GCSE Triple Science...is this really how it is now??

[bethnella]

I had a progress meeting with dd's tutor yesterday, who happens to be head of science. He has explained that next year, Y9, they will start GCSE triple science by spending 1 year doing biology only and sitting the exam! Then in Y10 do Physics for a year, followed by an exam and then Chemistry in Y11!! Is this normal?? I find it hard to understand why? Surely A level biology will be far more difficult if you haven't studied it since Y9!!! Any input would be great! Should I post this in the staff room???

[MrsBodger]

Sounds completely bonkers. I've certainly never heard of any school doing it this way.

[bethnella]

Thank you!!! That is what I thought! It's been quite a while since I've been at school, but I try to keep up to date with all of the changes etc. I have two nieces that are currently doing A levels and they didn't do it like this!

[damn]

Thats crazy. Its chsnge a lot since I did it. We had to do tge double science course and pass it in year 10 then had 2 lessons if each subject a week in year 11 then did the exam. This was a decade ago though.

[Northernlurker]

That's odd. Dd's (top) set started the syallbus in Year 11 and are taking all the exams next month. She would have hated year long specialism - but I bet it makes it easier to teach

[bethnella]

I think that was his main reason for it - it was a ridiculously early appointment!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

That sounds insane for exactly the reason you describe but also because the exams are designed for the understanding of Year 11 kids, not Year 9 kids.
Bonkers!

[MrsBodger]

But yes, why not post in the staffroom section, to see what the experts say? Then you will be in a better position to take this up with the school.

[bethnella]

I have! Let's see what the experts think!

[MagratGarlik]

Definately not the normal way to teach it. Some schools do teach e.g. biology for a term, then chemistry then physics, then some more biology etc, but not one subject only for a full year followed by the exam! If they are teaching each for a full year I would make a complaint or consider moving schools - this way of teaching will make A'levels virtually inaccessible.

[bethnella]

Maybe that is the thinking behind doing each science separately in their own right one per year, rather then retaining three years of knowledge and then sitting an exam! I see the logic in that BUT it is setting them up for a fall come A levels!

[Eastpoint]

The other problem is having science gcses taken over 3 years looks poor when applying to university. Taking a range of GCSEs in one sitting demonstrates ability. The school is limiting its pupils opportunity to attend top universities.

[hellsbells99]

Sounds mad to me. DD2 is in yr11 and taking 'triple' science so she has 3 exams in each this year. She is taking all 3 at AS level next year and I think would really struggle if she hadn't studied them all recently as the jump is so large anyway.
Also she was looking at uni courses yesterday and a couple of courses are already out of the window we think as they specify best 8 gcses results taken in 1 sitting - she is only doing 7 this summer as she has already completed a couple early (English language and maths) although she is doing a level 3 maths algebra exam as well.

[MissMillament]

I'm a secondary teacher, though not of science, but I can confirm they don't do this in my school, or any other that I know of. My initial reaction is that you would have a lot of explaining to do to Ofsted in terms of how this course of action benefited the pupils, because I can see several major disadvantages.

[bethnella]

Thank you all for your views...they are definitely helping me form a 'discussion' that I can take to the school with me! Do you think I can request a chat with the Head and maybe Head of Science about this? I don't think I am over reacting and am within my rights to have it explained properly to me. I just don't want to be 'that parent!'

[TheWordFactory]

Do not worry about being 'that parent'.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to educate your DC and consequently your job to ensure the resources you use, such as school, are doing a reasonable job.

Ask for an appointment and email questions beforehand so you don't just getted fobbed off with 'we'lll look into it.'

FWIW, I don't know any schools that undertake science in the way your school intends.

[TalkinPeace]

DD is just finishing fast track triple science
they have done (in 2 years and 6 terms)
Year 10 : Bio 1, Phys 1, Chem 1, Bio 2, Phys 2, Chem 3
yEAr 11 : Phys 3, Chem 3 , Bio 3, revision, revision, revision

DS will start GCSE in september and from what I can gather the structure will be the same

[muffinmonster]

That sounds bonkers to me, too. My DD's school did something similar, to get around a change od syllabus; they sat all their Biology and Chemistry modules in Years 9 and 10, then covered the whole PHysics syllabus in Year 11. It left anyone wanting to do Biology of Chemistry at A level in a bad position as they hadn't studied the subject for a year. I also strongly feel that trying to do the whole of one subject ina year is not advisable; it's tantamount to cramming. It takes time for concepts to sink in and there needs to be time to revisit them. I would protest loudly against this arrangement.

[Theas18]

Bonkers especially as they'll mature so much between year 9 and 11. With the best will in the kids are going to find A* near impossible in year 9 surely?

Really going to make it hard for the ones who want scientific careers eg medicine that, for better or worse need A/A* at GCSE to help their uni applications progress - and, actually I'd love to hear from one of the uni applications team at a decent uni what they think. Certainly A levels for medicine really must be done in a single exam year - unless there are exceptional circumstances - it demonstrates that you can juggle and cope with it all.

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

I have DD in Y9 and DS1 in Y11. Both started triple in Y9. The three top sets rotate around each other doing a week of each subject.

I have seen a thread this week where the posters DC did biology in Y10 and the other two in Y11 which is slightly better.

[bethnella]

Well dd has aspirations to become a vet! She understands how difficult it will be and just how important A level biology and chemistry are. I am feeling stressed that this will make it even more difficult for her - living in London doesn't exactly offer many opportunities for the work experience required, let alone reaching the top grades in exams!!

[littlewhitebag]

My DD (Y11) is doing triple science and is sitting them all at once (Very soon and is currently poring over chemistry as i type!)

[ontheotherside]

Absolutely loopy. They should be studying all three subjects over three years and taking all the exams at the end of Year 11, for the best outcomes.

[pointythings]

DD1 is doing triple science, starting from Yr9, and her school is definitely NOT doing this. It's barking.

[HercShipwright]

DD1 did triple science, they had separate physics chemistry and biology lessons each 2 week period. DA is doing triple, he is in Y9 but they started the triple/double split in March, they are doing blocks - so a bit of biology for a few weeks, then a bit of chem, then a bit of physics..but he is only Y9. I don't know what they do in Y10 and Y11 (I don't even know if they take the double exam in Y10 and then the triple a year later). What I do know is that you can drop down from triple to double because DS has been told that unless his English (his problem subject - dyslexic) stays on course for a decent result (for him the school are saying B but will live with a C I think) then down he will drop even though he is working close to the top of the science and maths groups. The only reason the school let him do triple was that the science and maths (especially) staff made a bit of a fuss when he was originally allocated to double because they said it would be grossly unfair, he wouldn't have a peer group in the sets he would perforce be placed in (because of timetabling issues).

I see no improvement in his attitude towards English at the moment though, so we shall see what we shall see. I understand his issues (rather better, I suspect, than the school does - I don't think the teachers realise how English homework's have driven him to tears) but I do accept that if he needs extra time for English (which to be fair the school are very prepared to give him) that has to come from somewhere.