Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Should DD take triple science?

20 replies

circular · 22/02/2011 08:45

Should DD do triple science?

In junior school and yr7 she was science mad. We discounted the usual local comp as they didn't offer tripLe science.
She still enjoys science, but no longer talks of a science career.
If she takes triple, she will get one less option. If she had the extra option it would be used for a non-academic choice - either drama or catering.
She would be capable of another academic choice but is not interested in either a second language or second humanity.

She says she wants to take triple science - main reason is that it looks good on the CV.

One concern is that it may be too difficult for her, so she ends up with worse grades than she would have dome with the double. She appears to have dropped back to 6a this year, which is the minimum requirement for triple. Maths is 7c/7b.

But without it, would she have enough Academic subjects?
Eng x2, maths, French, Geog = 5. So 8 with triple, 7 with double. Other option is Music, and compulsory ICT and Stats which I am counting as non-academic.

She (currently) wants to study music at Uni with a view to teaching instruments.
She is also having some problems in Englisj, and I am
wondering whether Drana would help with this. As well as complementing the music.

She still has about a month to decide.

OP posts:

Report

crazymum53 · 22/02/2011 11:41

I think she should do triple Science if she wants to. Perhaps this will help re-ignite her interest in Science again - it will also keep the option of studying Science at a level open.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/02/2011 11:56

You can do A level science via the double award

OesMorDdreng · 22/02/2011 12:43

I think she should do it. I doubt it'd be too difficult for her. Triple Science isn't really much more difficult than Double, there's just more content to learn.
I think it's definitely a better choice than Catering or Drama if she doesn't have a particular burning passion for either of these subjects. I think she would have enough academic subjects if she took Triple, and I consider Music as quite academic as well. Only doing double doesn't restrict her from choosing science at A-Level either.

But I think she should do Triple Science regardless of this. It's a good option, it's academic, and it's not overly difficult. If I recall, I only had a Level 6 at the end of KS9, but I did Triple Science anyway because it was compulsory for the top set. I'm glad I did it. ALthough admittedly, I got AAA in it when I would probably have got AA* in the double. Ah well.

So, yeah. I think she should take it! :)

crazymum53 · 22/02/2011 13:29

Yes you can do A level with the double award BUT it is much harder to bridge the gap than if you have done triple award.

nagynolonger · 22/02/2011 13:59

I would go for the triple science.

GrimmaTheNome · 22/02/2011 14:06

She's got enough academic subjects to cover the EBacc either way. But if she wants to do the triple science, I'd say go for it. It probably will look better on CV; also its likely to put her in the better performing sets which hopefully will up her game.

thekidsmom · 22/02/2011 14:55

Actaully, you can't do A level science everywhere with a double award....

If you know where she's likely to go for 6th form, I'd check with them first.

For both my DDs' and my DS's schools you have to do single science to do A level for Physics and Chemistry, but you could do Biology with only the dual award, so its not straightforward...

ajandjjmum · 22/02/2011 14:58

Both DC did triple science. DD found it tougher than DS but got a B in each of the three, which was excellent.

bigbluebus · 22/02/2011 17:41

Advice at DS's school was to only do triple science if you wanted to do A levels in one or more sciences to go for a career in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry. Oh and you had to be in top set for science. DS has chosen to do this as he wants to do medical or forensic science. Has also opted for geography and history as he enjoys both but this has meant he can't do music even though he plays 2 instruments - but he sees that more as a hobby rather than a career.
I hadn't realised how stressful choosing options can be both for parents and the DC. I am lucky that DS is fairly sure of his career path so made choice easier. I'm sure it was never this stressful in my day!

beanlet · 22/02/2011 17:48

If she likes s ience, triple science definitely. Most universities consider music to be the most serious of the "non-academic" subjects, and if she thinks she wants a career in it anyway she needs to do it.

circular · 22/02/2011 17:52

Not sure about the rules for A level sciences in the 6th form at her current school. Or whether she will stay there- depends what happens with her music.

Good point about the higher sets. She's in top set for Eng, Maths & Science which is all that is currently set. Not nice if she has to moove down in science if she opts out of triple. Also understand there are separate MFL groups for the triple science group, as those chosing a language tend to be better at it.

She does have a passion for both Drama and Cooking. Shame, as a lot of the more able kids seem to want to do drama but will miss out as not enough options. Did mention this at parents evening last week, hoping there might be a twilight option, but there won't be.

Amazed at how "grown up" DD is being about it all.

OP posts:

Jacaqueen · 23/02/2011 00:00

Going through the same thing with DS but we are in Scotland. I had no idea that taking 3 sciences was such a big deal. As it turns out he has been advised that he should take all 3 and as he likes the subjects that is what he is going to do.

However, he does not think that he wants to go into medicine.

Bigbluebus you are not kidding. Stressful doesn't cover it. Up here they do not have to take a second langauge option. I thought most universaties expected this at GCSE/Standard level. Of course we do not have the Ebacc.

GrimmaTheNome · 23/02/2011 00:13

only do triple science if you wanted to do A levels in one or more sciences to go for a career in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry.

Does no-one plan on a career in, er, science in this country any more? (devoutly hoping that was the poster's omission not the school's)

mrswoodentop · 23/02/2011 09:21

DS1 ,pretty academic,did double science as he wanted to free up another humanity and knew that he would not want to do scoence A levels,tripe science would have left him with fewer a level choices.He got an A and an A* for the double which was fine for him he really didn't enjoy science nasd so having the extra humanity was good.He did drama which he declared ,despite being grade 6 LAMDA ,boring and now wishes he had done Latin.Still all water under the bridge now .I would say if she is interested she should do it ,but iof she wants to do music at university she should also do music

lazymumofteenagesons · 23/02/2011 12:51

Why do schools put triple science as one of the options. AT DS2 school which is a non-selective independent school and so has a range of abilities the top 2 science sets do triple without extra timetabling. They move quicker and have just taken the double award in January and will do the triple bit in June. It can't be that difficult because without being rude DS2 and his cohorts are not exactly gifted scientists to put it mildly!

circular · 24/02/2011 07:18

Lazymum - that's a very valid point.
Though in DDs case, if her school did triple with the same lesson tome as double, I would be less convinced she would cope.

I don't agree that triple science is ONLY for scientists or those expecting to take science A levels - although we are Mot ruling these out.

It's more whether an above average (but not what I would call a VERY academic) girl would be better with 8/9 rather than 7/8 academic options out of 11 GCSEs. That's assuming ICT and Stats are not considered academic, but Music might be.

OP posts:

RatherBeOnThePiste · 24/02/2011 11:01

Ours do triple in the same time frame as the double. The double is just less onerous.

bigbluebus · 24/02/2011 16:55

grimmethenome Sorry to disappoint but that line was a quote directly from the science section of my son's school options booklet - so obviously the answer must be "no" at least not from this part of the country apparently!!!

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 24/02/2011 17:12

Music is considered relatively academic. Certainly more than Drama/Technology etc. I think it's more that it shows dedication and ability (you need to work at your instrument etc) whereas the perception is that anyone can do Drama or design/technology (rightly or wrongly).

If she wants to do it at uni she has to do it anyway.

Plus drama is not just practical - it requires many of the same skills as Eng so if she's struggling there it might do the opposite of boosting her.

circular · 24/02/2011 17:49

SnapFrakkleAndPop

DD had been told she is capable of am A or A* in Drama. Doesn't really fit with what had been happening in English, but it is definitely her written work that is the problem.

She would never do Drana in favour of Music- it would have to be both or
just Music. There is a BTEC Performing Arts available, but she has been advised not to take thus if she intends to do Music A level. And it takes up two option slots anyway.

OP posts:

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.