Why do state schools insist on General Studies?

[ProfRichardDawkins]

I'm assuming it's to improve the schools average points per candidate and bump them up the league tables? It's rubbish for brighter candidates isn't it?

It is not intended as a state school bashing thread. I was merely wondering if anyone could fill me in on the thinking behind it.

I know in our sixth form the policy is to keep them busy, although we dont insist on general studies. I imagine that may be the thinking.

I went to a all gilrs' boarding school and we all didi it as a matter of course.

Is it true that GS is a good preparation for the medical aptitude test thing that all would be medics have to take these days?

LMAO @ Pub Quiz

I got the School Prize in General Studies. (=person most likely to have spent sixth form watching Fifteen to One?)

I don't even know what General Studies is. I just hear a lot of people complaining about it, saying it's a joke. If everyone agrees that basically it's a joke, surely there's no point is there?

I changed schools at 6th form - sat the GS exam, but didn't have to do any course, so it was just a couple of hours out of my life. A friend who stayed at the old school had to do the GS "course" and did Further Maths in her lunch hour. Now that is fucked up.

Profrichard - you are spot on in your first comment imo - that, and AS in SPU (science for public understanding) and Critical thinking too in our place.

Why don't parents and pupils make a stand and just say no? It seems ridiculous to me. You should all be asking the head to give you reasons why and you should be getting on to the school governors.

When I took it (far too many years ago), the rationale was to widen the thinking of students who otherwise were pretty narrow - all arts or all science. The arts students got lessons in science for the science paper, and the scientists got language lessons and history lessons. I enjoyed it! Mind you, those were the days when nearly everyone took just 3 'A' levels (or four if they did further maths as well as maths). I had to argue my case vociferously to be allowed to take 4 'A' levels - and I was still expected to do General Studies.

RachePache - haven't I read on another thread that you went to Oxford?

So stop panicking everyone, she won a PRIZE for General Studies.

bagsforlife yes I did. And I asked to do General Studies as well, as I like general knowledge but my other subjects were a bit science heavy, and I wanted to learn a bit of social science to balance me up a bit, and help with my interview.

I'd have loved to have done the IB really, but my school didn't offer it.

donk exactly my reasoning

They insist on General Studies at my DCs grammar school but no one needs it for their university applications. Lots of them do and get into Oxbridge. Usually all get A.

What reason do they give for it bags? Is it just to boost league table score in your opinion?

Don't think it's to boost league table score because many would take a fourth/fifth A level instead in something else and probably do as well.

It is a very academic school (very few, if any at all, take what could be possibly considered a 'soft' subject) so I don't think GS can be considered a complete waste of time by the school.

I did happen to ask DD (22) the other day why the 6th formers all have to do so much all the time and she said it's to keep them busy so they don't have time to stray from the straight and narrow....

I'll ask next time I'm at parents' eve or whatever!

I have to say if one of mine was forced to take GS at school I would instruct them not to attend and/or not to bother with the homework or turn up to the exam, and I would make arrangements for them to study a musical instrument or language in the time available, and apply themselves properly to that (the key word here being 'properly').

It certainly sensible to keep kids busy, but jumping through stupid hoops is not the answer and sends out wholly the wrong message.

I note colleges aren't teaching anything difficult like Philosophy or Mathematics in this slot, both of which are educationally invaluable at all levels but more expensive and challenging to deliver.

My DS is doing Philosophy as his fifth AS and he is really enjoying it. It is also a well-respected subject.

He had a choice of Philosophy, RS or Critical Thinking. Critical Thinking is seen as a bit of a joke. I would suggest that all academic A-levels should involve critical thinking.

'I note colleges aren't teaching anything difficult like Philosophy or Mathematics in this slot, both of which are educationally invaluable at all levels but more expensive and challenging to deliver. '

Maybe true of some. Our local 6th form college offers Philosophy or Politics.

Thank god for that, Violethill. There is hope.

It seems daft to me that GS A level which is seen as a joke has points equivalence to Maths or Physics or any other proper academic subject. (Yet is not acceptable to any self-respecting University.)

And I don't think it's true that pupils taking GS would take a different fourth of fifth A level if GS didn't exist.

Why don't you think that Prof?

It is a complete waste of time except that it fills up the timetable so that the student has less sleep time and, perhaps, at A2 level, forces the student to have some awareness of the world. DS1 did AS General Studies without even seeing a past exam paper and still got an A. He felt his lack of academic ability though, as the cleverest at his school got 300 out of 300 points, whereas he only got 280.

My son is doing 4 academic full A levels and philosophy which he will drop after AS. He still has two afternoons free a week. On one afternoon he helps out at a special needs school and on the other he helps out at an old people's home.