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Last year dd predicted B in science. Now getting Es

29 replies

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 15/12/2015 18:27

She's in year 10. Was on track for B in science. Chose double science rather than triple as she couldn't do graphics if she did triple due to timetable clash and graphics is her passion.

I had concerns about science teaching this year and wrote a long letter to the head just after half term. Her chemistry teacher had been off sick and the supply teacher was useless. Was teaching them biology rather than chemistry. Dd had no homework from any of her three science teachers in the first half term.

The head emailed me back saying HoY would contact m. Sh did and said she had spoken to the head of science who had no idea the teachers weren't setting homework. And this would now be sorted. I was thanked for contacting the school. Normal chemistry teacher came back off the sick.

Dd has had some end of term exams, got an E for physics, D for biology and hasn't got her chemistry Mark back yet. Other subjects she's hpgetting A, A* and Bs. So I don't think it's her messing about.

She says she still hasn't had any science homework. She says her biology teacher is useless and talks to fast and that loads of kids talk/mess about.....which I can believe as school has a terrible problem with behaviour.

In fact when I wrote the letter about the science homework I also complained about behaviour in Geography lessons as dd said it was like a riot at times and the teacher couldn't cope. When the HoY rang me she said the parents of the worst behaved kids had been called into school and that the kids had been threatened with suspension, so it must have been bad.

Do I complain again? About the behaviour and the lack of homework? Or do I just give up, accept the school are shit and don't give a toss? Get her some revision books and tell her to get on with it herself? I really don't think complaining is going to help.

OP posts:
WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 15/12/2015 20:40

Will email the school tomorrow and ask them what's going on, also. Find out which exam board they use.

Thanks for the TES tip, will have a look for resources there.

Dd has started vomiting. I suspect because I pointed out they get given their reports to bring home tomorrow and I reckon she doesn't want to bring her report home.

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 15/12/2015 20:28

Either way I would strongly recommend revision guides.
make sure you get them specific to the board and current spec.
They will have everything they need to know and nothing extra.

Has the spec changed for the new year 10s? If not, then looking at past exam papers and related mark schemes (available online) is an invaluable part of revision.

strawberryandaflake · 15/12/2015 20:02

If she's not getting homework then there are plenty of online resources you can give her. Sign up on the TES site and there are millions of worksheets and tasks and power points for free. Now is a good time to teach her about being resourceful.

Write to the governors, not the head if you want something done.

Good luck! X

seven201 · 15/12/2015 19:58

I would contact the school again. There is quite a difference between a current grade and a predicted grade. It also depends how different subject choose to set the boundaries for tests. I'm not saying 'all is fine, don't worry' but it is something to be aware of. It does sounds like the science department is a bit rubbish but unfortunately recruiting good science teachers is notoriously hard. I would get her some study guides and support as much as you can at home too.

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