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Original poster

Triple Science - am I right to make this a must-have?

89 replies

DilysPrice · 06/10/2010 16:49

I'm looking around for state secondary schools in London for DCs (now years 4 and 2, so planning ahead - we might even end up moving).
Apart from all the normal things you want from a school, (starting with not being a complete hell hole where there are huge fights outside the school gate on a regular basis), I have the preconception that they need a school which offers triple science at GCSE, because as far as I can tell they're both of an academic and scientific bent, and are pretty likely to end up choosing career paths which require this (or at least find it useful).

OTOH I have a feeling that I may be a bit out of date on this, and things may now be different. Does it matter?

OP posts:
Original poster
DilysPrice · 06/10/2010 17:13

Oh that would be a relief runningmonkey, one less thing to worry about at least .

OP posts:
Greensleeves · 06/10/2010 17:12

I think it's pretty shit to dictate that to your child actually. "you will be taking separate sciences", "not up for discussion" Shock They are supposed to be making choices, not you.

TrillianAstra · 06/10/2010 17:11

What hocuspontas said: in all cases you study all 3 sciences, but you either get 1 GCSE, 2 GCSEs, or 3 GCSEs. You still study and take exams in all 3, it's just more or less material on each.

Double science is enough to do A-level - most of Chemistry A-level is telling you that GCSE was a lie anyway.

The school may change its mind in the next 5 years (before your year 4 child is even close to starting GCSEs), or GCSEs may be scapped for IB or something else.

Ladder · 06/10/2010 17:11

i am lost too! I cannot fathom wither triple science are the 3 done individually or 3 all together?

hocuspontas · 06/10/2010 17:09

Sorry, I'm lost. Separates are the triple award aren't they? At our schools, single science is one GCSE, double is two and triple is three. All options cover separate modules for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

SauvignonBlanche · 06/10/2010 17:08

Oh no, I read it as 4 & 2 yrs old as well! What an arse, Blush
I would want Triple Science as a must, they do at DS's school.

runningmonkey · 06/10/2010 17:07

AFAIK all schools should be offering triple from Sept this year. Apparently some gov't directive.

hocuspontas · 06/10/2010 17:05

Double is enough to do separate sciences at A-level if that's what you're worried about.

FerrisBueller · 06/10/2010 17:01

aha - that's different and will teach me to read properly. age 4 and 2 would indeed be daft.

thing with DD was evn at 13 when she had to decide her options she still desn't know for sure what she wants to do later on. I feel that to take the double or diploma would minimise her options. If she decides in the next couple of years se wants to do something sciency she wouldn't be able to.

Original poster
DilysPrice · 06/10/2010 16:56

Yes ferrisbueller I do realise that things will change (though they're years 4 and 2, not ages 4 and 2 - I'm not completely nuts)- but I'm curious as to whether it's true about the triple sciences thing - and it's only 2 years until we fill in the first form applying for schools, so it can't change that much.

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 06/10/2010 16:56

I wouldn't look at secondary schools yet, all it takes is a change of Head or crap OFSTED inspection and the school could change.

FerrisBueller · 06/10/2010 16:54

but no - right now not unreasnable. DDs school do diploma, double award, triple award or separates. It was one of those not up for discussion converstaions - DD - you will be doing separate sciences, along with the other core subjects.

Ladder · 06/10/2010 16:53

is triple science all three in one, or the 3 seperately?

FerrisBueller · 06/10/2010 16:52

at 4 and 2 thier academic and scientific bents may change in the next 10 years.

also the school may go from being shite to fabulous or great to rubbish.

and the whole education and exam system is highly likely to be completely different by then.

leave it a few years.