQuestion2288 there's normally some flexibility to change during the first few weeks of year 10.

Agree with others that music without grade 5 theory is going to be very tricky. A friend's kid did it as a self taught guitar player, although higher equivalent, more like grade 8, and really struggled with transposing the composition. Other friends of dds have found it quite tough despite being very accomplished musicians.

And doing art and photography seems a bit pointless. If the school does some "light" GCSEs like film studies or business studies, I'd probably switch to at least one of those if DC is not keen on traditional subjects.

I assume they are interested in doing something with art/music after GCSE so they’re fine. If not I would advise swapping art or photography for a humanity.

Sorry but this is foolish. I’m surprised the school are allowing it.
What else is offered? They really should drop music and pick something more academic- anything would be better history, computer science, geography, RE…..

Music is a highly academic subject. It is valued by 6th forms and universities.

Hence why some people become unstuck when they expect it to be an easy ride.

Music needs to be able to do theory, compose and ABRSM or Trinity level 5 preferably above. Must be in orchestra, ensemble etc. Daily practice of one hour minimum.
Art, lots of drawing, research and analysis. So a mini History of Art component. Hours and need to have time management for other subjects. Eg. 3 hours over the weekend for 7/8s or 7 hours++ for 9 on top of class and extra art clubs.
Photography, coursework and research.

Since self- taught music, maybe drop this and keep art and photography?

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the comments. My friend didn’t have much idea about GCSEs and was happy for her DD to select with no guidance. It’s not really my business, but I am just worried she is setting herself up for a fall. I will try and broach it with her based on all of the feedback above. Thanks so much ❤

Tbh it’s also in the school. I’m surprised a school wouldn’t a) flag the heavy CW load of photog plus art b) flag that music GCSE needs someone who has skills already, as noted here.

Certainly that would have happened at schools I have worked at.

Isn’t photography a subset of art and design? If so and if he did that and another art and design option he would end up with two GCSEs in art and design, both of which would be time consuming.

It sounds like music could also be a tricky one in his case too.

I would drop one of those and substitute history, geography, RE or a language.