I have a sporty year 9 DS in v good local comp who is choosing his options. He is in top sets (just) for Maths & Science but lazy, not particularly motivated and gets by by being bright enough! Only 9 subjects needed compared to DD who is in last year at super selective grammar having done 11!

However the timetabling restrictions are such that his 2 preferred option choices PE & Food Tech (once language & humanity decided) are in the same block. These blocks have been decided on the basis of timetabling double lessons or singles - so any subject needing one double and a single period each week are all in the same block.

Core PE (everyone has to do it) looks good with lots of leadership type possibilities and he already represents the school in some sports. How valuable for him is a PE GCSE in addition? Or would he better choosing Food Tech? (Also contemplating Engineering but he can't choose that as well as it is a double lesson subject).

His only choices for single subjects are Business Studies (never entertained the idea but he seems interested) Media, (really?) or Computer Science which I understand is v challenging. Not interested in another humanity, no music, drama, or 2nd language.

Does he have any ideas about what A levels he might want to do, or other plans at 16 and 18?

Re GCSE Media Studies, this is from the DfE Aims and Objectives:

• demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis
• acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues
• develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture and politics
• understand and apply specialist subject-specific terminology to analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and
consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach substantiated judgements and draw conclusions about media issues
• appreciate how theoretical understanding supports practice and practice supports theoretical understanding
• develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production

Okay, possibly not necessarily the last, but pretty useful stuff, the rest of it, really? If nothing else, in terms of sorting the wheat from the chaff wrt what we are being 'sold' by all kinds of sources.

DD was going to do GCSE Media Studies, but in the end, changed her mind and chose Drama for that 'slot' onstead.

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx

Hello again

He probably would like to run a football training school!! Be outside all day. We have no idea if he has the potential to cope with A Levels as shows only the ability to scrape through subjects, except in Maths where he likes the challenge.

I'm thinking Business rather than Media. But basically as all the subjects he would like are in one block we have to decide on something else from that block, and narrow it down between PE & Food Tech now.

If he has got a good range of core subjects, then go for what he favours, which sounds like PE.