Re: Students told to ditch "Soft Option" A levels
My school forced me to take a fourth subject at A-level as an A/S or a full A, rather than just the three I wanted; I took Business Studies as an A/S precisely because I viewed it as a soft option, and having gone through that I fully believe that it is a soft option and low on academic rigour.
I also did an A/S in General studies; that was such a joke that I don't even ever tell people I did it. I tell them I did 3 A-Levels and an A/S rather than 3 A-levels and 2 A/S's.