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

Bright child, good school, Year 11, got to choose A Levels. Tell me - 3 or 4?

186 replies

nonnomnom · 07/12/2015 12:18

If your child is reasonably bright and at a good school, can you tell me if they will be expected/are expecting to do 3 or 4 subjects, now that AS Levels are largely going? (Not counting those doing Further Maths or General Studies here.)

DD's school surprised me by saying they needed to do 4 - even if essay subjects - but dd now saying she's only going to do 3 as there only 3 she really wants to do and better to get 3 good results than 4 mediocre ones.

But will decent unis expect 4 now? Or at least 3.5?

What will most Year 11s be doing? National guidance seems unclear.

Thank you...

OP posts:
Ladymuck · 07/12/2015 14:56

"Schools and colleges don't have a choice as to whether to offer the new linear format ladymuck"

Sorry, I should have clarified - most of the good schools aren't offering any AS levels, just the full 2 year course. Waiting with interest to see which way some degree offers will move (esp those requiring AS FM).

Bunbaker · 07/12/2015 14:52

What is EPQ?

catslife · 07/12/2015 14:47

The schools I've looked at have all adopted the new 2 year linear format asap, so no more AS levels for those starting next year.
Schools and colleges don't have a choice as to whether to offer the new linear format ladymuck
All the facilitating subjects apart from Maths (and FM) will have the new linear A level format from Sept 2016. There will still, however, be AS levels in Maths (and FM) and some non-facilitating subjects in 2017.

catslife · 07/12/2015 14:43

PS General Studies A level is on the list of subjects that aren't being reformed for the new linear A level and most sixth forms are phasing it out!

Ladymuck · 07/12/2015 14:42

"Their A level results this year have put them in the top 10% nationally for post 16 and they want it to stay that way."

And of course the concern is whether the league tables are measuring the same things that universities are looking for.

From what I've seen in the more academic private schools, pupils are expected to take 4 A levels. Some will do 3 plus the EPQ. The schools I've looked at have all adopted the new 2 year linear format asap, so no more AS levels for those starting next year.

catslife · 07/12/2015 14:41

I have a dd in Y11. Bright pupils are expected to choose 4 A level subjects for Y12 but they can choose to do an EPQ for their 4th subject (which is a project of their choice) if they wish.
dd is expecting to drop one subject at the end of Y12.
Pupils who just scrape the entry qualifications will be expected to take 3 subjects but may need to fill their timetable with other activities as they need to have a certain number of timetabled hours each week.

Bunbaker · 07/12/2015 13:01

At DD's school they start doing 4 and drop one at the end of year 12. Some carry on with 4, but only if the school deem that they are capable of 4 good grades.

Their A level results this year have put them in the top 10% nationally for post 16 and they want it to stay that way.

dingit · 07/12/2015 12:58

Dd is in year 12 at a selective academy. Doing 4 As and critical thinking. She will drop PE at A2, mainly because she has to take part in a competitive sport to carry on. So A2 will be maths, physics chemistry.
So far so good, but come back and ask in a few months!

GloriaHotcakes · 07/12/2015 12:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NorthernLurker · 07/12/2015 12:27

Dd is right. Three good is better than 4 mediocre but expect pressure from school to do 4. Ignore!

Stoneagemum · 07/12/2015 12:25

Watching with interest, ds's school has said choose 4 and an alternative we have looked at is saying 4 or the equivalent to if combining with a BTEC