Your children aren't making the 'right' GCSE choices. What can you do? Frank McGinty, Raisingkids' guest expert, considers how interest and learning can sit side by side in education.

Raisingkids member's problem
My daughter is going through her GCSE options and seems to think it's an excuse to choose all the 'fun' subjects. She wants to continue with art and drama, and drop maths, science and languages. I think she will live to regret this and worry that studying less academic GCSE subjects will stand in her way when she is older.

Frank McGinty's advice
Not necessarily! It all depends on what she wants to do in the future and, indeed, where her talents and abilities lie. Perhaps you should speak with the school. They should reassure you that subjects like art, drama, music, and PE are not 'fun' subjects, but are as intellectually demanding as the others.

Then again, why shouldn't all subjects have at least some 'fun' elements? Enjoyment stimulates and sustains interest, and interest is vital for success. I would be surprised, though, if your daughter were allowed to give up everything in favour of what's known as 'the arts' subjects. Most schools stipulate that pupils make choices within certain bands of subjects. Their final options will therefore have a well-balanced core, reflecting at least one subject from mathematics, language, science, technology and the arts. The columns that allow a free choice then give them the opportunity to specialise: some pupils will opt for more sciences, others for the arts. As long as that balanced 'core' is there you have nothing to worry about.

Before making her choices your daughter should have the chance to discuss her options fully with someone who knows her academic strengths and weaknesses. This will be a counsellor, guidance teacher, year group head - the name will vary depending on where you live, but it's worth investigating that this resource is in place. Is it possible that at some time she has been steered in a direction that doesn't really suit her? Perhaps her desire now to go for the arts and nothing else is a reaction to this and an attempt to over-compensate.

I would say that clear guidance is required here, and the school should be able to help. Your daughter needs to be convinced of the value of a balanced education, but at the same time her desire to specialise should not be overlooked.