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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

GCSE options - art?

57 replies

JugglingChaotically · 28/01/2013 18:36

My DD has to choose her GCSE options but is not sure yet why he want to do next. She'd talks of Oxbridge and other top universities and also of medicine. Don't know how realistic it is or whether she will be prepared to work hard enough - she can do, sometimes Blush
Compulsory subjects are triple science, English language and literature, maths and a MFL. She wants to do history then 2 of RE, Latin and art.
She is leaning towards art and RE, her school says choices don't matter just grades.
Is 9 plus art enough? And is art so time consuming that it could make it difficult to get good grades in the other subjects?

OP posts:
niceguy2 · 05/02/2013 11:38

At GCSE i don't think studying Art is a travesty. I wouldn't recommend it at uni level though but then I'm a scientist at heart and all arty subjects and wishy washy nonsense to me so I admit I am a bit biased! Grin

Toomuchtea · 05/02/2013 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 05/02/2013 19:27

Ooh gosh, quite a few warnings on here and not so many recommendations re choosing art Shock

My DD is at the same stage and has 3 to choose after the standard ones, 3 sciences, a MFL, and RS, all compulsory at her school.

She wants to do History, Geography, and Art as she says it will "keep her sane" and she loves her art. I do hope she's right and won't be put off for life !
Would be a shame not to be able to explore the art resources they have over the next few years ?

Any words of encouragement out there at all ?!!

Nice name BTW - Do you think the Juggling we have in common has anything to do with having a teenage daughter ? Grin

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 10:10

Bump !

Any more thoughts on choosing Art at GCSE ?

Anyone had a positive experience with their DC's doing Art ?

SensibleMufti · 06/02/2013 10:26

DC4 took Art GCSE last summer. She got a C. Her other grades were Bs and Cs, so what she got in art was fine in relation to her other grades (which we, and she, were v happy with, btw).

None of the older DCs, nor DH, nor I, had taken Art, so it was new to us.

There was a constant heavy workload to keep the sketchbooks up to date. Also, a tip to parents, don't throw away any bits of artwork that are lying around the house, because they will be needed.

I have just asked DC4 for a comment about the experience of taking GCSE Art. She said, "If you do because you love art, it'll make you hate art".

seeker · 06/02/2013 11:09

I've been thinking about this.

I think if you love doing art- if it's your hobby, then GCSE Art is a nightmare.

If, like my dd, you're OK at it, and want a subject that is very different from the academic subjects you're doing, it's very hard work, but it's incredibly useful for learning planning, organisation, persistence- a completely different way of working. Dd learned loads from doing it and realises that, even if she didn't much like it while she was doing it. And the "kit" is wonderful.........!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 11:42

Ooh dear, I think she's pretty set on doing art - and has already handed in her options - though still possible to change them.

She already spends ages on her art homework, is not particularly well organised, and a bit of a perfectionist. So you're all making me very a bit worried !

Still maybe forewarned is forearmed ? Hmm

monion · 06/02/2013 11:56

I'll give it a rare recommendation! My son took it a couple of years ago and the work was perfectly manageable (and he's not on the whole a hard worker!). As it was something he enjoyed doing he viewed it almost as relaxation time in between all the heavy learning he had to do for other subjects.
It required him to be a self starter rather than being spoonfed facts as he was in most other subjects but that was a good skill to develop.
I agree with whoever said time management is the key, and keeping on top of the workload. He started the course fairly interested in art and came out loving it - so completely the opposite to what most people here are saying!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 11:58

Thanks monion - good to hear that it can work out well !

TheOriginalNutcracker · 06/02/2013 12:02

Hi, my dd started her Art GCSE last September and it is going really well. She hasn't struggled with the work load at all tbh.

I'd say her only issue is her self belief. She often re does work because she thinks it is rubbish.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 12:05

Thanks Nutcracker - glad it's going well for your DD Smile

< hums quietly in corner ... "There may be trouble ahead ..." Wink >

Picturesinthefirelight · 06/02/2013 12:07

Just to say 9/10 gcse is plenty. The school dd will go to (selective- Oxbridge track record) only dies 9 gcse's.

hellsbells99 · 06/02/2013 12:16

My DD is in year 11, has just completed her portfolio and handed it in last week. Now dedicated to doing exam prep - research, designs etc ready for the exam in 5 or 6 weeks. At least then she will be finished!!! She can then concentrate on her other subjects. She used to love art but has found the course work very repetitive and time intensive. She is enjoying the exam prep work as she has chosen to do something very different from what she has done over the last 18 months. On the positive side, she has found it to be a very sociable subject as she has spent a lot of time (lunch times and after school) in the art room with friends. She is expected to get at least an A (wants an A* - don't know why). She is another one that is a perfectionist and unfortunately art is just never finished - she is always trying to improve it. Just done her A level options and Art is not on the list even for AS - she says she cannot afford the time!

CatelynStark · 06/02/2013 12:19

My eldest daughter took Art a couple off years ago and got an A but she clashed heads with her teacher as she is a lazy moo sometimes and resented having to be creative on demand and missed a few deadlines. She concentrated on sculpture and collage-y pieces and was full of ideas, which she didn't like being criticised (like anything else she does :))

She dropped it for A level but is still drawing now she's at University. It's her hobby, it makes her happy and doing GCSE hasn't killed that.

Her sister has just handed in her options and has chosen Art too, although she's very much a Sciencey person who wants to be an engineer. She has a different temperament to the older one so I think she'll enjoy the challenge and opportunity to express herself in various mediums.

I have no doubt that the youngest one will take Art too.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 12:21

The sociable time in the art room with friends sounds nice - but will my DD ever come home ? Good luck to yours hells Smile

pinkbraces · 06/02/2013 12:23

I can give you some insight, my DD did GCSE ART, then A level, is currently at Central St Martins doing her Art Foundation and will start her degree come October. She is absolutely passionate about Art, she loves all of it, sketch books, design sheets, briefs, painting, sculpting, its just part of her. Her other GCSE/A level subjects were academic and she did very well but was always going to do Art

My DSD also did Art at GCSE, she did really well and is now doing her AS level. She loved it at GCSE but is struggling with A level, the amount of work involved and the independence needed to produce good work is hugely different from GCSE.

There is so much work involved and the student needs to be organised and really want to do it. You also have to make sure that enough time is given to there other sujbects.

pinkbraces · 06/02/2013 12:24

their not there!!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 12:30

Hmm, perhaps she could give up going to band practice on Saturday mornings, and make Saturday mornings her Art time instead ?
(somethings going to have to give, I can see that - and I don't think she's desperate to do band)

dottygamekeeper · 06/02/2013 12:46

My DS (yr11) and DD (Yr10) are both doing art GCSE. It is the most time consuming of all their subjects (apart from DS's textiles, which takes even more time), but they both enjoy it and, as monion says, they see it as relaxation away from their more academic subjects. Surprisingly they have both really enjoyed all the research into other artists etc and preparation work for their final pieces for each unit. I think it has been great preparation for more independent study at A level and beyond.

DS is aiming for A in art and textiles (currently on target to get As and I'm just hoping he might have a chance of As but know it is all so subjective, and am trying to manage his expectations...). He is hoping to go on to do A level art and A level textiles, which will be a huge workload but he is up for it, and his dream would be to end up like pinkbraces DD, doing Foundation at St Martins, followed by a degree in art/textiles/design

hellsbells99 · 06/02/2013 12:46

Don't give up band! Music is brillaint for developing the maths part of the brain. DD has done both music and art - and has put music down for her 4th A level subject - will probably just do AS. It is a great contrast to her other choices - maths, chemistry and biology. Music is very relaxing and helps with the stress of art!

hellsbells99 · 06/02/2013 12:46

brilliant

dottygamekeeper · 06/02/2013 12:52

Forgot to say, like pinkbraces, it is important that they do not let take art take over at the expense of time spent on other subjects - I try to ensure all other homework is completed first eg on a Friday night, then the rest of the weekend can be devoted to art. As others have said, it is also a continuous process - sketchbooks etc need to be kept up to date. Being a perfectionist makes art difficult - my DS is never quite satisfied with his outcomes and can always think of more to do...

SensibleMufti · 06/02/2013 13:07

Hey, OP, I meant to add that my DC4 only did 9 GCSEs (of which Art was one). She's fine with that. Her cohort did between 9 and 11. She's at a fairly academic international school.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 06/02/2013 13:23

She could carry on going to her other band ? - she's in two with the same teacher/leader. Anyway she will probably have her own ideas about my proposals for her Saturday mornings ! The best laid plans of mice and mothers and all that Grin

hellsbells99 · 06/02/2013 13:40

Juggling .....and don't forget your DD will still want plenty of time for shopping on a Saturday - they have to buy their new mascara sometime ...the joys of having a 15 year old!