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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

We've just been advised that DD (11) has been put on the G&T register and has been offered to do Latin GCSE (!?) in 2 years time - would appreciate a chinwag about this with someone who's in the know

37 replies

MadreInglese · 15/09/2009 09:12

I don't really know anything about the G&T register. We've always known that DD was bright and we're very proud of her but I'm concerned that doing an early GCSE in an extra subject might put her under too much pressure (she can be a bit of a stress-head).

What does G&T mean to you? Do you think it has helped G&T children to have it recognised? Are they all taught at higher levels or just in certain subjects? I feel that Latin is an odd subject to offer as an extra GCSE, will it be of any use (I can only think of gardening/florist or medical use of latin words) or is it more to flex their brains by learning something completely new? DD wants to do it, I'm just a little unsure.

Would appreciate your thoughts and comments on this, thanks.

OP posts:

snorkie · 15/09/2009 19:24

It's good for English and languages. It's also interesting for historians and good as a mental exercise. They do it as a 'normal' curriculum subject at dc's school and ds is taking GCSE this year and enjoys it a lot. Dd is in her second year & also enjoys it, but I don't know if she'll choose the GCSE yet. One of ds's friends who is very linguistically talented fast-tracked it and did the GCSE in two years (sat in year 9 after starting in year 8), but he missed an A* by one mark which I think was a bit annoying for him, but still an excellent result.

I think doing a GCSE early is quite a good idea to give you confidence and experience before the main set, but probably only worth doing if you are reasonably sure of getting a high grade. It is considered a harder GCSE and I think 2 years might be optimistic to cover all the work, considering her young age. I'd suggest she starts the course and if she enjoys it continues, but only sit the exam that early if she's really confident of doing well. Could she take an extra year and sit it in year 10 if necessary?

seeker · 16/09/2009 06:12

My dd is doing Latin and loves it - she's just gone into year 9 and this is her second year of Lain. When I asked her a while ago why she likes it she said "It's not slippery, like some subjects are"!

Milliways · 16/09/2009 16:43

Latin is compulsory at DS's school from Yr7, and he has chosen it as a GCSE option as "No speaking/accent required" and it is "very logical".

Litchick · 16/09/2009 17:04

As has been said, Latin is a great mental exerciser...it realy tests logic and reasoning skills, and makes the brain work in ways that are often not called upon.

My children have justed started it at 10. But it is offered to everyone and is part of the curriculum, not just those considered gifted.

seeker · 16/09/2009 18:04

My dd is very definitely not G and T - just averagely bright - and is loving latin!

GrendelsMum · 16/09/2009 21:53

If she wants to do learn it but can get a bit stressed, why not go ahead but remind her that the point of learning is for the fun of being intellectually challenged, not to get an A grade in an exam. Or you could even see if she can study the course and not bother about taking the exam at the end.
You could perhaps plan a family holiday to Rome (or just to Chester?) so that she gets to use some of her Latin on inscriptions, tombstones etc?

hatwoman · 16/09/2009 22:00

I haven't read the other posts so might be repeating...and I know nothing about G&T. but I did do Latin at school and feel that for some kids it would be very enjoyable - it's so beautifully logical and a bit complex - it's more like maths than a language. and it's great for understanding grammar, and language, as a concept. In the longer term I do believe it can help you develop good writing skills (in English, and possibly other languages) - which will stand you in good stead whatever you end up doing. But I do thing whether your dd will enjoy it is the key thing - not racking up early GCSEs.

hatwoman · 16/09/2009 22:14

read the other posts now - so lovely to see so many Latin fans. I'd love my dds (currently 9 and 7) to have the chance to do it. In my work I read a lot of badly written, badly structured stuff. Sometimes I find myself thinking that this wouldn't happen if the writers had had a healthy dose of Latin at school...

Original poster

MadreInglese · 21/09/2009 13:57

Looks like DD is all fired up to do the course after a chat with her form teacher, so we've decided to go for it and just see how she gets on along the way.

Thanks for all the advice!

OP posts:

snorkie · 21/09/2009 15:13

Hope she enjoys it .

DillyTantay · 21/09/2009 15:14

i learned three forrin langs with NO law at all

katiestar · 23/09/2009 11:01

I did Latin O level and actually found it fairly easy -easier than French and German.I found it helped a lot with learning the grammar in other languages.

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