Year 9 options. What is she supposed to chose?

[EccentricaGallumbits]

She has no idea and all she wants is to send time looking beautiful, dancing and giggling with her mates.

There is a parents evening science discussion thingy tomorrow and it's been recommended she does the stage 2 ?) bit but she has no idea if she wants to do drama, art, music or something else, while i'd rather she did 'real' subjects and she's adamant that she's not doing history or geography and only french.

I suppose they'll give some info about what direction to force encourage them in?

i should be thankful that she's fairly bright and keen and at least goes to scool. i can imagine how shockingly bad this is going to be in 2 years with DD2.

It's all about league tables.
DS's school got a pasting from OFSTED because they haven't moved into BTECs, in spite of having very good results on 5 AtoC including Eng and Maths.

The nearby mega comp gets far more "GCSE" passes because they count a BTEC as 4 GCSEs, but only 30% with English and Maths. Apparently they are outstanding.

Thanks Decorhate and Intergalactic, that might make her choice a bit easier.

before the 'crappy' BTECS get any more of a hammering I am really pleased with my students who with their crappy BTEC National Awards have been offered places on various courses, not including hairdressing, at Southampton, Loughborough, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester. Hopefully those are not 'crappy' universities! However they are getting distinctions.

the business studies gcse also counts as two gcse's somehowneed to look into it further to see what exactly,but teacher says she will gain 2

if it's like DDs two IT GCSEs, then there will be a coursework only one, and an examined one, but probably just taught as a single subject, and the extra coursework slotted in.

I think it all depends on your children, you said your daughter is bright so as a teacher I would try and encourage the more traditional subjects.

However, there is a lot of 'diploma' bashing going on. I may be teaching a diploma next year and like everything else it depends on the quality of teaching but also if it is appropriate for the child - some may well be for some children.

As a teacher I hate options evening as it is mostly about selling your subject to justify your department (and I teach a traditional subject!).

Happilyconfused - that's good to hear