El Cid Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 In secondary school, there is clarification of the target that all pupils will have to take traditional GCSE subjects, in the English baccalaureate. This requires pupils to take GCSEs in English, maths, history or geography, two sciences and a language. It all looks like too much big brother forcing children to learn what the Government wants. When I was at school, I also studied metal work, tech drawing and computer studies. Now the Government wants children to take six subjects, plus some of their own choice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 "English, maths, history or geography (should be both IMO), two sciences and a language" are fundamental subjects that should provide all students with a general academic grounding solid enough to pursue whatever next STEM or non-STEM specialist studying in further education or pursue whatever career. It's just levelling with the rest of the 1st world, and very long overdue. I did all of the above (French, maths, history, geography, economics, physics, English as core subjects, with biology and German as further (optional) electives) when I sat my Baccalauréat in 1990. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningman1 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 In secondary school, there is clarification of the target that all pupils will have to take traditional GCSE subjects, in the English baccalaureate. This requires pupils to take GCSEs in English, maths, history or geography, two sciences and a language. It all looks like too much big brother forcing children to learn what the Government wants. When I was at school, I also studied metal work, tech drawing and computer studies. Now the Government wants children to take six subjects, plus some of their own choice? Yes, the government decide what our children should learn. They set the ciriculem, who do you think should do it instead? The kids themselves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 In secondary school, there is clarification of the target that all pupils will have to take traditional GCSE subjects, in the English baccalaureate. This requires pupils to take GCSEs in English, maths, history or geography, two sciences and a language. It all looks like too much big brother forcing children to learn what the Government wants. When I was at school, I also studied metal work, tech drawing and computer studies. Now the Government wants children to take six subjects, plus some of their own choice? Hasn't this always been the case. English, Maths, a humanity, a language and at least dual (or 2) sciences... Sounds like the basis for a reasonable education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truman Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 In secondary school, there is clarification of the target that all pupils will have to take traditional GCSE subjects, in the English baccalaureate. This requires pupils to take GCSEs in English, maths, history or geography, two sciences and a language. It all looks like too much big brother forcing children to learn what the Government wants. When I was at school, I also studied metal work, tech drawing and computer studies. Now the Government wants children to take six subjects, plus some of their own choice? When I did "O" levels (yes,that long ago) we did the subjects you mentioned above as well as metalwork and woodwork..couldn't the kids involved in this today select metalwork/woodwork if they wanted to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 "English, maths, history or geography (should be both IMO), two sciences and a language" are fundamental subjects that should provide all students with a general academic grounding solid enough to pursue whatever next STEM or non-STEM specialist studying in further education or pursue whatever career. It's just levelling with the rest of the 1st world, and very long overdue. I did all of the above (French, maths, history, geography, economics, physics, English as core subjects, with biology and German as further (optional) electives) when I sat my Baccalauréat in 1990. Is it a change at all? I did my GCSE's over 20 years ago now, and that's exactly the level of choice I had. I chose to do all 3 sciences, and geography (I hated history), French and Business Studies. ---------- Post added 03-11-2015 at 14:03 ---------- When I did "O" levels (yes,that long ago) we did the subjects you mentioned above as well as metalwork and woodwork..couldn't the kids involved in this today select metalwork/woodwork if they wanted to? Yes, they could choose CDT as one of their options. (Craft, Design and Technology). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Is it a change at all?I don't know, tbh. I'm not familiar with the British system of <years> ago, only the current one and only to an extent at that (...since Miss L00b only just started secondary this year, and as the various exam/benchmarking systems seem to change yearly of late, according to whims imperatives of our political masters, they are thus highly likely to change again (and again and again and...) by the time she sits end-of-secondary exams). Irrespective, I insist on her taking and excelling at every topic under the sun, so she'll be prepared come-what-examination-format-may Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obelix Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 In secondary school, there is clarification of the target that all pupils will have to take traditional GCSE subjects, in the English baccalaureate. This requires pupils to take GCSEs in English, maths, history or geography, two sciences and a language. It all looks like too much big brother forcing children to learn what the Government wants. When I was at school, I also studied metal work, tech drawing and computer studies. Now the Government wants children to take six subjects, plus some of their own choice? This is surely just arguing for the sake of arguing no? We have a national curriculum. It doesn't matter if that is wrapped in a Baccalaureat, or GCSE or whatever. There are certain core subjects all should learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francypants Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 No change ............ When my son and daughter took their GCSE exams over 20 years ago they both took 12. The basic core subjects.... Maths, English literature, English language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History or Geography and French or German had to be taken and other subjects like CDT etc could be chosen as extras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truman Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 So we're all agreed (except one) that is't not really a change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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