GCSE options help needed please!

[mountaingirl]

What do you think is better to study a business BTec or a PE GCSE? Also do you have to do an AS level before an Alevel? DS1 will be skipping GCSE French and going staight to As level but as he is completely bilingual can he not just do an Alevel..I think it has changed since my day....! Thanks.

Regarding a business BTec or PE GCSE your son should do whichever one interests him more. You have to take the AS modules and the A2 papers to get an A level, but there is no reason why you can't do them both in the one year.

Thanks for that. I'll see if the school could arrange that, it'd be great to get it out of the way. He does loads of sport but is being told by his father that if he had to choose someone nowadays then he'd chooose a candidate with business rather than PE...

If you are talking about university candidates then they are not going to be interested in either of those at GCSE level, except that they make for a more rounded education. If you are referring to going straight from school into the big wide world then I think your husband is right.

I think it would depend on the job he was applying for. If was sport oriented, then a GCSE in sport would be beneficial. What is your son intending on doing - straight out to work, A levels, Uni?

Eventually he'd like to go to uni but aged almost 15 he hasn't got a clue what he'd like to do. We are choosing his subjects now as he is leaving the french system and going to school in the UK for gcse's then A's then hopefully uni. He will go staight into year 10.

Are you sure that either of them are worth doing? Would it not be better to do something academic?

In my experience I think that the PE GCSE is a little more rigorous (sp?) than a Btec. There seems to be quite a bit of 'biology' involved. Although it is not as academic as some other subjects I view it as a little light relief!

If he hasn't got anything specific in mind yet, I'd encourage a wide range of subject areas - he can specialise later. I think it's important the he has an interest in, and an enjoyment of the subjects he has chosen. It makes studying them easier!

mumblechum- he is doing as/a2 level french, english lit, english language, science, maths, ict, history, geography, RE, I think that covers most subjects it is this last one pe or business, he doesn't want to do art or drama food or music. The school don't teach spanish so he can't continue with that unfortunately. I'm sure he would be more interested in PE as he loves his sport, but my business minded husband has other ideas!

dd1 has thoroughly enjoyed PE. She is doing AS now and trying to convince her school to allow her to keep it as a 4th A level. Her other ASs are History, Biology and Spanish and it has provided a good balance.

I would let him do PE if that is what he wants to do. He has a good range of academic subjects, get your husband to have a good look at the content of the Btec.