Options/Double/Triple Science

[balletgirlmum]

Dd is due to take her options later this year. We don't yet know which subjects will be in each column but she has to put in a preference then the groups will be put together.

Her science teacher says she is doing very well, however I have been concerned that she wasn't being stretched last year though things are improving this year.

Currently only double science is offered but the teacher says they are discussing with senior management whether they can start offering triple. However it would mean she would have to drop a subject (probably a humanities)

Currently she plans to take
Maths, English Lang, English Lit, Double Science, Dance (compulsory)
French, Music, IT (or a humanities) (options)

To me dropping one of the options in favour of triple science seems limiting but maybe it's because when I was at school you had to take a humanities subject)

I don't know exactly what A levels she plans to take but it's likely to include Drama or Music, a science, maybe maths or Computing.

[ScentedJasmine]

Does she want to do the 3rd science?
If she is not taking science further surely double science enough?

[ScentedJasmine]

Sorry, I see she wants to do a science A level but again as long as she as science in A level she is doing??

[pinkprimroses]

If she's bright and good at science, then I'd drop IT in favour of the triple science. You can do A level sciences with just the double, but it's harder. IT is mostly covering stuff they'll have picked up anyway.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Double science doesn't mean you only take two jasmine. You study all three but not as much depth as in triple science.

If she thinks she wants to do a science a level then she may well be best of doing triple science. I believe it depends a bit which science a level. I was told it's easier to do biology a level without having done triple science but hard to do physics. I'm sure it's not impossible because some schools only do double science.

At dds school it would be unusual to go from double science to a science a level and the teachers warned her she could be the only non triple science student in an a level class, so would everyone else in class be at a higher level?

[balletgirlmum]

She will likely move schools for a levels to an independent where they mostly do separate sciences.

Yes, she wants to do the triple if it's available but sge also doesn't want to drop IT.

She wants a career as a dancer with the option to train/retrain in the area of dance/sports physio

[SquirrelledAway]

She'll need biology or PE at A level, and some courses require another science or maths, to train as a Physio.

I'd also drop the IT in favour of triple science.

[balletgirlmum]

She doesn't do PE & has no desire ever to again but she does know quite a bit about anatomy & physiology (for her age) as a dancer.

[Lurkedforever1]

I'd definitely drop something for the triple science if she's likely to take one at a-level.
Is the music something she is likely to use past school level or is it just interest? Cos if it is the latter I'd say drop that. If not I agree the IT gcse. Depends on her in part though, an A in IT is better than a d in French and so on.

[balletgirlmum]

She likely to use music post school & is pretty talented in composition as well as performing but I do wonder whether she could demonstrate musical ability in a way other than GCSE (performance/composition portfolio etc) also dh is a music teacher.

She's very good at both French & IT. Her weaker subjects are things like art, d & t, english lit, (she's very good verbally but finds writing harder)

[Ricardian]

GCSE IT is worthless if you're a student considering triple science. It's a joke subject for academic children. GCSE Computing / Computer Science is very good, and challenging.

[TranquilityofSolitude]

Dd2 is doing Chemistry and Biology A Levels. She did triple science and, one month in, is finding A levels challenging despite having As and A*s in all 3 sciences. The jump from GCSE to A level is a large one and I'm glad Dd has done triple science - she already feels daunted and to have covered less at GCSE would definitely have made it worse.

[balletgirlmum]

I think Dd is hoping the teacher will put her in for Computer Science. He indicated he might.

She (& I) wish she could drop dance as she will be dancing & choreographing at a higher standard than Gcse.

[Chillywhippet]

At DD's school they do triple science in double science time. I only mention it in case your school might? This worked well as it was effectively a top set science.

As you probably know triple science entails a complete extra module in each subject, Chemistry, Physics and Biology, compared with double science.

As Tranquility said the jump from GCSE to A level is massive anyway without being in a class of people who have done the extra modules.

FWIW DD who does loads of music didn't really enjoy GCSE music. She says looking back she should have done computer science but she's thinking about engineering now so that would make sense for her.

Good luck. It is hard to decide. I expect you have already looked at physio degree courses and entry requirements but if not it is a good place to start.

[balletgirlmum]

Yes we have looked chilly.

It seems very unfair that there are alternative routes for ex professional footballers to train as physios, but not ex professional dancers.

Dd is very influenced & fascinated at the moment by Lisa Howell & her methods

As someone with a music degree myself it's not uncommon for young musicians to not enjoy GCSE music so much. Possibly because of the emphasis on listening & composing as well as performing & traditional music theory. But Ds enjoys & is good at these aspects.

[Ricardian]

I think Dd is hoping the teacher will put her in for Computer Science.

Do they have experiencing of actually delivering it?

[balletgirlmum]

I don't think anyone has taken it before. But I guess there is a first time for every teacher/school as syllabi chsnge/new subjects are introduced?

[Ricardian]

I don't think anyone has taken it before.

It isn't simply ICT with a bit added, and anecdotally some schools are really struggling. Teaching people to program isn't something a lot of teachers have experience in. 6% A* is pretty low for a subject which should be attracting strong candidates and for which there's an obvious "if you're a bit weaker" subject in the shape of ICT. I would be very surprised if a school were successful in delivering both taught in parallel in the same class, for example.

[SquirrelledAway]

Football regulations still require the club physiotherapist to hold a degree. We've used a sports physio loads, and I would much prefer someone who has spent 3 or 4 years doing a specialist degree who really knows their stuff.

[Lurkedforever1]

If the dance is going to be nothing new could she just add triple science as an extra gcse? Although I'll admit I haven't got a clue how much written work etc is needed for dance so time outside lessons could be a problem.

As to the footballer route, let's be honest right from grass root level that is a stand alone in terms of what's available. But I won't derail the thread to commiserate and bitch about the fact practically everything more worthwhile else is viewed as an also ran beside it and how unfair it is

[viewwater]

With her aspirations and obligation to do dance GCSE she would be better off dropping the music to allow her to do triple science. You and your DH have the knowledge to help her achieve grade 8 theory at some point during school. She will also have the practical exam levels. Alternatively if she can't do computer science, it is true that IT is a 'soft' option so as the others have said that would be the one to drop. Triple science will give her more of a relative advantage for physio than IT.

[balletgirlmum]

*I'm on my phone so excuse if my quoting goes awry

*I would be very surprised if a school were successful in delivering both taught in parallel in the same class, for example.

The 2015 breakdowns are not available yet but in 2014 4 students took ICT & in 2012 5 students. Classes are VERY small.

**If the dance is going to be nothing new could she just add triple science as an extra
Gcse

Could you clarify what you mean. I think the science teacher intimated they would need an extra slot in the timetable to teach the additional content for triple hence the need to drop a subject.

[Lurkedforever1]

I wasn't thinking about the possibility of adding an extra gcse from a school timetabling viewpoint tbh. I meant from a time/ effort perspective for your dd, if the dance gcse is below the level she's at and therefore doesn't need factoring in outside lesson time, adding in the science on top of the others might be manageable.

[LIZS]

What grades do they achieve for ict historically. Sometimes practical based subjects do not attract the higher calibre students and are difficult to get top grades in, as the coursework is externally moderated. Ideally she needs at least 8 good GCSEs.

[balletgirlmum]

With such a small cohort there is a lot of fluctuation but in 2012 it was 5 x A grades & in 2014 it was 2x A grades & 2 x B grades.

2013 for some reason saw 30 entries with 100% Grade A!

[ScentedJasmine]

I have a lot to learn re secondary as from the o level era and have a child in year 6.
Understand a bit more about science now!