Options time for son
Discussion
For my son, it's the time that I remember so well from my youth, choosing which subjects to take/drop in secondary school.
He hasn't a clue what he wants to do in life (does anyone at 13?). Has few 'interests' other than his Playstation and football.
So.....he wants help with choosing the subjects. I've not read the full pack yet, but I assume there's the option to choose a language, history or geography, art or DT.
All I can remember is wishing I'd not chosen German over French lol. He wants to do Spanish so no issues there. But has anyone else any advice on what to take/not take? I've said it's his choice, and to go with what he enjoys (he says none lol).
I'd like to steer him towards IT, having worked within that sector for 10 years, we're always looking for qualified people (plus easy to wfh which seems to be the future post covid).
He hasn't a clue what he wants to do in life (does anyone at 13?). Has few 'interests' other than his Playstation and football.
So.....he wants help with choosing the subjects. I've not read the full pack yet, but I assume there's the option to choose a language, history or geography, art or DT.
All I can remember is wishing I'd not chosen German over French lol. He wants to do Spanish so no issues there. But has anyone else any advice on what to take/not take? I've said it's his choice, and to go with what he enjoys (he says none lol).
I'd like to steer him towards IT, having worked within that sector for 10 years, we're always looking for qualified people (plus easy to wfh which seems to be the future post covid).
I’m in the same situation with my daughter.
I told her to pick what’s she’s best at first and then has an interest in if she thinks that’s the path she may go down such as another language.
The reason I told her pick what she’s best at is because further education only care about your grades and not necessarily what you got them in.
College and university will put you on a better footing than your GCSEs.
Then experience becomes more important in certain walks of life.
All the GSCEs they have to take will cover all bases anyway.
I told her to pick what’s she’s best at first and then has an interest in if she thinks that’s the path she may go down such as another language.
The reason I told her pick what she’s best at is because further education only care about your grades and not necessarily what you got them in.
College and university will put you on a better footing than your GCSEs.
Then experience becomes more important in certain walks of life.
All the GSCEs they have to take will cover all bases anyway.
rlg43p said:
Encourage him to study those subjects he enjoys.
I get this but just because you enjoy it, it doesn’t mean you will pass it.I enjoyed a lot of lessons in school, didn’t mean anything, didn’t get good grades for them either. Plus you can enjoy something n be totally crap at it, ask me how I know…. I’m a walking example.
It doesn’t apply for everyone though
My daughter says she enjoys history but says it’s not her strong suit n isn’t that good at it.
Where as she’s content with geography but doesn’t really enjoy it but excels at it.
Edited by aaron-j9c9a on Tuesday 11th January 23:45
Just through this with my first two (GCSE and more recently A Level planning)and approaching with my third so here is my tuppence worth.
- Both boys took Maths, Further Maths, English, English Lit, Physics, Chemistry, Biology (known as Triple award), RE (dont ask but seemingly a decently strenuous subject but compulsory here in NI) and French(could have taken Spanish or German).
- One opted for History the other Geography.
- That is 10 GCSEs each.
- Older boy intends to select Maths, Further Maths, Physics and History at A-Level. Taking two Maths subjects is a ruse that means you crash A Level maths in the first year and end up with a more relaxing (ish) time in the second year of A-Levels as you never really have 4 subjects.
- both intend going to Uni and are very academic despite current Playstation/Snap/Insta addictions.
Both wife and I were academic(she teaches, i am in sales now) but come from working class backgrounds where you had your education beat into you. I also wanted to be the parent to say, "Its up to you!" but at GCSE depending on the school and whatever the government mandate at least 4 or 5 of their choices are pretty set. So in reality for my kids their options were which language and as they both had a strong desire for all three sciences that meant one language and a choice between Geography or History or a pretend subject - see below.
My eldest has friends with more right on parents who genuinely let their boys choose - a doctors kid, with medical aspirations doing PE as he wanted to "learn about muscles", He now regrets that choice but not much he can do about it.
As someone who has come through the world of IT (Tech Supp, Solution Consultant, PM and now Sales) and gets saddened by how much time is spent on Minecraft/PS5, I would genuinely love them to have an interest in IT/CompSci in the sense of being the next Collinson brothers actually building something but IT in schools is utter dross. If you are in that world yourself you will know that vendor certs (Cisco, MS, Google, Redhat) are valuable, with the lowest level CCNA being adopted as vocational study in some schools but IT, at least in my kids school, is where they put the guy/gal too thick to be a PE teacher so imho is of bugger all value and is not really going to set you up for a career in IT if thats your kids bias.
If you/he is thinking an IT career then STEM (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) are the solid foundations for most Comp Sci degrees. After 30 years in tech i still say my decent appreciation of English has helped. I suppose my point is for GCSE you cant go wrong with the old favourites whereas the new modern subjects - Business and Communication Systems, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Leisure and Tourism, Moving Image Arts are effectively a load of b
ks which are unlikely to have any rigour that actually stretches the boy. Also with a bit of everything that 8-10 GCSE's allow you keep your options open for as long as possible and in reality that's what its all about for anyone in their teens.
Good luck!
My Daughter is causing us both heart burn and artistic musician she will invariably select stuff that counters my very old fashioned view.
- Both boys took Maths, Further Maths, English, English Lit, Physics, Chemistry, Biology (known as Triple award), RE (dont ask but seemingly a decently strenuous subject but compulsory here in NI) and French(could have taken Spanish or German).
- One opted for History the other Geography.
- That is 10 GCSEs each.
- Older boy intends to select Maths, Further Maths, Physics and History at A-Level. Taking two Maths subjects is a ruse that means you crash A Level maths in the first year and end up with a more relaxing (ish) time in the second year of A-Levels as you never really have 4 subjects.
- both intend going to Uni and are very academic despite current Playstation/Snap/Insta addictions.
Both wife and I were academic(she teaches, i am in sales now) but come from working class backgrounds where you had your education beat into you. I also wanted to be the parent to say, "Its up to you!" but at GCSE depending on the school and whatever the government mandate at least 4 or 5 of their choices are pretty set. So in reality for my kids their options were which language and as they both had a strong desire for all three sciences that meant one language and a choice between Geography or History or a pretend subject - see below.
My eldest has friends with more right on parents who genuinely let their boys choose - a doctors kid, with medical aspirations doing PE as he wanted to "learn about muscles", He now regrets that choice but not much he can do about it.
As someone who has come through the world of IT (Tech Supp, Solution Consultant, PM and now Sales) and gets saddened by how much time is spent on Minecraft/PS5, I would genuinely love them to have an interest in IT/CompSci in the sense of being the next Collinson brothers actually building something but IT in schools is utter dross. If you are in that world yourself you will know that vendor certs (Cisco, MS, Google, Redhat) are valuable, with the lowest level CCNA being adopted as vocational study in some schools but IT, at least in my kids school, is where they put the guy/gal too thick to be a PE teacher so imho is of bugger all value and is not really going to set you up for a career in IT if thats your kids bias.
If you/he is thinking an IT career then STEM (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) are the solid foundations for most Comp Sci degrees. After 30 years in tech i still say my decent appreciation of English has helped. I suppose my point is for GCSE you cant go wrong with the old favourites whereas the new modern subjects - Business and Communication Systems, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Leisure and Tourism, Moving Image Arts are effectively a load of b
ks which are unlikely to have any rigour that actually stretches the boy. Also with a bit of everything that 8-10 GCSE's allow you keep your options open for as long as possible and in reality that's what its all about for anyone in their teens. Good luck!
My Daughter is causing us both heart burn and artistic musician she will invariably select stuff that counters my very old fashioned view.
cavey76 said:
My Daughter is causing us both heart burn and artistic musician she will invariably select stuff that counters my very old fashioned view.
A LOT more opportunities for women in sound these days, perhaps she could move sideways into a field like broadcast, ie assistant producer for radio, then onto a producer role. The beeb are offering this career path to researchers:https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2022/...
A theory I've developed - partly shaped through listening to various academics over the years - is to look less at the subject itself and consider what is learned through the study of that subject and how that might be applied later on in the workplace.
So History, for example, teaches you the process of research and analysis of historical information - useful in the field of law. English Lit is beneficial for any scenario that requires extensive writing (i.e. reports). RE or whatever it's called these days - provides cultural awareness which is beneficial to anyone seeking an international type career.....
Obviously that all has to be balanced with aptitude and motivation in a certain subject.
So History, for example, teaches you the process of research and analysis of historical information - useful in the field of law. English Lit is beneficial for any scenario that requires extensive writing (i.e. reports). RE or whatever it's called these days - provides cultural awareness which is beneficial to anyone seeking an international type career.....
Obviously that all has to be balanced with aptitude and motivation in a certain subject.
Science and maths are strong as they open up options. There is a lot to be said for things he enjoys but also ensuring he still has plenty of options moving forward. Back when I did them there was dual award and single sciences. Far easier to move onto the a levels in sciences if you did single science back then. Maybe it was separate science.
Ahh remember this well ! I chose business studies and music in the end. I was going to do History or Geography IIRC but a friend convinced me to do Music and to be honest we just pissed about for a couple years in it. Walked about with a C i think.
I enjoyed business studies but didn't do anything with it after school.
Another vote for him to do what he enjoys. Only maths, english and science will matter when it comes to college/university or apprenticeship age
I enjoyed business studies but didn't do anything with it after school.
Another vote for him to do what he enjoys. Only maths, english and science will matter when it comes to college/university or apprenticeship age
I was 'forced' into doing a language (French) by the teachers at the time, as I was a fairly bright kid and I think they wanted the numbers / results for the French department, so I buckled and took French, my single worst grade, a C, wasn't interested at all.
I should have taken Business Studies or maybe Geography.
So I'd echo the comments above, just tell him to pick whatever he finds the most interesting rather than trying to balance the spectrum.
I should have taken Business Studies or maybe Geography.
So I'd echo the comments above, just tell him to pick whatever he finds the most interesting rather than trying to balance the spectrum.
I don't remember my parents being too involved when I chose mine (early 90's)... I was always a nerd so I stuck to what I wanted to do and what I thought I could do which ended up being Triple Science, Electronics, Computer Studies, Geography, Maths & English - we didn't have to do music or language if we chose triple science which I was made up about as I always hated both those
I always enjoyed History at school, and outside it but never got decent results so like the poster above I chose Geography
Will have to go through this with my two soon (10 & 11) currently - I'd try and steer them towards what they have an interest in and what they think they can land grade wise
I always enjoyed History at school, and outside it but never got decent results so like the poster above I chose Geography
Will have to go through this with my two soon (10 & 11) currently - I'd try and steer them towards what they have an interest in and what they think they can land grade wise
I suspect that as long as you get Maths and English plus whatever specific courses needed for whatever you plan on doing for A-Level (or whatever is next) then it doesn't really matter what you pick.
I think Computers (or whatever it was called in those days) and Latin were the only exotic subjects we could pick, so it was easy enough. It would have been interesting to have been able to do economics or business studies as that might have been useful in a general 'how the world works' type of way.
I think Computers (or whatever it was called in those days) and Latin were the only exotic subjects we could pick, so it was easy enough. It would have been interesting to have been able to do economics or business studies as that might have been useful in a general 'how the world works' type of way.
I'm sure its already been said. If he doesn;t have an idea (any idea) of what he might want to go into after school keep it broad but bear in mind if two years time he decided on a particular route he will need to get the right A-levels to get the right degree course and uni, all of which will be dependent on GCSE's.
All children will have to do english, maths and science. They are they grades that matter.
Different schools have different subjects, so it’s up to the individual.
Once you get English, maths, science, every other subject just props up your options. If you know what you want to do such as be a doctor etc then certain subject would be beneficial to take to aid you A levels or vocational course.
Either pick a subject they excel at to get the highest grades for A level or pick whatever you enjoy, you may not be the best at it but you will enjoy it, it you may excel in it because you enjoy it.
You can alway re-educate in life. How many of us use degrees we achieved or are doing the job we wanted to when studying GCSE?
Different schools have different subjects, so it’s up to the individual.
Once you get English, maths, science, every other subject just props up your options. If you know what you want to do such as be a doctor etc then certain subject would be beneficial to take to aid you A levels or vocational course.
Either pick a subject they excel at to get the highest grades for A level or pick whatever you enjoy, you may not be the best at it but you will enjoy it, it you may excel in it because you enjoy it.
You can alway re-educate in life. How many of us use degrees we achieved or are doing the job we wanted to when studying GCSE?
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