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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

No teacher for A-level - need an advice

88 replies

JTro · 03/11/2023 10:00

Hope someone can advise me what to do in this situation. My DS is in Year 13, one of his A-levels is Further Maths (FM). At the beginning of this school year, students doing FM chose what to do: 2 majors or 4 minors. My DS chose 4 minors and on the first week of doing his 4 minors he found out he has no maths teacher who will teach them ( it's 4 of them). Since then, Maths Subject Leader said that they need to teach themselves on Google Classroom, where she put some study materials while she try to sort it out very soon. Later on "very soon" transformed to "by the end of the half-term". When end of half-term happened, she said "at the beginning next half term it will be sort it out". Yesterday was first day of new half-term and of course the issue is still there. Now she says "it will be sorted out soon". At the same time, his Head of Year approached him and stronly advised to drom FM A-level and do AS-level instead, my DS refused. After that Head of Sixths Form approached him and again "strongly advised" to drop FM A-level. As his predicted grade for FM is B, I suspect this is their attempt to solve the issue by less painful way for them, but not taking into ccount his best interest. As all this happens through talking with his Maths subject leader, it looks like they will push him and few others to study FM themselves as long as they could and they are really missing out on proper studying and they do the same level on tests as other, who do have a techer. I need an advise how to approach school regarding this issue and finally make them to teach these 4 students properly. Should I contact Head teacher, or go straight to Governors? Just for reference - I am not familiar with A-level system at all, he is our first who is doing A-levels, and probably it's a norm when students learn themselves?

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MoralOrLegal · 04/11/2023 21:17

Well, I've learned something today! I haven't personally encountered a school where individual staff email addresses are withheld, but obviously I have limited experience here.

Parker231 · 04/11/2023 18:46

JTro · 03/11/2023 17:11

and? so it's ok for 30 students to do learn and for these 4 - not? even more interesting

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There is a shortage of maths teachers, particularly at A level so teachers are used where the largest numbers can be taught. Sounds like your DS needs to change to a school which can offer a FM timetable or change subjects.

pinkcobweb · 04/11/2023 18:43

some schools have a policy of allowing parents direct emails, some schools have a policy of all emails going through a central admin email to be forwarded. Neither is right or wrong, it is just a decision by the school how they want emails organised

Fi269 · 04/11/2023 18:40

MoralOrLegal · 04/11/2023 07:25

It is bizarre to me that the school won't tell you the email addresses of the maths HoD or the Academic Deputy (sometimes called Director of Studies or something similar). If the email format is predictable (eg initial and surname) then could you guess that from looking at the staff list, which should be on their website? Or could you phone the Head of Year? Good luck!

Lots of schoolsdon't give out personal emails – neither my kids' school nor the one I work at. They encourage use of a general mailbox which will be forwarded promptly to the correct person on request. It's just easier to keep track of what's coming in this way. (I guess if there was something very confidential, you could explain this and maybe get a direct email).

noblegiraffe · 04/11/2023 13:57

Students can generally get the email addresses of teachers from their email address book so it might be worth looking there.

MoralOrLegal · 04/11/2023 07:25

It is bizarre to me that the school won't tell you the email addresses of the maths HoD or the Academic Deputy (sometimes called Director of Studies or something similar). If the email format is predictable (eg initial and surname) then could you guess that from looking at the staff list, which should be on their website? Or could you phone the Head of Year? Good luck!

Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 23:31

I would like to thank everyone who was kind and helpful here! I do really appreciate it! You're wonderful peope!

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Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 23:27

SineOfTheTimes · 03/11/2023 23:18

Another Further Maths teacher here.

I would echo @FluffyWhiteCloudsFloatBy in terms of swapping to a taught option or dropping down to AS.

If he definitely wants to continue with three minors:

A huge thank you for the link! It is appreciated!👏

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Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 23:25

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 03/11/2023 23:00

I would revisit their insistence on doing four A levels. This is the grammar school being extra if he doesn't need/benefit from FM for his intended degree (what is he wanting to study?). Ask that they note in his ucas reference that he had to drop FM due to a timetable clash. Most universities will offer on just three A levels. Unless the university is offering on a points basis a B in an AS level is going to be of limited value.

Edited
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I better not to disclose more info about his inteded degree, as there were already some nasty people here, don't want to give them additional information to be more nastier. If he would allowed to do 3 A level at the beginning , he would be happy and he would have much better predicted grades than he has now and would apply to his favourite Uni. In current situation with his current predicted grades(which he can't change) he is not able to apply to his favourite Uni, but he can apply to others who offered similar degree, so he need this B in FM A-level ( not AS level), as it coud help him for certain Universities. If he drops FM A-level, there is no point for him to apply to these Unis. Hope it makes sence for you:)

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SineOfTheTimes · 03/11/2023 23:18

Another Further Maths teacher here.

I would echo @FluffyWhiteCloudsFloatBy in terms of swapping to a taught option or dropping down to AS.

If he definitely wants to continue with three minors:

TLMaths - A-Level Further Maths

Home > A-Level Further Maths

https://sites.google.com/view/tlmaths/home/a-level-further-maths

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 03/11/2023 23:00

JTro · 03/11/2023 18:28

His school started with a new initiative (exactly when he started his A-levels) - all of them are doing 4 A levels, full stop. 1 A-level can be only dropped if the student is not doing good at it (not my DS's case), it was specifically emphasized on parent's meeting when all A-levels were discussed. He would love to focus on only 3 A-levels, would they allow him to do it at the beginning, he would get much better grades for the remaning 3 (Chem, Phys, Maths) than predicted and would appy to the Uni he dreamed to go from when he was 9. It would be a different picture now.

Show quote history

I would revisit their insistence on doing four A levels. This is the grammar school being extra if he doesn't need/benefit from FM for his intended degree (what is he wanting to study?). Ask that they note in his ucas reference that he had to drop FM due to a timetable clash. Most universities will offer on just three A levels. Unless the university is offering on a points basis a B in an AS level is going to be of limited value.

Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 22:51

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:37

I really hope you get this sorted out

I feel so upset for you and your DS

This is so very unfair for him

And it's mucking up his education

He has to stop trusting this teacher who keeps fobbing them off

And make a swift decision that's going to work so he can study and pass his exams

I hope so too! Thanks once again for your support🤗

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Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 22:49

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:42

What exam board is your DS

My DS is also taking chemistry and physics along with FM. He's already taken his maths A Level which he says is easy and everyone in his FM class got an A*

It's a state school

Loads of DC dropped out of FM in the first few months last year as it was full on with extra classes after school to fit it all in

OCR Mei, the hardest one. AQA is a bit easier as I understand. Don't know why his school decided to do OCR Mei.

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HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:43

If it's any consolation your DS should do well regardless in his exams but he really needs to know the content so has got to get these option sorted now

FluffyWhiteCloudsFloatBy · 03/11/2023 22:42

3 minors is not necessarily easier. Different students enjoy/are better at different units so for many 1 major and 1 minor is easier.

When I taught MEI we had to make whole cohort decisions, but started with two minors and assessment results helped us to decide whether to continue with one minor up to a major or start a 3rd minor.

For example, if he does physics he may well find mechanics easier, and so major in mechanics and minor in either stats, algorithms or numerical methods

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:42

What exam board is your DS

My DS is also taking chemistry and physics along with FM. He's already taken his maths A Level which he says is easy and everyone in his FM class got an A*

It's a state school

Loads of DC dropped out of FM in the first few months last year as it was full on with extra classes after school to fit it all in

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:39

Pretty sure my DS is doing AQA

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:37

I really hope you get this sorted out

I feel so upset for you and your DS

This is so very unfair for him

And it's mucking up his education

He has to stop trusting this teacher who keeps fobbing them off

And make a swift decision that's going to work so he can study and pass his exams

TizerorFizz · 03/11/2023 22:36

Pupils don’t choose unavailable options? What school even lists options they cannot teach? The school has the responsibility to offer what it can deliver. It should never offer what it cannot. So it was never down to DS. He and 3 others did what was on offer at the time. They didn’t make it up did they? I’ve never heard of a school offering what they knew they couldn’t teach and then carrying on until November selling a lie. DS will have to do what’s easiest to change to. Plenty of schools run M and FM concurrently over two years.

Beebalino · 03/11/2023 22:34

I have taught Further Maths (a different exam board though so I’m not familiar with the major / minor set up)

I would say the best option is to join the class that does have a teacher, and forget his preference for the minors. Having a teacher will be much better than trying to teach himself, FM is so hard even with a teacher!

Most schools that offer FM (and there aren’t that many left) literally offer one class and there is no option for students to pick and chose modules. If he didn’t have any options he wouldn’t even be questioning it, he’d just be doing whatever he was taught.

I would phone the school and ask for a meeting with the Head of Maths to sort it out once and for all so he can just get on with being taught. It’s ridiculous that these 4 students have been left for so many weeks without a teacher when, if I’ve understood correctly, there is a class doing FM they could join?

Unless I’ve completely misunderstood the set up which is quite likely! 😂 Some schools have their FM students studying both Maths and FM over the two years, others do Maths in yr 12 and FM in yr 13.

Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 22:33

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:30

Write an email to the HoD head of department, head of school, every day till you get an answer

Turning up or phoning the school will not get faster results

You need to to email

Thanks for trying to help. As I mentioned a few times already the only contact I have ss HoY, school refuses to provide any other emails due to confidentiality. It looks like your DC has different exam board with different structure. To change a school is not an option at this stage.

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HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:30

Write an email to the HoD head of department, head of school, every day till you get an answer

Turning up or phoning the school will not get faster results

You need to to email

HappiDaze · 03/11/2023 22:28

Fact is your DS wants to take maths and FM

He will need to accept its not working out

And change these bizarre options asap

And choose options where there is a teacher to teach him

He'll have a lot of catching up to do so he needs to decide and take an option

Applied maths is the easiest so it's the one he should choose if there is a choice / lack of choice or whatever

Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 22:16

FluffyWhiteCloudsFloatBy · 03/11/2023 22:12

There are videos available here from AMSP:
FMSP video links
but this will not be as good as a teacher. I would get him to choose the other options and then if you have the energy complain to the school that they offered non viable options which they left him waiting on for so long.

Usually, I do prefer to be constructive. If this teaching problem will be sorted out somehow without them forcing him to dropn FM, I would not be complaining. Thanks for the link!

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Original poster
JTro · 03/11/2023 22:12

FluffyWhiteCloudsFloatBy, as you are familiar with this exam board and was teaching it, is my DS right in his perception that doing 3 minors is a bit easier that doing mix of major/minors?

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