[Misc] GCSE options - which would YOU choose?

[Badger]

It messes up the poll but, for the record, students have to do:

Maths
English (Language and Lit)
Spanish
Science
History

Economics
Photogtraphy

I was wondering about this. When I did my GCSEs back in the late 90s we had to take: Maths, Science (double award), a language (French/German), English, English Lit. and a humanity (History/Geography/Religious Studies) then 2 from a similar list to the poll.

Given the choice now I'd pick the same two I took: Computing and Design Technology. Then maybe business studies, economics and either photography or media production.

 

[Triggaaar]

I was wondering about this. When I did my GCSEs back in the late 90s we had to take: Maths, Science (double award), a language (French/German), English, English Lit. and a humanity (History/Geography/Religious Studies) then 2 from a similar list to the poll.

Given the choice now I'd pick the same two I took: Computing and Design Technology. Then maybe business studies, economics and either photography or media production.

I think the only compulsory subjects across all schools are Maths, English (probably both), and Science. Some schools then ask you to choose a language and history or geography, but not all.

 

[PeterT]

I did 13 O Levels - dropped Biology and Music or it would have been 15.

The obvious question of ‘why?’ is a very good one to which I still don’t have an answer to more than 40 years later!

 

[Gwylan]

Computer Science ?

I'm pretty sure that when I went back to College to learn Computer Programming in the very early 80's there were less than a dozen computers in Sussex

I think there were a few more than that. I remember that we spent a term learning Fortran on the computer at Brighton Tech and that was in 1974/75. And in 1978, the records at the Alliance Building Society were computerised and for a few glorious weeks, to make sure everything was up-to-date, we got offered double (and, on Sundays, triple overtime pay). For a couple of weeks, I took home wage packets of more than £100, which was serious money 47 years ago.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

P.E
History
Drama
Business
Economics

 

[essbee1]

I'm keen for him to do computer science so he can learn about algorithms and AI, to make sense of the ever-complex attendance restrictions applied to Brighton & Hove Albion season ticket holders in the year 2036.

I don't think that would be taught at GCSE tbh.

 

[essbee1]

What about BSL which is coming on-stream this year?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Computer Science ?

I'm pretty sure that when I went back to College to learn Computer Programming in the very early 80's there were less than a dozen computers in Sussex

I took computing at school in the early 80s and we had access to Commodore Pets and a BBC Micro.

 

[anygivensunday]

Some of these are much more interesting than what we had to do at school. As well as the compulsory English/maths/science we had to do one of history or geo, at least one language, and my other choice was drama. Would have loved options like sociology, media production and photography.

I've got half a GCSE in IT (took the exam the day Ronaldinho lobbed us in '02) and to this day 23 years later I still have no idea what a half GCSE means.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

P.E, obviously. Then probably photography.

There's quite a few on the list that in theory look really interesting. There's a few others that I feel should be compulsory too, even if they're combined into one subject.

Ultimately i guess it comes down to the teachers though. A good teacher can make a boring subject interesting while a bad teacher can make a fun subject boring.

Also, kids only take 7 gcses now or have I misunderstood? Do they go into far greter detail in each subject?

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

I don't remember the Ceasar incident - but in relation to field trips I'm pretty sure I witnessed you nicking the boats in Keswick for an early morning row on Derwentwater....

Being a student “early morning “ would have been circa 10am then .

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

In addition to the maths, science and english I'd also take graphic communication, music, a language, classic civilisation and computing. I actually took graphic communication and computing first time round. Regret not taking a language.

Economics is an strange subject for me. I studied maths and statistics at uni, and studied economics as a periphery subject for a short while. I was really keen to learn this but it seemed rather boring.

 

[zefarelly]

Year 7 at school isn’t age 7, no kids aged 7 are choosing these subjects.
I know the school years had different numbers when i and probably you went to school.

Yes, I just twigged that . . . .

no technical drawing . . . . or metalwork.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

My main regret is not pairing my passion for art/graphics with any sense of business.

I think if you’re wanting to be a ‘creative’ you also need to know how to market your work and how to be self-employed/profitable, which isn’t touched on in any of the arty subjects. I can make some half decent stuff but never know how to go about selling any of it.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I think the only compulsory subjects across all schools and Maths, English (probably both), and Science. Some schools then ask you to choose a language and history or geography, but not all.

My daughter is choosing her options at the moment.

English, Maths and Science are compulsory along with PHSE and PE which are not examined (English covers both Language and Literature).

She then has to choose one from academic subject list of History, Geography, Computer Science, French, Spanish and Latin (Latin is invite only). So it’s not compulsory to have a humanities or language.

She can then pick a further two subjects from those listed above and

Art and Design, Ceramics, Child Development (BTEC), Dance (BTEC), Drama, Engineering, Food and Nutrition (GCSE) or Hospitality and Catering (BTEC), Further Maths & Statistics (invite only), Health and Social Care (BTEC), Music (GCSE) or Music Technology (vcert), PE (GCSE) or BTEC Sport, Photography, Religious Studies and Sociology.

She’s picking History, Drama and one of Food and Nutrition/Hospitality and Catering (which one she is put forward for will be discussed with her teacher before the start of Year 10) as she’s planning on going to college to do Theatre Studies and Performing Arts.

My son picked his last year and went with History, BTEC Sport and Food and Nutrition, his aim is to end up at BACA studying Sports Science and attending their 6th form cricket program.

 

[PeterT]

In addition to the maths, science and english I'd also take graphic communication, music, a language, classic civilisation and computing. I actually took graphic communication and computing first time round. Regret not taking a language.

Economics is a strange subject for me. I studied maths and statistics at uni, and studied economics as a periphery subject for a short while. I was really keen to learn this but it seemed rather boring.

I studied Economics at O Levels, a bit boring, at A Level, more interesting, and then at degree level, much more interesting.

Basic Economics is quite dull, just puts graphs and charts around things you probably already know, but I really enjoyed my degree and had chance to specialise in lots of different and more interesting areas.

That said I did go on to be a Chartered Accountant so my definition of interesting may be somewhat subjective (!) but both did give me the chance to travel the world more than once at someone else’s expense!

 

[Hamilton]

Drama is underrated. I wouldn’t do it to become an actor but to improve communication skills. In my experience those who do drama take that confidence into other settings (social and work.)

 

[WATFORD zero]

I should have said Mainframes.

I think there were a few more than that. I remember that we spent a term learning Fortran on the computer at Brighton Tech and that was in 1974/75. And in 1978, the records at the Alliance Building Society were computerised and for a few glorious weeks, to make sure everything was up-to-date, we got offered double (and, on Sundays, triple overtime pay). For a couple of weeks, I took home wage packets of more than £100, which was serious money 47 years ago.

Fortran ? That was for pipe stress metallurgy freaks

Having said that, I do remember Gross Cash Registers getting a 'computer' in a big air conditioned office around 1978 to do a few hundred salaries

I took computing at school in the early 80s and we had access to Commodore Pets and a BBC Micro.

And I should have remembered doing 6502 Assembler along with Cobol on the course

It was just at the end of the course, looking for a job as a Mainframe COBOL programmer, there seemed to be very few companies. I know it was a long time ago and with my memory, but all I remember finding to apply to were Amex, Seeboard, Excess and Zurich but not many others.

 

[MattBackHome]

• Classical Civilisation
• Computing (Computer Science)
• English Literature & Language
• Geography
• Languages (Modern)

Assuming if I've read it right that I can bank History as well.