Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
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Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
We've just had options information from DS's school and I'm dismayed to find that the HPQ is compulsory AND it counts as one of their GCSE options - but it's only equivalent to half a GCSE. Double science (in whatever form) is also compulsory and a third science counts as an option.
So with the usual formula of Maths x 1, English x 2, Science x 3 (because DS is sciency and triple science goes without saying), MFL x 1, that leaves only HPQ plus two options.
I'm all for the HPQ and think it's very worthwhile, but I thought it would be run like its older sibling, the EPQ, which is usually an optional extra to be taken alongside A levels. I know everyone says the number of GCSEs doesn't but I'm surprised that DS's school would settle for 9.5 when everyone else as far as I can see does 10.
Anyone else in this situation?
We thought DS would have three options and he was hoping to choose HIstory, Music and Drama, but it looks as if Drama will have to go.
So with the usual formula of Maths x 1, English x 2, Science x 3 (because DS is sciency and triple science goes without saying), MFL x 1, that leaves only HPQ plus two options.
I'm all for the HPQ and think it's very worthwhile, but I thought it would be run like its older sibling, the EPQ, which is usually an optional extra to be taken alongside A levels. I know everyone says the number of GCSEs doesn't but I'm surprised that DS's school would settle for 9.5 when everyone else as far as I can see does 10.
Anyone else in this situation?
We thought DS would have three options and he was hoping to choose HIstory, Music and Drama, but it looks as if Drama will have to go.
Last edited by muffinmonster on Thu Jan 16, 2014 1:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
I have never heard of the HPQ (just googled it.)
DD is currently getting the hard sell from both the History and the Geography teachers.
Last week the history teacher sent me an email telling me how excited he was by DD's analytical mind (give me strength - her brain is entirely full of candy floss!) so this week Mrs Geography has also emailed pointing out that DD's levels in Geography are actually higher than her History ones!
I think the obsession with triple Science is very hard on Humanities teachers. When I was girl lots of the brightest pupils did both History and Geography up to A level.
DD is currently getting the hard sell from both the History and the Geography teachers.
Last week the history teacher sent me an email telling me how excited he was by DD's analytical mind (give me strength - her brain is entirely full of candy floss!) so this week Mrs Geography has also emailed pointing out that DD's levels in Geography are actually higher than her History ones!
I think the obsession with triple Science is very hard on Humanities teachers. When I was girl lots of the brightest pupils did both History and Geography up to A level.
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Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
My ds also has to decide his options soon. He's decided on all his choices except for his language. He has to either take French or German, but doesn't know which. I think he's better at French, but he has done that longer. However, I believe German is a better language for business, or so I've heard. Can anyone advise? Thanks.
Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
The level of linguistic skill your son will acquire from a GCSE is unlikely to confer any advantage in the business world, so unless he is thinking of pursuing a language further (at least A level, possibly degree level) I think he should choose the language he enjoys most and has the most aptitude for. French and German are very different structurally and grammatically and many people find they have a clear preference for one or the other.pheasantchick wrote:My ds also has to decide his options soon. He's decided on all his choices except for his language. He has to either take French or German, but doesn't know which. I think he's better at French, but he has done that longer. However, I believe German is a better language for business, or so I've heard. Can anyone advise? Thanks.
Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
Do the language he likes best and is likely to do best at.
You don't know what the future holds. With hindsight I would have taken German but I didn't know I was going to marry someone who was part German. Business wise, any other language is a plus, but if you work for a company that has business interests in France, German isn't going to help.
I spent 7 weeks in the Netherlands, working for a German part of a French company, with my British boss, two German colleagues (who could speak English very well) and a French colleague (who could speak French and German, but no English). The Dutch engineers could speak English and German, but no French, the Dutch technicians could only speak Dutch.
No common language amongst us but being able to speak more than one improves your options. I could speak French with the French colleague and I did start to pick up German and enough Dutch to talk to the guys in the workshop. If you need it, you pick it up.
Unless they keep up the language study, it will need to be refreshed by the time they need it anyway. I have forgotten most of the Dutch I learnt, apart from 'two beers please' and 'garlic soup', but I'm sure I would pick it up again quite quickly.
You don't know what the future holds. With hindsight I would have taken German but I didn't know I was going to marry someone who was part German. Business wise, any other language is a plus, but if you work for a company that has business interests in France, German isn't going to help.
I spent 7 weeks in the Netherlands, working for a German part of a French company, with my British boss, two German colleagues (who could speak English very well) and a French colleague (who could speak French and German, but no English). The Dutch engineers could speak English and German, but no French, the Dutch technicians could only speak Dutch.
No common language amongst us but being able to speak more than one improves your options. I could speak French with the French colleague and I did start to pick up German and enough Dutch to talk to the guys in the workshop. If you need it, you pick it up.
Unless they keep up the language study, it will need to be refreshed by the time they need it anyway. I have forgotten most of the Dutch I learnt, apart from 'two beers please' and 'garlic soup', but I'm sure I would pick it up again quite quickly.
Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
At least that is potentially of some use. I can only remember the word for 'grocer' and the phrase 'headless chicken' from my days studying Dutch.Tinkers wrote:I have forgotten most of the Dutch I learnt, apart from 'two beers please' and 'garlic soup', but I'm sure I would pick it up again quite quickly.
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Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
Oh, Amber! Don't sell yourself short! "headless chicken" must be a very useful phrase on an 11+ forum!!
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Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
I think it is very unfair that the Maths/Science students get all their subjects automatically and the Arts students have to try and cram them into three options. How do you get 4AS's out of three options if you are not interested in Maths or Science? My dd is doing History and Geography but we had to give a lot of stuff up to get both of those. Why can't they have a History or Geography compulsory then you would only have to use one option to get the other. History wins the day big time at our school and Geography seems to have become sidelined by Economics. DG
Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
DG - blame Mr Gove - it's all about league tables - you HAVE to have En, Ma, 2x Sc, Gg/Hi, MFL for the Ebacc.
En x2, Ma, Sc x 3 is only 6 ... 4 choices on top should be ample.
En x2, Ma, Sc x 3 is only 6 ... 4 choices on top should be ample.
Re: Anyone up for a GCSE options thread?
My son is doing all 3 sciences as well as Geography, History, RE full course and a language and I don't consider he had to sacrifice much to do that. He certainly wasn't weeping over the fact that his days studying Art and French were over. I think a lot depends on how many GCSEs a school expects a child to take.Daogroupie wrote:I think it is very unfair that the Maths/Science students get all their subjects automatically and the Arts students have to try and cram them into three options. How do you get 4AS's out of three options if you are not interested in Maths or Science? My dd is doing History and Geography but we had to give a lot of stuff up to get both of those. Why can't they have a History or Geography compulsory then you would only have to use one option to get the other. History wins the day big time at our school and Geography seems to have become sidelined by Economics. DG
ETA - kip zonder kop as I recall KCG- and it pretty much sums my entire life up, especially at the moment.