Year 9- Picking options, taking GCSEs, expectations and whatever else.

[teamcullen]

DD is the first to go through secondary school and we have just reached the stage where they are being asked to think about GCSEs and options, (year 9).

She is bright and in top set for all her subjects so she is starting to be approached by teachers who want her to take their subject. She doesnt know what she wants to do when she leaves school and is'nt sure what options she should take.

Ive got a review day next week and Im sure the questions will be popping up over what she will be doing next year.

What advice did you give your DCs at this stage and did they make the right decisions.

First off, they all have to do the essential subjects (maths, english lang + lit & science), so to some degree it doesn't matter too much what else they choose.

However, as your child is bright I would aim to ensure that she has a reasonable range of academic options so as not to restrict her choices at sixth form. (So basically, she should do anything she potentially might consider for A level, unless the GCSE definitely isn't an A level prerequisite). 10 or 11 seems to be the usual number - I tend to think more isn't a huge advantage - better to do 10 or 11 well & lots of outside interests imo.

To ensure a good range I would (& did) recommend...

Double science as a minimum (& consider triple if she enjoys or is good at science, but not at the expense of eg another language). Definately not single award science - this would preclude science A levels and is generally an option only taken by less able students.

At least one modern language (unless she's particularly not good or extremely anti) more if she's able at them.

At least one humanity (doesn't especially matter which, but History GCSE is often a prerequisite for A level, whereas Geography and RE often are not. I think History may be ever so slightly more highly regarded than the others)

That leaves 3 or 4 more which could be anything really, but maybe advisable not to have more than about 2 really non academic ones (like media studies or art or drama) - equally, I think at least one 'fun' subject should be mandatory and also worth noting that for some careers requiring manual dexterity (eg dentistry) something like DT or art could be good.

The school should set up their timetable into Option Blocks, with your DD picking an option from each block, along with her compulsory subjects.

This ensures that she has a broad range of subjects.

The main thing is to choose options that she enjoys. I would strongly urge her to take a modern foreign language too.

I reckon that a reasonably academic DC should take around eight traditional academic GCSEs e.g.
Maths, Double or Triple/3 Sciences, English Language, English Literature, Modern Foreign Language, at least one humanities - preferably History and or Geography but not something called "Humanities" unless that is all the school can offer. After that, it depends on the school - DS2 had to take one Technology subject and then had to take one other such as PE/Music/Drama/Art which reflected the student's skills/talents.
(This is pretty much the same list as Snorkie and provides a broad academic range).
NB IT GCSEs are famously tedious and probably don't teach the students much more than they already know - if they can be bothered to complete this course.
It is also best to avoid any subject ending in the word "Studies"!

I've had 5 DC go through this stage and 1 DS (yr8) still to go.

The eldest 3 are all in their 20s and didn't do as many GCSEs and didn't have as many options as they do now. All had to do maths, english x2, science x2, humanity, MFL, arts option, and then 2 more options.

DS1 chose design tech & business studies. He soon regreted choosing business studies! But had to stick it out. He did maths & 3 sciences at A level and studied engineering at university.

DD chose food tech & extra MFL. She did sciences and geography A levels and also went to university.

DS2 resistant materials & PE. Did maths and physics A levels and then did an apprenticeship.

DS3 now in year 12 had much more choice. Did
Maths, stats, 3 sciences, english , english lit, french, PE, Music. He chose not to do history or geography. Now doing maths and sciences at a level.

DS4 year 10 doing maths & stats, 3 sciences, english, english lit, PE, Design x 2. He chose not to do humanity or MFL. I was worried about this but he loathed french in years 7-9. He would have been in a lower group with others like himself, ie. not doing it through choice, no chance of getting at least a C grade, and being hard work for the poor teacher! Better to be realistic and let him choose something he will do well.

I knew I'd missed something out they all did/are doing computing in some form. They all seem to pass that without too much trouble!

We are in the same position DS yr9 chooses his options in march. He really doesn't know what he wants to do.
He has already started doing OCR for IT which counts as 4 gcses

He is also thinking about doing a twilight class for RE which makes it a full gcse.

He will almost definitely do triple science and probably history.

MMeprof why do you say they should do an MFL?
Is it better to do another subject that they are likely to get an A* in than MFL with a B

If she wants to got to a top university, then she needs to ensure she doesn't limit her A level choices for academically rigorous subjects.

Generally the more GCSEs a course is "worth", the less the subject is "worth" in the eyes of universities and anyone else who is well-informed.

Unless she has a specific reason to do so I would steer well clear of subjects like:
Media Studies
Law
National Certificate in Sport.

I would also advise anyone to only to the minimum time possible to IT. OCR is pretty straightforward, many students learn very little doing it, and yet it is "worth" 4 GCSEs. They don't learn anything particularly useful (that they don't already know) like HTML (or any other) programming or animation or how to build a proper website.

Traditional academically rigorous subjects (French, German, History, Geography, etc.) are more difficult to obtain the highest grades, but as a result they are more highly valued by the top universities.

ds chooses options in January. However, we have had the discussion and he will be doing the following IGCSEs, timetables permitting.

Eng (lang/lit)
Maths
Double award science
French (has already started IGCSE and will do A/S in Year 11)
Dutch (we live in a Flemish area)
History
Geog
Food and Nutrition

I would also like him to do IT, but I don't think the school allows more than the above. He will be doing full GCSE RE at home as his school doesn't teach RE, but I do.

The above gives him a broad spread for IB/A levels.

I am soooo not looking forward to this - DS1 is currently in Yr8....

bruffin, to an extent you are right, in that if a child is really hopeless at languages & will struggle to achieve a C then they may well be better advised to do media studies or something a bit useless and get a better grade. However, if they can achieve a B or above then I personally think it is worth persisting with (and preferably raise their B to an A by hard graft as well) simply because they are so much more use and are recognised to be harder.

On IT (which seems to be largely a qualification on how to use Office applications as far as I can see), one of the local 6th forms makes students who don't have any IT qualification do some use of computer course for a lesson or two a week alongside their A levels. If this is the case anywhere your child might attend, then doing at least the short course ICT would be worthwhile.

Ds does computing instead of ICT which is more programming and how computer hardware & software work (rather than how to use them). This is more appealing to those that way inclined and apparently there is a new GCSE course in it starting soon which might be interesting (previously it was only available at A level).

Dd will be choosing her gcse options this year too. Not sure what she'll do yet, but it will be along the lines I suggested & include a language (maybe even two) even though she struggles with them (as is common in dyslexics).

We had our annual meeting yesterday with DD, who is in Yr9 this year and options was on the list of things to discuss.

She's got it all worked out!

She wants to do, Maths, English x 2 and double science. Geography, French and PE, along with the usual IT and RE which they have to do. There was another one, but I can't remember which.

Then, she plans to do Science and Geography at A level, THEN she's going to Plymouth University, aparently, because they do marine based courses!

She wants to be a marine biologist of some discription and Plymouth is the only Uni in the UK, that does courses with scubadiving!

Thankyou everybody for all your advice. What we know up to now DD will be doing the following
English x2
Maths
Science ( she doesnt know whether is it duel or triple but wont be single award)
MFL
RE
One technology subject
2 other subjects

She has done spanish since she was 6. She has learnt french since September but can take either or both for GCSE, so its a bit of a no brainer which she will choose. She loves spanish though and is on track for an A or A*

She has suggested that she might choose history over geography and graphics as her tech subject, she would like to do music.

I am supprised she hasnt mentioned media studies as she is quite creative when working on any type of media based project, and I can see her going on to work somewhere she will be creative in some way or another. She also enjoys drama, although this is only a hobby and she has no interest in becoming a famous actress.

Is there any particular reason why she should aviod these types of subjects? I dont think she will be applying for the elite universities, partly because although she is bright she doesnt often push herself to the limit and partly because I dont think she would settle in that type of environment.

snorkie 3 of my DS are dyslexic. DS4 has suffered badly with low self esteem because of it. He is however very good at maths and science, PE, and anything hands-on. There really is no point in him struggleing with MFL, history, media, business studies etc. He is coping in a top english set (very good verbally!),but written work is weak. He wants to join RAF or teach science & PE. Fingers crossed for at least a C in english !

teamcullen
No reason why your DD should not choose from media studies, drama or music as her two other options as she has already got a good spread of academic subjects.

DD1 chooses in February. Compulsory are Eng x 2, Maths and Triple Science and MFL (choosing German). Must do a Humanity (choosing Classics) and a Creative (choosing Music). This leaves one left to choose.

She had been planning to do Geography as top fave subject until this year when combo of syllabus and teacher has bored her silly. Not worried as GCSE not essential for A Level so time to change her mind later in her school career if necessary.

So one subject left and she wants Drama. DH and I balked at first as Music and Drama might sound a bit arty farty for Uni. (Apologies to any music/drama teachers as I know the syllabus for both is perfectly academic and rigorous but just thinking of perceptions.) Then decided what the hell - she is only 13 (youngest but one in her year), she has 8 "academic" subjects to do already and she LOVES Music and Drama so gets at least 20% of her week doing something she really enjoys.

So Music and Drama it is (although neither will help in her plan to become an astronomer!)

As an aside she is doing a half GCSE in IT this year and a half GCSE in PE next year.

Which is all a much more long winded way of saying just what Lilymaid has said already!

I'd try not to do a massive list of subjects.
It's much better to get high grades in fewer subjects than get lots of low grade passes.

Colleges and employers want C grades and above so anything less than a D is a waste of time.

Shortening the list means there is more time to work at each subject.

My dd will choose hers in Jan/Feb, but not yet sure what constraints are on timetable and options

Not sure yet whether to go four double sci or triple (again depends on options)

She will almost certainly do 2x MFL

She will not be 'allowed' by dh and I to do any soft options but we'd be fine with art or drama - she loves these but not sure she actually wants to do them as GCSE.

A lot of top universities have dropped their MFL requirement, but are reinstating them in the next few years. They will also offer remedial courses for valued applicants who don't have a MFL GCSE.

maggots - Music is an academic subject at GCSE and not an easy option. How do I know? I teach it. It is regarded by employers as a subject of importance as it takes perserverance and lots of dedication and commitment to be a good musician. Many studies have shown that Music at GCSE or A Level is looked upon very favourably with employers. Music is definitely not an arty-farty subject and uses many traditionally academic skills.

Be careful - Geography Heads of Dept within my LEA are now specify GCSE Geography if you want to do A level. All to do with syllabus change and improving Geog A level results.

I've got the joys of this too with DD1 who is in year 9. We had a quite sensible conversation about it when she was out here during half-term (she is at boarding school as I am abroad) and my concern was that she would go ahead and choose without any imput from me.

Hopefully she is going to be quite sensible but the sticking point is the 'soft' options. I've said she can do one soft one, ie dance/art/drama but at the moment she is adamant that she wants to do horse care (yes, apparently that is a real GCSE) AND dance.
Luckily her school has a lot more compulsary subjects than DS's school had so she will be doing the sciences and at least one MFL but not sure about 2 soft subjects.

If she's doing 8 other rigorous subjects mumoverseas then I wouldn't worry too much. Horse care & dance makes her sound like a rather interesting sort of person I'd have thought and if she's enjoying her studies (& they do sound rather fun) then she's more likely to do well at them all imo. Two would be my maximum limit on that sort of thing though.

Horse studies might even look good on a vet sci application - who knows?

If your dc is considering any science A levels I would strongly recommend taking the triple science course. This will mean using up an option. The number of students taking triple science is increasing and if there is competition for places at good sixth forms and FE colleges it may be difficult to get on courses with only double science. I know of two students who were not able to study chemistry at their local sixth form for this reason, despite attaining high grades in the double science course.

Taking Triple Science doesn't always mean losing an option.

DD (now at Uni) and DS (Yr10) went to different schools and both took triple science and both had 11 subjects: Maths, English x 2, Science x 3, RE/Philosophy & Ethics, + 4 choices. DD did 2 x MFL + Geog & History. DS chose the same except swapped 1 MFL for Latin.

Neither had the first clue what they wanted to do (DS still doesn't) so took traditionally strong subjects that kept all options open for A levels and beyond.