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

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

Secondary education

Can't do triple science unless you're predicted at least a C in MFL

84 replies

sandyballs · 11/02/2014 10:22

To be fair I haven't discussed this with school yet, my DDs are year 8. But friends with older kids have been discussing it and getting tutors for languages.

Has anyone heard of this before, what on earth has achieving in a language got to do with science?

OP posts:

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nickymanchester · 11/02/2014 10:25

It sounds very much like the school are just concerned with their ebacc figures rather than anything else

sandyballs · 11/02/2014 10:46

I'm quite ignorant about ebacc and other parts of older secondary education, I think I need to read up on it.

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Metebelis3 · 11/02/2014 12:12

My DS has a sort of similar issue - he is dyslexic and needs extra support for English so he has been put on the double science track for his options. He's top set for science, very good at it, and wants to do science A levels possibly (he's interested in engineering). The school is trying to do its best for him but...it seems wrong somehow. I'd rather he didn't do the compulsory PE or RE to be honest, than only did double science. (I have nothing against RE, I think it's a fabulous subject but I don't think he will do particularly well in it given his issues. I have many things against PE as a GCSE. Too many to number. )

MillyMollyMama · 11/02/2014 13:34

It seems odd to judge likely performance in science by attainment in MFL. I would query this policy to see if it can be waived in certain circumstances.

I do not think there is anything wrong with PE GCSE for sporty people but it should not be compulsory. Also PE A level can be a useful 4th A level for aspiring Medics as it looks at the mechanics of the body so is not a waste of time for some.

There is also a common perception among parents posting on MN that Engineers do not need to write do do the job. They do. They write reports, put bids together to get jobs and write letters. They need to display a professional approach to work and that includes writing. Employers do want Engineers with good literacy skills.

bruffin · 11/02/2014 13:59

Thats ridiculous. Dyslexic DS got a D in his german, but has been top set science all the way through and now taking maths and physics A levels. He has an offer from a RG university for engineering. The school will be doing themselves a serious diservice by adopting such a policy.

nickymanchester · 11/02/2014 15:13

ebacc is just something that schools are measured on. I would suggest that it is really bad that they are trying to stop children doing triple science - presumably in order to give them extra lessons on MFL - as this is just to make them look better in the league tables and is nothing to do with what is best for an individual child. Or at least that is how I look at it.

curlew · 11/02/2014 15:17

For a child capable of doing 3 sciences who has no additional needs, a C in MFL is not a high hurdle, believe me!

RunnerHasbeen · 11/02/2014 15:20

Honestly, how likely I getting a D in MFL if your child is doing well in the other subjects, well enough for triple science. It is very rare for a child to get all As and a single D unless there is something seriously wrong with the teaching. If you really think your DD is heading towards a D in languages then that should be the bigger worry, not the school rules.

camptownraces · 11/02/2014 15:24

I think nickymanchester is right: it's connected with timetabling additional language lessons for those who need more help with MFL, which then leaves not enough time to teach all the material for the three separate sciences.

MadIsTheNewNormal · 11/02/2014 15:25

My DS got an A in German but he could not have coped with the triple sciences, and only got Bs in the double science exams.

nickymanchester · 11/02/2014 15:26

Honestly, how likely I getting a D in MFL if your child is doing well in the other subjects

Happened to me - straight As in everything else but I was absolutely rubbish at French and had a real block with it.

sandyballs · 11/02/2014 16:03

Interesting. I'll def speak to school. I see what you mean about if you're doing well enough to do triple science then language shouldn't be a problem but that isn't always the case. Particularly as they do science at primary school but not a great deal of languages apart from the odd bit of French, unless private. I just think it's an odd policy.

One of my DDs is a 4A in Spanish and a 6C in science at this stage of year 8. The other 5C in Spanish and 5A in science.

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curlew · 11/02/2014 16:05

They're both well on track for Cs, then, sandyballs!

kslatts · 11/02/2014 16:11

Does seem an odd policy, my dd is doing double science as she is not in top set, but everyone in top set are doing triple regardless of which other subjects they are taking.

sandyballs · 11/02/2014 16:43

That makes sense to me, if you're in top set you should be deemed 'bright' enough to go for the triple. Apparently not at DDs school.

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circular · 11/02/2014 19:54

Does seem strange, although DD1 (now yr12) nearly missed out on triple science as her eoy 9 English level was only just 5A. Strangely, her French and German were both 6A. I think 5A English and 6A maths and science were the criteria at the time.
She did do triple science GCSE, as well as French. Ended up getting a high A in French and B's for both English.
Makes me wonder how difficult MFL GCSE is if that can happen?
Oh, and she had extra one to one in English in yr10 for a term, and attended a study centre for 2 years.

ChocolateWombat · 11/02/2014 20:49

I think the school has a system for making judgements about overall ability. Predictions of a number of D grades will suggest not being in the top ability bracket and triple science is probably deemed demanding and only suitable for those in the top ability bracket.
So there isn't a direct link between MFL, but between the overall academic profile and opportunity to do triple science.

gardenfeature · 11/02/2014 21:20

I would think that it should be down to what grade they are in Science - a Level 7 would be Triple potential no matter what grade MFL. Two grade As in Double would be better than three Cs at Triple and Double Science doesn't stop anyone doing A Levels in Science.

Metebelis3 · 11/02/2014 21:23

Nicky it was a long time ago but I had to work about 4times as hard for my A in French as for my As in everything else! Some of us just find languages hard. :(

Re engineering - yes I'm aware they need to have literacy skills but there's no suggestion my DS isn't expected to pass both English exams - just that being severely dyslexic he needs much more support than others. I think that's fair enough. I don't think enforcing compulsory PE GCSE is the way to go for him, if triple science has to be sacrificed to facilitate everything else. The school are now looking at his case again. Hopefully that will happen for OPs DD.

Metebelis3 · 11/02/2014 21:31

chocolate In DS's case it's the need to find time for some 1-1 ( or 2-1) English that's the problem. He has complex needs and is considered very high ability, but his confidence in his ability to write, and spell :( is rock bottom. If they were still having the spoken English he'd be in a better position as he'd be a solid A* (thanks to audio books he is extremely well 'read' and very articulate - but not on the page). He's not just top set science, he's top quartile of top set. Mad really - his sister, at a different school, is ultra un-sciencey only interested in science for its fictional potential, and was forced to do triple science when she'd rather have done drama! Luckily DD2 who will go to the same school like science (for now). Unluckily she also likes drama!

Bunbaker · 11/02/2014 23:24

Metebelis3 Are you sure that the PE is a GCSE course?

PE is a compulsory part of the curriculum, DD will still do PE is years 10 and 11, but not to take a GCSE. She will have to take a GCSE (that I can't even remember the name of) which is a cross between RE and Citizenship. I'm not overly happy about that.

Incidentally GCSE PE is quite an academic subject and involves a lot of theory and essay writing.

S4Worries · 11/02/2014 23:38

It's discrimination against dyslexics!

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Starballbunny · 12/02/2014 00:23

Tell me about it DD1 was an A in core science and will get A/A at additional and would have got 3xA/A at triple, but being dyslexic the head of science stuck her in the top double set.

She's been their fucking unpaid TA for two years and her teacher just grins and says don't bother coming to the revision sessions.

Tying science to MFL would have seen them in court for disability discrimination

horsetowater · 12/02/2014 00:28

That's absolute codswallop. My dd is doing triple science, she's not top of the class and she's not doing a MFL. I wanted her to do history and geography so she had to drop MFL.

Metebelis3 · 12/02/2014 00:29

bunbaker yes I am sure. And he doesn't want to do it, and I don't want him to do it.

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