GCSE Maths options - current year 9

[Strix]

Please tell me what your school offers. DD's state Senior school is offering the new GCSE Higher Tier / Foundation Tier. I'm confident she will be in the higher tier. DS' school (although he is only in year 7 so not yet selecting GCSEs) is also a state school, but a highly selective Grammar, is also following the Higher/Foundation tiers of new GCSEs. But will also put top sets forward for the AQA ‘IGCSE’ Further Maths 8360.

What is your state/independent (hoping for answers from both) school offering to the top sets for maths?

Is anyone else disappointed to not have Further Maths on offer? And, if so, are you considering taking it outside school (privately)?

Or maybe Further Maths is a thing of the past and I'm crazy to even be thinking about it...?

[TheSecondOfHerName]

DS2 is currently in Y10.
At the end of Y11 he will be sitting:
Edexcel GCSE Maths (Higher Tier)
AQA Level 2 certificate in Further Maths

This is a partially selective state school.

[titchy]

The new GCSE covers a lot of the stuff that wasn't in the GCSE syllabus but was in FM. So Further maths GCSE not really that useful for stretching able kids any more. GCSE plenty good enough preparation for A Level, so don't worry!

[Michaelahpurple]

My DS1's selective boarding school doesn't offer further maths at gcse and apparently never has. They just do Cambridge igcse. Westminster (ds2 is at the under school) have stopped doing it this year while they see how the whole new syllabus/ grades thing pans out. Don't know if they will re-start it

[Peanutbutterrules]

Top set at DD's independent school do Further Maths. All under consideration once they see what the new Maths GCSE looks like.

[yeOldeTrout]

State schools in boring county.
No FM at DD's school: not enough teachers. Statistics & FSMQ was offered at DS1's old school, though.
I don't know which exam board math GCSE they do, sorry.

[AlexanderHamilton]

Dd's non selective school do GCSE maths higher or foundation tier.

Ds's selective independent school do igcse maths higher level with only the very top set offered Further Maths as well.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

yeOldTrout sorry to hear that you live in a boring county.

[yeOldeTrout]

boring = low crime & lots of fresh air. Not all to be knocked :).

[Strix]

Has the new maths GCSE been rolled out yet (i.e. has anyone actually taken the exam yet)?

[AlexanderHamilton]

The first new maths exams will be taken this summer

Next year all the exams will be the new ones.

[Strix]

So, presumably, no one actually knows yet how hard it is? Is there some guidance somewhere on what is covered? I'm obviously looking to find out what is on further maths which is not on new higher tier gcse.

[AlexanderHamilton]

The syllabi are available. Various maths teachers I know say there is stuff on there that used to be on AS level.

[AlexanderHamilton]

And do remember that even if your child were at a school that offered further maths (mostly selective private schools) it's usually only those in the very top percentage that get to take it (I think it's something like the top 2/3%

[Clavinova]

Several of the independent schools near me still seem to be offering Additional Maths (OCR?) for top sets in Year 11.

[AlexanderHamilton]

Are they selective schools?

There are five maths sets at ds's school. Even set 5 take higher GCSE. My DS is in set 3 but has specific SEN. We were told that in a comprehensive school he would be in the top sets. No way would he be a further maths candidate. Top set of his school are children who under the old GCSE system would be working at a higher level than the old A*.

Dd is by choice at a non selective school but very high ability. She moved from a selective school. She is brighter than DS. She says the new maths GCSE is very challenging (but do-able).

[AlexanderHamilton]

But definatly check the syllabi.

[hanahsaunt]

Ds1 is y11 so first cohort through the new GCSE maths. He will also sit the old GCSE further maths. His teacher described them last week as the new GCSE has hard ways of asking easy questions and old further maths are easy questions on hard maths. It will be possible to do better in FM than regular maths this year ...

[Bensyster]

GCSE and a further maths GCSE qualification. I want dcs to study basic calculus - I'm not bothered if they get the further Maths GCSE or not I just want them to get their heads around the concept of calculus not for A level Maths but more for other numerically based subjects they may wish to take beyond A levels - Economics for example.

[Strix]

I think some schools put whole top set through the further maths iGCSE. DS' school (selective grammar) put all but the bottom set forward for further maths. I think there are 3 sets.

[Bensyster]

Strix are there non-selective Grammar schools?

[Strix]

Erm.... probably not.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

DD1 is in year 10 and to set maths. They plan to offer Additional Maths GCSE to those who are up for it.

[Bensyster]

I really wish they'd teach calculus to kids who hope to do a numerate degree but don't wish or need to do A level Maths. My dcs are not top group - they'll probably get 7 but they are capable of learning and potentially needing calculus for degree subjects.

[titchy]

If they need calculus at university but the course doesn't require A level maths then there'll be maths modules for students.

[Bensyster]

Well maybe it was just my University but the students who were taught calculus through a Uni course really struggled to go from first principles to advanced calculus in a handful of classes - I believe these concepts are better taught at school, the pace is slower, the teaching is more thorough.