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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Choosing GCSE Options.

22 replies

Milliways · 02/12/2008 21:43

Just had DS(13)'s first Options evening.

His school gives the Usual Compulsory subjects (Maths, Ad Maths, Eng lang & Lit, 3 sciences, RE etc) and also insist that they choose French or German. That leaves 3 choices, but there are sooo many subjects to choose from! Things you enjoy but may not be fab at (eg Drama), Things you have never tried before (Classics, Economics, Mandarin!) Usual stuff (Gegraphy, History).

Gosh, it is so hard to choose just 3 from a list of around 15 subects!!

At least he has until mid Jan to make his mind up.

Who else is doing this now?

OP posts:

BecauseImWorthIt · 02/12/2008 21:46

We will have to make this decision this year as well, but haven't had any consultation with the school yet.

DS2 can choose 3 but wants to do 4 - History, Drama, Triple Science and German. I have no idea how to advise him which to choose/drop!

DoNotsAntlers · 02/12/2008 21:47

I am not going through it but I would say that he should choose a maximum of 1 new subject (as that will probably be very demanding to get to GCSE level).

Choose at least 1 subject he is good at and at least one he really enjoys (which may of course be the same).

Original poster

Milliways · 02/12/2008 22:12

He will do French (over German) and definately wants to do Latin (enjoys it) but not sure which 2 to choose out of History, Geography & Economics.

OP posts:

Original poster

Milliways · 02/12/2008 22:19

BecauseImWorthIt: Does triple science have to be an option?

DS's school (grammar) only do triple, and DD's Comp offered it but as an "extra". They started with 1 extra class a week after school, but then just merged it all in so they had extra homework/more to cram in, but still allowed them 4 free choices on top.

Hard isn't it, especially if they have no idea of real future plans/A level requirements like most 13/14 year olds.

OP posts:

RustyBear · 02/12/2008 22:25

Can't believe he's at that stage already, Milliways - I remember the thread when you were waiting to see if he'd get in - my first post on MN was on that thread!

Do they still have to do some kind of Technology? DS did graphics, though only as a half course, he did both French and German, and History (Is Mr H still there btw?)
Trying to remember what else he did - it's only 4 years ago fgs....

Don't remember Mandarin though - did Mrs D bring that one in with her?

Original poster

Milliways · 02/12/2008 22:33

One of the boy's Mum's does the Mandarin I think. Needless to say, DS is NOT interested. I was amazed he likes Latin so much!

No Tech needed (thankfully) but they can do the ECDL for IT in their own time if they want - all online.

DD choose Hist,Geog,French & German.

I think Mr H you refer to is still there.

Happy days

OP posts:

BecauseImWorthIt · 03/12/2008 08:46

Triple science is the option DS2 wants though as he's very keen on science. The trouble is, he's also keen on the rest of the 3 options as well!

bagsforlife · 03/12/2008 09:00

I would choose History (always useful) and then one of the 'enjoyable' ones, although my DS1's choice of what he perceived to be an 'easy' option (his perception not mine)and therefore not much work, ie Art and Drama, turned out to be the most time consuming of all!

snorkle · 03/12/2008 09:02

Ds was making these choices last year. He's very sciencey and will definitely be doing at least two science A levels. In the end he chose the double science option as it gives him a wider range at GCSE; no-one will care whether the's done 2 or 3 sciences at GCSE once he has A levels; and triple science isn't a prerequisite, or even much of an advantage to do science A levels. He may sit the extra exams to make double science into 3 off his own back if he has time.

glinda · 03/12/2008 09:14

We are at this stage with my DD. She loves drama, dance and music and would happily eat up her options with these but she is also very academic and I think that she should balance her choices a bit more. Apparently she could do her dance gcse on Saturday mornings so this might free up one slot.

I also worry a bit about the team work needed in Drama and dance. I have a feeling that they might split up the more talented performers to work with the other students in order to get a higher percentage of A-Cs. What happens if someone in your group won't show up for extra rehearsals etc?

We have been invited to an information evening tonight about some new Diploma options. I have no idea what these are but I suspect that they might turn out to be more vocational than academic. Still it is always worth a listen to find out what is available.
Has anyone else heard about these?

glinda · 03/12/2008 09:29

Did I say something wrong?

DocBunches · 03/12/2008 09:45

Hi Glinda,

I've heard of the new diploma, they are being offered at my DS's comp (he is in Y9) next September.

To be honest, they look like a lot of hard work as they will be the equivalent of 7 GCSE's! My DS is probably going to choose 4 more traditional options, eg, Geog, Hist, Business Studies, ICT or similar (fortunately for him, they do not have to do a language). But like a lot of 13-year-old children, he doesn't have much of a clue what he wants to do in the future.

Milliways, thought your DS was in Y8 at 'Hogwarts' - do they start GCSEs early there?

witchandchips · 03/12/2008 09:55

I teach economics at uni at tbh i would never advise anybody to do GCSE economics; its a much too technical subject for the 14-16 age group and so therefore what is taught is not economics but a description of economic issues iyswim. Better i think to do something like geography that can cover many of the same issues but is less "woolly" and descriptive.

A level economics and economics at degree level is another matter!

glinda · 03/12/2008 09:57

Seven!!!!????? Do you take the diploma on top of the usual maths, english, science mfl etc?

DocBunches · 03/12/2008 11:36

Re the Diploma - at my DS's school, pupils taking a Diploma course will also take functional skills qualifications in English, Maths and ICT (each worth half a GCSE) and GCSEs in Maths, Englih (Lang. and Lit.), double Science, plus another optional GCSE subject. Therefore, a child could end up with the equivalent of 13 GCSEs! Apparently a Higher level Diploma is worth 7 GCSEs at A*-C and Foundation level equates to 5 GCSEs at D-G.

Not for the faint-hearted I reckon! Like you Glinda, I thought they were possibly aimed at the vocational or perhaps less academic student, but that doesn't necessarily appear to be the case. Perhaps someone else could offer more info on the Diplomas?

Witchandchips, appreciate your advice re Economics GCSE as it's one that my DS is considering, but I think it will be too hard for him.

snorkle · 03/12/2008 11:41

The thing is, they may well not be 7x the work, even if they're credited with 7x the points (or whatever). There are other things (BTEC GNVQs??) that are supposedly worth 4 GCSEs, but it's generally accepted that it's not 4x the amount of work to get them. With my cynical hat on I suspect that when these new schemes are introduced the powers that be weight them with more GCSEs than they're really worth to try & make them more attractive to people.

Although universities have said they'll accept the new diplomas, I think if you're fairly sure that's where you're heading it might be wise to stick to tried & trusted GCSEs until we've seen a bit more how the new diplomas work wrt university applications.

DocBunches · 03/12/2008 11:47

Good post Snorkle, I completely agree.

My DS will almost definitely not be going down the diploma route next year - we're happy to let someone else be the Guinea Pigs!

RustyBear · 03/12/2008 12:43

DocBunches - Milliways' DS started at Hogwarts the year after my DS left & DS is now in his 3rd year at Warwick, so yes, he must be Year 9 this year - hadn't realised I'd been on MN that long...

DocBunches · 03/12/2008 13:36

Thanks for clearing that up Rustybear - I am obviously also beginning to lose track of time!

Original poster

Milliways · 03/12/2008 21:26

Hello, Yes - DS is a Yr 9, but one of the youngest as only 13 in August

OP posts:

amerryscot · 04/12/2008 06:49

If you need to make a choice between history, geography or economics - history or geography any time. Traditional academic subjects are much better for opening doors.

He will be exposed to economics in other subjects, and may be able to do something extra-curricular.

witchandchips · 04/12/2008 10:13

although i agree with your conclusion amerryscot (do geogrpahy or history rather than economics) i have to quibble with your reasoning and logic.
you don't get exposed to economics in other subjects, you get exposed to "economic issues" very very different; you might as well say that you get exposed to chemistry in home economics or to physics in metal work. The problem with economics at GSCE level is not that the subject is too hard and technical for the 14-16 age group; thus any pre A level course has to be dumbed down too much,

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