Can grades from Btec Science be corelated to achievement at GCSE Science?

[KatyMac]

DD is doing Btech Science (in yr 9), based on her results the school decides whether she does science, double or triple.
They seem to be on a "the more GCSEs the better kick" so I need a realistic idea of which one she should aim for based on her grade
Could any of you help me work it all out? or is there not a direct correlation?

[KatyMac]

bump

[sillybillies]

I wouldn't think so as BTEC tends to be more about how organised and hardworking you are (sorry, little cynical about BTECs). I assuming those that score higher on the BTEC would indicate a harder working student so more likely to cope with 3 GCSE's rather than the 2 GSCE's especially if they are doing them in the same number of lessons.
However, disregarding the BTEC issue, I would recommend taking the 3 if there is any chance your DD might go onto to do science A levels.

[MigratingCoconuts]

I have not heard of students in year 9 doing BTEC as a lead up to GCSEs. they are two entirely different courses!

What have the school said is their criteria for deciding who does what?

What did your DD get as a KS3 level?

[MigratingCoconuts]

Meant to add that i would consider 6a upwards for triple, as a general rule but level 7 would be better.

[KatyMac]

DD is unlikely to be doing A levels but I want her to be able to at some time in the future (when she is older)

They say if she gets a good enough grade she can do 3 science and if not only 2 or even 1

I would like her to do 2 I think as I am trying to reduce her workload

[KatyMac]

KS2 was a 3; when do they do KS3?

[KatyMac]

Sorry I mean a 5

[MigratingCoconuts]

KS3 is done in year 7 and 8 (and usually 9 as well). So i am guessing this isn't a state school then. A KS2 level 5 is strong.

If your DD is not planning to do science A levels then do the 2 GCSE course and concentrate her efforts on what she will be doing. Even if she changes her mind, she can study A levels from double Science GCSEs

[KatyMac]

It is a state school - they have just mucked about with the GCSEs see here

It's complicated

[MigratingCoconuts]

But she must have a KS3 level for years 7 and 8 (and 9)...its a requirement that they report this level to both you and the Government!!

sorry, a bit

[KatyMac]

On the parent portal is says KS2

I'll have a look at last years report

[KatyMac]

End of Yr7 she was 6a, End of Yr 8 she was 5b

That's not good is it?

[EvilTwins]

If it's BTEC level 2 then it's odd that they're doing it in Yr 9 and then going on to GCSE. A BTEC distinction is equivalent to an A at GCSE, though I'm sure lots of people will shout me down on that one. I'm not giving my opinion, nor am I interested in debate about whether that ought to be the case, but in terms of grades, BTEC distinction = GCSE A, BTEC merit = GCSE B and BTEC pass = GCSE C. I can see little merit in students taking BTEC science in yr 9 then going on to do GCSE, as both are level 2 qualifications. In the school in which I teach, some KS4 students do BTEC science rather than GCSE. Given that the rules about non GCSE qualifications are changing and schools will not be able to count more than 2 alternative qualifications per student in future, I wouldn't be surprised if your DD's school changes its apparent "quantity over quality" approach, OP.

[MigratingCoconuts]

Ok, I don't personally understand how she would have dropped two sub levels in a year. I, as a head of KS3, would not be happy with that reporting home. Something is not right there.

based on a 5b in year 8, I would definately insist that she does Double award science in year 10 and 11.

Hope you don't mind me saying, but having read the other thread too, this is a wierd school!!!

[KatyMac]

But not in time for DD

[EvilTwins]

WRT KS3 levels, I teach BTEC performing arts to yr 9s. We equate these to KS3 levels for the purposes of reporting to parents and the govt. We tend to put passes as level 6, merits as 7 and distinctions as 8. Performing Arts is not a national curriculum subject though, so it's not as rigid.

[MigratingCoconuts]

totally agree evil, totally!!!

[KatyMac]

Yep I know

But I don't think moving her would help emotionally, despite it maybe helping acedemically

They are trialling a new system, my main issue is negotiating our way through it while allowing DD to explore where she is with her performing.

Home schooling is still an option, flexi schooling has been ruled out, moving school isn't ideal.....where do we go from here?

[sillybillies]

I agree with EvilTwins. It is an equivalent approach on paper (in reality an A in GCSE is far harder to achieve than a distinction in BTEC) and has the same points.
I wouldn't worry about her doing it in year 9. The topics are similar to the sort of stuff taught to a bright year 9 class if they were doing normal KS3 work. It wont do any harm. The school probably introduced it to bump up figures and introduce something different for year 9 as many schools condensed the KS3 curriculum into 2 years.

[KatyMac]

Is Btec Dance very different to GCSE Dance?

[MigratingCoconuts]

Sorry to bang on about this but if they reported a 5b at the end of year 8 as her final KS3 grade then that implies that
a) she has made no progress from her KS2 level 5
b) She dropped from an above average student in year 6 and in year 7 to an average student in year 8. (5 is the natioanl average and generally indicates a grade C in GCSE science two years later)

If they are equating her BTEC final score to a KS3 level to report to you and the government then I would be unhappy with this as the qualifications are very different this.

[MigratingCoconuts]

(sorry rogue 'this' at the end there)

[KatyMac]

I don't understand your last sentance but DD had a lot of health problems between Feb 10 & Oct 10; which resulted with her being moved down 2 sets

So that doesn't surprise me so much; the teachers of set 3 have told me they don't teach the top stuff

But as DD is heading in a different direction it's not something I'm going to get worked up abiout tbh, tutoring might get her up a set (or two) but she doesn't have time

[MigratingCoconuts]

ok, the time off makes sense of the grades.

What i mean by my last sentence is this. We run a two year KS3. Our year 8 grades are reported to the government as their final KS3 grades at the end of the course. We then start GCSE in year 9 but don't get them to sit any actual GCSE exams until end of year 10.

I was just trying to work out if they report your year 8 level as the final KS3 level or if they are somehow using the BTEC grade and converting it to a final level.

I'm just trying to understand the point of the BTEC it makes no sense to me.

Sorry to derail a bit. I still think you should go for the double award GCSE in science.

[EvilTwins]

MC, I don't see the issue with reporting, exactly, as BTEC is, in effect, a HIGHER level course. It's a KS4 course and any decent teacher ought to be able to assess KS 3 levels accurately at the end if yr 9, based on a student's performance, regardless.

OP, the main difference between a BTEC in something creative like Dance and a GCSE in the same is the way it is assessed. BTEC performing arts, which I teach, is assessed continually, and there is no written exam, whilst GCSE performing arts has an externally assessed element. However, Edexcel are responding to govt recommendations by re-writing BTEC specs to include an externally assessed element, which will bring them more in line with GCSEs in the way in which they are assessed. If DD is yr9, then she may well be taught new specs, in some subjects, next year, so there won't be a huge difference.