Help we're stuck with option choices

another mother · Post by **another mother** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:54 pm

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but the one subject my DD regrets is RS - she wishes she'd done Latin instead.
You need to check which modules/courses are involved. She loves ethics and philosophy and does a lot of debating. she also wants to read English and was advised that this would be good background for that.
In reality it has been hugely about Judaism (one whole paper) We knew this but hadn't realised how the content would pan out. There is surprisingly little about OT stories -its much more about practice and rituals. Which is fine.. but not perhaps hugely relevant or even new given her many Jewish pals. and the Christianity course is only half ethics - which she enjoys but hasn't found hugely revealing.
If we had our time again I certainly would urge Latin - or even geog. The one good thing about RS is no coursework so it's all done and dusted in the exams. Check the board and what courses are offered.

another mother · Post by **another mother** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:57 pm

ps She has loved history but then she always has, and will take it to A2. But it's a great discipline all round. DD also doing Art, which is a lot of work and time , but it has the advantage, as music has, of using a different part of your brain, which is a real plus in the GCSE slough of repetition! It will also leave her, and I hope (sentimentally) us, with a few rather lovely pieces! There is a lot of immediate joy and escape in music too.

Post by **hermanmunster** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:03 pm

agreed - important to look at modules involved - something that we never had the chance to do decades ago (then I suppose they weren't modular then ... but we didn;t really look at the syllabus either

)

Chelmsford mum · Post by **Chelmsford mum** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:20 pm

Thanks everyone...
Am off to "Options eve" tonight.I am not sure it will help but DD wants to go so perhaps it will help.....or not

yoyo123 · Post by **yoyo123** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:47 pm

good point about looking a the syllabus.

Miss Yoyo ( at Girls School) did GCSE history this is her passion (now doing History degree) but it almost put her off. It was the English Country House, History of medicine and the Irish Question.

Master Yoyo at Boys Grammar did events leading up to First and second World War and their consequences. She was very jealous as that would have been her ideal course.

katel · Post by **katel** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:18 pm

I think if you can't choose, go for history. You learn so much about analytical thinking, questioning sources, motivation - it;s a brilliant subject that's relevant in all walks of life.

No how does my dd choose between music and art......

Chelmsford mum · Post by **Chelmsford mum** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:14 pm

We have made our decision and music is for the chop.She often goes to the Music centre at lunch time and is in ensembles too.
So that's our decision.Don't know if it helps?

Amber · Post by **Amber** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:20 pm

Think you did right CM.
Good luck to your DD. Our options evening is after half term - can hardly wait!

Chelmsford mum · Post by **Chelmsford mum** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:30 pm

Amber wrote:Think you did right CM.
Good luck to your DD. Our options evening is after half term - can hardly wait!

thanks...let us know what you opt for.

Rob Clark · Post by **Rob Clark** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:24 pm

So essentially, youâ€™ve opted out of music because GCSE more or less duplicates DDâ€™s grade work? Sounds very sensible to me.

Like Amberâ€™s, ours is just after half term, will be interesting.