Is anybody able to comment about the following GCSEs:


1. English literature. In a survey of parents asking about what they think is the most useless and pointless secondary school subject English literature topped the poll. Despite this the subject is officially compulsory in England up to KS4 although in recent years it has become optional in Wales with around 40% of students not taking it for GCSE.


2. Foreign languages. There was a discussion on the IET forums about foreign languages for engineers a few years ago but it appears to have been wiped. Foreign languages are no longer compulsory at KS4 and a sizeable number of applicants for engineering degrees in recent years do not have a foreign language GCSE. Does this put them at a disadvantage?


3. Computer science. This new STEM subject has replaced ICT. Does the engineering community value it and give credit to students who have a computer science GCSE?


4. ICT. This subject has now been discontinued but was it a sore loss or a subject that was of little relevance to an engineering career or had seen better times?


5. Religious studies. About 90% of English secondary schools have made religious studies a compulsory GCSE subject. What does the engineering community think of this subject?


6. Latin and ancient Greek. Most holders of a GCSE in these subjects attended an independent secondary school rather than a state school. Does the engineering community give credit to students who have GCSEs in these subjects?


7. Business studies and economics. It's uncommon for engineers or applicants for engineering degrees to have GCSEs in these subjects. Business studies tends to be more popular in state schools and economics in independent schools. Does the engineering community value them and give credit to students who have GCSEs in these subjects?


8. Music and drama. Superficially these come across as marginal subjects for most engineering careers apart from those relating to music and entertainment, so only a handful of engineers and applicants for engineering degrees have GCSEs in these subjects. Andy Millar mentioned something about the benefit of these subjects in another discussion. Can anybody elaborate on this?

Is anybody able to comment about the following GCSEs:


1. English literature. In a survey of parents asking about what they think is the most useless and pointless secondary school subject English literature topped the poll. Despite this the subject is officially compulsory in England up to KS4 although in recent years it has become optional in Wales with around 40% of students not taking it for GCSE.


2. Foreign languages. There was a discussion on the IET forums about foreign languages for engineers a few years ago but it appears to have been wiped. Foreign languages are no longer compulsory at KS4 and a sizeable number of applicants for engineering degrees in recent years do not have a foreign language GCSE. Does this put them at a disadvantage?


3. Computer science. This new STEM subject has replaced ICT. Does the engineering community value it and give credit to students who have a computer science GCSE?


4. ICT. This subject has now been discontinued but was it a sore loss or a subject that was of little relevance to an engineering career or had seen better times?


5. Religious studies. About 90% of English secondary schools have made religious studies a compulsory GCSE subject. What does the engineering community think of this subject?


6. Latin and ancient Greek. Most holders of a GCSE in these subjects attended an independent secondary school rather than a state school. Does the engineering community give credit to students who have GCSEs in these subjects?


7. Business studies and economics. It's uncommon for engineers or applicants for engineering degrees to have GCSEs in these subjects. Business studies tends to be more popular in state schools and economics in independent schools. Does the engineering community value them and give credit to students who have GCSEs in these subjects?


8. Music and drama. Superficially these come across as marginal subjects for most engineering careers apart from those relating to music and entertainment, so only a handful of engineers and applicants for engineering degrees have GCSEs in these subjects. Andy Millar mentioned something about the benefit of these subjects in another discussion. Can anybody elaborate on this?