Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

Is it usual to need a grade A GCSE to do A level maths now?

435 replies

Jella2u · 23/08/2013 16:59

Disappointment here too. Son has got 10 GCSE's grade A-C. So what's the prob? You have no prob! Yes I do!!!
He got a grade B, yes that's right, B for Bertie for Maths. The school (which is a comprehensive turned Academy ) will let him do his Physics, Chemistry and Biology, but not Maths for which they say a Grade A is required unless you've clocked up a total of 224 points between the last 2 module papers. Unfortunately his tally was 205. Husband went up suited and booted to the school this morning to plead son's case. Phoned us this afternoon - no go. Have said this to all who got a B. So nothing personal there.
Have tried to contact other schools this afternoon. Needless to say all are shut. Local Authority very helpful and recommended emailing. Are schools running a clearing system that I don't know about? Do tell.
School did offer Statistics as a replacement this morning, but by this afternoon that was off the menu as no-one wants to do it. There are 7 pupils in this maths grade B situation who want to do A level Maths. Strangely the school says Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths are the most difficult subjects. So they might be for most people, but what if your child is the one that has had to struggle with French, Music, English Language and bid their time to do the supposed hard four?
We feel he needs A level maths to support science subjects.
Unfortunately, I said we would be back with an answer as to taking up a place with some sort of substitute for Maths before term starts. Every chance if I can't get something sorted fast he will be a well educated NEET!!!
All ideas welcome. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
tiggytape · 23/08/2013 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Haystack · 23/08/2013 17:48

Congratulations on your ds's results!I have just tried to contact my dd's school by phone today and no-one was picking up but there were staff in the office when I went down in person to try to make contact. It maybe that other schools are similar. The school is also officially open on Monday as well for potential A level students with queries so it might be worth trying.

School/college prospectuses should all be online as well and will include information about what grades are necessary to take what subjects at that school. My dd school also requires a minimum of an A at GCSE for A level Maths, but her friend's school would take someone with a B.

That said my dd is changing all her A level plans having got her Add Maths grade. She got an A* taking maths early in November then took Add Maths as it has always been her favourite subject. She became very withdrawn and upset a few weeks before the exams, it turns out it was because she found the step up so hard and it knocked her confidence - she got a U, as did the 3 other girls we knew taking the exam- not seen the other results - it is a really tough jump up. So dd is having a rethink having always wanted to be an engineer it is hard.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

secretscwirrels · 23/08/2013 17:46

Jella2u There is a very good reason for requiring an A to do Maths A level. A level maths is much, much tougher than GCSE.
DS1 is doing Maths and Further Maths. In his class there are many who got A at GCSE who really struggle with A level. One friend who got a clean sweep of GCSE As is having to redo the whole first year in Maths after getting a D.
Lots of threads on here about DCs who have just had disastrous results at AS level.

ajandjjmum · 23/08/2013 17:46

DS got an A* at GCSE and came out with a B at A level. DD got an A at GCSE and an E at AS.

ISingSoprano · 23/08/2013 17:41

Wow - the TES thread makes interesting reading. I am very interested in this as dd is about to go into yr11 and will be applying to sixth form college. She has expressed an interest in doing Maths AS level. I'm not convinced.

Phineyj · 23/08/2013 17:41

There is a massive gap between GCSE maths and A level. There is another option - do any local schools offer IB? In IB he can do all those subjects, Maths is compulsory and it would be at a suitable level - there are 3 or 4 different versions of Maths.

glaurung · 23/08/2013 17:37

You might want to read this thread on the TES forums where maths teachers are discussing this. It does seem that the outcomes for children atrtempting A level with 'only' a B at GCSE maths are not usually very good.

ArgyMargy · 23/08/2013 17:27

Both DS got A at GCSE, both started A level and got U at AS level. It is a hard subject and the leap from GCSE to A level is big. Also both DS were good at some aspects and not so good at others - for A level you have to be good at all of it. Having said that, I do think you should push for it, if he really wants to do it and is prepared to put the work in.

ISingSoprano · 23/08/2013 17:20

Does he have a plan for post A-level? Is Maths really necessary to achieve that?

By the way - well done him for his 10 GCSE's Grin

SlowlorisIncognito · 23/08/2013 17:11

I think you could find somewhere that would let him do maths with a B. Have you got an local sixth form colleges? These might have someone available to talk to. Unfortunately, it's unlikely you will be able to speak to the school by phone until September (when it may be too late).

Does he have a plan B, in the form of another subject to take at AS if he cannot find another place and cannot do maths? I don't think not doing maths will cause him to many problems with university applications as he's doing three sciences, but not having a fourth AS might, as doing 4 subjects at AS is pretty much standard these days.

I suppose a final option (if you are willing to pay for a tutor) is for him to do the other three A levels at school and take A level maths independently. The school may not be suportive of this, but they couldn't stop you doing it.

Maths A level is hard, and a real step up. I took it in the not too distant past, having gained an A* at GCSE and ended up with a D for A level (much lower than my other A level grades). I do think asking for an A is pretty strict, but presumably you knew this before GCSEs were taken? Unfortunately, if the school lets one child with a B onto the course, it really has to let them all on, and 7 is a bit of an awkward number- enough to make the A level class too big, but not really enough to justify another class (even if they could timetable one).