Guide to choosing GCSE subjects

For many students in year 9 (ages 13-14), this is the time of year they will need to start thinking about which GCSE subjects they want to study at Key Stage 4. Often there’s a wide range to choose from and deciding can be overwhelming for students, especially when they’re only just starting to think about their future. At Tutor Doctor we know how important it is for your child to choose classes they will enjoy but also have a good balance of subjects- after all they have to study them for two years! We’ve put together an essential guide to choosing GCSE subjects, which will not only help your kids make an informed decision but will also provide parents with all the important information so you can discuss their choices with them.

Are GCSE options really important?
The simple answer is yes! The optional subjects chosen in Year 9 will have an effect on decisions your child makes later on in life. It can also influence and shape their likes, dislikes, interests and potential careers they want to pursue when they get older. That’s why it’s so important for them to choose a broad and balanced set of GCSE’s, as well as pick subjects that they will enjoy and be able to achieve the best possible grades.

What choices do students get?
Your child’s school will provide them with lots of information about their pending GCSE choices for Key Stage 4, but it can be confusing so here’s the basics.

Core Subjects
Firstly, there are a few restrictions on pupils’ choices, so they don’t have free reign when choosing all of their GCSE’s. All schools have something known as compulsory subjects that have to be studied at GCSE level. One of the main reasons for these core subjects is to ensure all students cover a range of basic subject areas so they are fully prepared for further learning and future work prospects. These usually include:

• English
• Maths
• Science
• Some schools have other compulsory subjects, often relating to what area the school specialises in.

Optional Subjects
Moving onto optional subjects, these do vary from school to school and some have much more choice. Being able to make these decisions allows students to start making their own educational decisions and explore areas of interest for further education. One thing to bear in mind is that regardless of how many subjects your child has to choose from, they must be offered at least one course in four subject areas, otherwise known as ‘entitlement areas.’ These are:

1. Arts (including art and design, music, dance, drama and media arts)
2. Design and Technology
3. Humanities (history and geography)
4. Modern Foreign Languages

Vocational Courses
If your child doesn’t want to choose a traditional GCSE, many schools now offer vocational qualifications, which is a more practical kind of learning. Remember substituting a vocational course may be the right decision for some young people, but always make sure the course matches your child’s career aims and academic ability. For more information on vocational courses, look here.
Things to consider
What GCSE’s are needed for higher education?
Students that are already thinking about specific courses at college or sixth form should be aware that highly competitive A-Levels subjects, BTEC’s and Diploma programmes will be VERY interested in what GCSE’s subjects were studied. If this is the case, make sure your child checks beforehand whether any particular GCSE’s are required and ensure this is taken into consideration before they make their final choice.

Research!
Making sure you both sit down together and look at the course material carefully is super important and is sure to help your child make a more informed decision. This means looking closely at what topics are covered in the syllabus and the type of examinations involved. Different subjects also involve different learning styles, so this is something else to consider. For example- history is much more theoretical whereas textiles is more hands on! Getting your child to pick something that meshes their preferred learning style is certainly a smart move!

What is your child interested in?
Finally, it’s extremely important that your child really enjoys the GCSE subjects they study at Key Stage 4 and don’t choose something for the sake of it. Doing appropriate research (as mentioned above) is a great way to spark up interests and they’ll probably start to discover what excites them- after all learning should be fun! It’s also very easy for kids to get caught up in making decisions based on what their friends are doing or depending on what teacher is teaching a certain option. Making sure they avoid these pressures and embrace their interests is vital if they want to succeed.

Tutor Doctor’s Top Tip: If your child is struggling to decide between a few subjects, a pro and con list will be more than helpful!
If you or your child has any doubts, seek advice from teachers at school or a careers advisor.

Helping your child learn a second language

Being bilingual has so many benefits, which is why it’s such a valuable skill for any child to learn. However, learning another language can be tricky, so kids need as much encouragement as possible to master it. At Tutor Doctor we know that a parent’s attitude towards learning is crucial to a child’s success. That’s why we’ve put together some ways that you can support learning a language at home and help your child become fluent in no time.

Help your child make time to practice
A new language certainly can’t be learnt overnight and needs to be practiced. Helping your child set aside time every week for them to continue learning a foreign language is crucial for their success. Ensure they schedule in two or three 1-hour sessions a week at home, where they can either study solo or you can work with them. This dedicated study time will make sure they are constantly applying themselves and exercising using a second language. If your child doesn’t have this time, it may be easy for them to feel disheartened, as they will probably find they aren’t making any progress or are struggling to remember the vocabulary learnt.

Say a phrase every day!
Ask your child to say something to you in the second language they are studying every single day. Even if it is just a simple sentence, speaking it out loud will be sure to help them grasp new phrases and vocabulary much easier. As well as getting them to speak it out loud, also encourage them to explain exactly what they said to you.

Ask teachers for learning resources
Asking your child’s teacher for learning resources that can be used for language practice at home is a great way to always have suitable material to hand. This can include videos, books or flashcards. After all, memorisation is key, so anything that will help your kids remember the most common words and phrases easily is bound to help.

Utilise technology: Apps and Online
Alongside physical resources, utilising what technology has to offer is an innovative way to encourage learning a second language. As kids might have a short attention span, fun and interactive language games and apps are a helpful learning tool that can be used during study sessions or when the kids are bored at the weekend. Downloading and installing any software or apps onto your electronic devices will mean that your child can practice developing their language skills at any time!

Watch a TV show/movie in another language
Finding a cartoon or movie that interests your child and getting them to watch it in the language they’re studying is a fantastic way for them to learn without realising it. You can also change the settings to add subtitles, so make sure you pop these on beforehand. Exposing them to another language in this way is sure to help them come on leaps and bounds as well as develop their listening and comprehension skills.

Look for opportunities outside the classroom
Keeping an eye on language opportunities for your child outside the classroom is a fun way for them to learn in a new environment. For younger children look out for after-school clubs or international events in your local community. Not only will there be opportunities for them to practice and learn but the event might even inspire them to develop their capabilities even further. For older kids, openings to study abroad are often available and will provide your child with vital life experience as well as hugely develop their language and cultural skills.

How to help children learn to love school

As the winter break comes to a close, a new term awaits, and that can fill many children with dread. However, school doesn’t have to be synonymous with fear and in fact can be enjoyable and exciting. At Tutor Doctor we know how important it is for kids to enjoy school and have a positive attitude towards learning. Here are a few ways you can help your children learn to love school and get on the right track for 2017.

Be a Role Model

As a parent, you are probably the most influence in your child’s life. Displaying a positive attitude towards school is extremely important as it will set an example that your child can adopt.

Get Your Child Involved

Often kids think school is just about homework and hours spent in the classroom. However it’s also about fun after-school activities such as sports and clubs. Encourage your kids to pursue their interests outside of regular school hours as this will give them something to look forward to once the school day is over. There are probably many possible activities, so there’s bound to be something for everyone!

Avoid Over-scheduling
On the flip side, it’s also important that your kids aren’t overscheduled. Make sure they have a healthy balance of after-school activities, time to complete homework, time to socialise and a few hours to relax too. If they do have a different activity every day it might burn them out, which could lead to negative associations with school. If this is the case, ask your child which two activities/clubs they enjoy the most and cut the others from their schedule.

Have a Homework Routine

Homework is still a huge part of school for any child. Making sure your child has designated homework time as part of their everyday routine is crucial. It will ensure they have time to study and stay on top of their schoolwork, meaning they will always be ready for their lessons. There really is nothing worse for children than to know they’re unprepared or haven’t completed the work that’s due -- in fact, it will make them dread going to school even more. Having a fun, vibrant homework space for them at home will also make this assigned time much easier and -- dare we say -- enjoyable.

Encourage Meaningful Relationships
Remind your child that with friends, quality is much more important than quantity. Avoiding the word ‘popular’ is also a good idea- instead encourage your child to have a few meaningful friendships. Knowing they have a great circle of friends at school to talk to, play with and share problems with will make it much more fun!

Show an Interest

Always try and show an active interest in your child’s school life and remain positive when discussing it with them. Ask about assignments, what subjects they are enjoying, who is their favourite teacher -- anything school related, really. Doing this will encourage them to say out loud about all the things they love about school, which should help them realise that it’s not as bad as they think and that many aspects are exciting! If you can, why not try and go the extra mile by volunteering or being aware of what’s going on in the school community? Doing this shows your kids that you value the effort they put in at school and that you care about how they are progressing.