Confused by English A levels.. (and child)

[samonly]

.. did IB, husband (Scottish) did Highers, neither of us had 'decided' what we wanted to do at 16. DS (see setting himself up for failure thread) had chosen Bio, Chem, English & History (which seemed odd to everyone) - wants to give up History a week into 6th form, what do people think?

He's dyslexic, he's partly terrified by step-change in reading speed required, slightly disinterested by AS topics for History (Eng Church & French Revolution) & while I don't want to encourage him for laziness reasons, I do think it is possible that he will do better with just three things to concentrate on. DH husband just sees it as the first step along the path to dropping out of sixth form, and by extension any semblance of a conventional life.. but then he is glass half-full by nature.
I think it's sad they have to pick for life so young, and that no one is MAKING them do Maths at some level, even if it's coursework assessed.

Could he be more suited to politics or economics, and then decide after AS to give up one of the 4?

I think YOU need to go and talk to school and head of year/director of studies - from experience a child's version of how things work is not always how it ACTUALLY works and you are not in a position to help him make an informed choice at the mo.

If he really hates the set topics it is a very depressing outlook. None of us like doing things we loathe after all.

The set topics should have been very clear to him when he applied to sixth form (e.g. in the prospectus), so it's a bit strange that he only realised now tho.

I don;t know if they DO know exactly what their set topics are going to be. There may be a range and it could be from them - my DD is in year 11 and has found out this week what her in depth history areas are - I don't THINK she knew about them last year - but that's my point - she COULD have done and I wouldn't know!

I have a similar problem with my DS, samonly. Doing Maths, Physics, Chemistry and English Lit. He now wants to drop English after a week!!. Having had 2 other DC's through 6th Form I have said he must stick with it and do it to AS at least. Things change as time goes on. I am not sure teenagers of this age tell the whole truth about why they dont like things especially so early. I am not saying they lie, but it is a big change into 6th Form and they are not necessarily very self aware.

Obviously your DS has the dyslexia to contend with which puts a different and extra difficulty on it.

I agree with Dramafluff that you should speak to the school. I am going to do that if he doesnt settle into it in a week or so but intend to speak to his old English teacher who knows him and encouraged him very much to do the A level. I think it really helps to speak to someone who understands the teenager in question.

Oh that's disappointing, dramafluff. In two booklets I've got it's set out, one does British hx 15th century plus life in nazi germany for AS, the other is similarly clear.

Anyway the 4 A levels chosen seem to need very different styles of learning and exams. Perhaps the OP's DS should think about what sort of learning he would be good at, discussing this with his teachers before he makes a decision.

Also, does he know any year 13s he could talk it over with?

When he chose history I'm sure he would have been told what was on the syllabus.
It may be that his experience at GCSE in History has partly put him off? There is a lot of reading and essay writing in History.
I'm puzzled why anyone who is dyslexic would choose English, but I'm no expert on dyslexia.
It's only the first week, not to late to rethink his subject choices. I know they (the DCs)don't like us interfering now they are 16 but in this case I think I would try to speak to someone at the college.

Talked to the Head of Year, and Head of History - HoY said "give it a few weeks", Head of History said that he was very able, but not confident & slow to read but thorough. The whole class is basically being made to do read the whole textbook slowly taking notes as homework to encourage them to be more studious in the first few weeks - this might have been a bit depressing. A Yr 13 who gives him a lift home gave him bunches of good advice about work/ uni and girlfriend management (weekend only apparently) which seems to have worked like a charm.

Springhasarrived very wise words thank you - everything is so up and down for them and certainly don't tell you the whole truth - or even necessarily their perception of the truth at any one time. Possibly the worst time to make life changing decisions!

Dramafluff if depth for your Y11 daughter is Germany 1918-1945 let me know my DS made amazing excel time line for revision

Thanks all, I thought it was going to get easier after the potty training

My DS2 is doing English, History, Bio and Chem too!!

I don't think it's odd. I think it's a good combination for an 'all rounder', and the school (high achieving grammar school) certainly didn't discourage it. Agree may be more difficult if dyslexic though.

He doesn't know what he wants to do either, at his school everyone seems to want to be a doctor or a lawyer.... he doesnt want to be either:)