GCSE Options.....feel sorry for DD

If your dd is considering taking any Science subject at A level then the best option is usually to take Triple Science e.g. 3 separate sciences at GCSE. Please check the teaching time for Triple science as some schools don't allocate any extra teaching time i.e. teach it to the top set in the same time as everybody else does Double. This can effect results for some children unless they have extra help outside school or are highly self motivated.
It is desirable to take A level Chemistry for most Biology degrees but it not essential (despite what other posters are saying). I have taught A level Chemistry and have seen a lot of students who are taking it "because it goes well with Biology" drop out from class as they aren't really interested in the subject. I have also taught a "Chemistry for Biologists" type course at university level - the relevant parts of A level can be taught at uni for students who haven't done the A level so it can be done.

Biology by itself will be no us if she wants to study it/animal sciences at degree level. She will need at least GCSE or quite possibly A level chemistry too.

As your dd will be taking the new 9-1 grade Science GCSEs the sixth form entry offers will be slightly different but pleased it was helpful.
You may not need it as your dd is bright but there are vocational routes into animal Science at university (that I haven't seen mentioned on MN). These include level 3 apprenticeships in Vet nursing and BTEC level 3 courses in Animal Management. Am not sure if it's possible to take A level Biology as well though. If you live in a rural area these may be offered at agricultural colleges.
Hope that helps

I did A level biology history English and psychology. Totally random mix! You can pick one science at A level but you have to check degree requirements carefully. GCSE really isn't that influential though. My school didn't offer triple sciences and many of my peers went on to study sciences at A level and degree level.

You can still study A level biology with only Double Science GCSE but on looking round local sixth forms with dd they ask for AA for double Science but BBB at triple Science for A level study. It is very unusual to be able to study Science A levels with C grades.
By the way the alternative route into nursing is A level biology plus BTEC level 3 Health and Social Care diploma (which counts as 2 A level subjects on the timetable). You only need Chemistry as well if you want to read Medicine or Vet Science. Most Biology degrees also need A level Chemistry and Maths (to at least AS level).

If there is any chance that someone wants to pursue a biology based career I would definitely recommend triple science. It will never be a waste and will only open up doors that would otherwise be closed. If interests change later on, humanities and arts subjects are generally much easier to study part time as an adult than sciences are.

i did biology A level (& geography) but then couldn't do biology at uni as i didn't have chemistry.
The school is doing you a favour saying either do dual science or all 3 sciences. my combination was hopeless.

Both triple science and double science study all 3 sciences to a level that allows individual science A levels to be studied at a later date.

Triple science studies to a higher level in each and obviously will give a leg up to A level but is not essential to follow a science career path. It is however a lot more work. The school timetable is crowded and both maths and english have changed syllabus content, this has given more to cover in the next 2 years. In the future this will be be covered in lower years., but our children have to bridge the gap. For triple science the student will have to be able to self study and manage a higher work load from the science and also manage the curriculum overload for English and Maths.

My Y9 daughter is reasonably bright but my advice to her is to take double science and catch up the slack if she decides to take science later as I don't want her maths and english to suffer. Which would be a danger for her and her brother who is science mad will probably do the same because his English is weaker and he will need to concentrate on that.

I see. Well, as previously stated, dual award science will be sufficient to take one or more science A Levels. I'd worry about the Biology combination later once you have an idea of her estimated GCSE performance. If she's determined to do Biology only then you may wish to consider an alternative sixth-form provider for her.

Bear in mind, however, that reputable universities will expect maths or another science at A Level for a science degree, so do check the admissions requirements nearer the time. Inevitably there is a module in year 1 of either stats or some comparable maths-for-scientists content, and A level maths is a distinct advantage.

That is really strange! It definitely isn't like that any more-your dd will need GCSE grades that are good enough to get on the course but there is no requirement for particular subject combinations as far as biology is concerned. I hope that's reassuring.

But surely if they are taking science as the core GCSE why is triple science an option?

They have to do double award, the option is to upgrade to three GCSEs of science.

Are you sure it wasn't a timetable clash than a policy not to let people do biology on it's own?

Erm, might be getting old. But surely if they are taking science as the core GCSE why is triple science an option?

When I picked (10 years ago, so it has probably changed) we were told that we had to do eng Lang, eng lit, maths and science-double award

Then we had the option blocks a) a language b)humanities c) design technology d) another subject

As long as you got a c or above in the science then you take any of be sciences for A level

Your school was very much the exception verbena. Ask around the local sixth forms. I tutor A level biology and almost all my pupils are doing it as a single science a level.

We went through this process last year with DD1. The stress reduced considerably once we discounted all the subjects she definitely didn't want to do. This made the selection in most columns much more intuitive.

Column B cover arts, humanities, and mfl? Art, geography and French sounds like a well balanced mix next to triple science. Based on what you say about her interests a second humanity from column A sounds like it will be less useful than triple science.

We made the same decision re music and art.

Triple science is never a waste-they're well respected GCSE subjects and if she can do well in them that's always going up be a positive regardless of what she ends up doing.

She should still be able do A level biology if she does double award science. I've never heard of a sixth form not letting students do A level biology because they aren't doing chemistry or maths as well. It is really common to do biology as a single science.

If she's an able student thinking of a sciency course afterwards I'd recommend doing triple sciences but as others have said there is almost nothing she can choose or not choose that will completely wreck her career forever more.