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

A way to do computer science

31 replies

Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 16:43

Hi,
DD has come home today saying her ICT teacher was surprised she hasn't chosen computer science as one of her GCSE options (they've not officially been told they have their choices yet) and said it was a shame she isn't doing it as she is the best out of the whole year (not a MN brag but that's what she said).

Anyway, I've emailed the tescher to ask if there is any possible way of her doing it but without dropping her chosen subjects of geography, French and art. My idea was she could drop mandatory RE/Philosophy and Ethics or, because she's chosen triple science, that she could perhaps swap physics (her least fave science) for computer science instead,

Anybody know or think the above might be do-able?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Verbena37 · 12/05/2016 10:54

I think DD was confused after the teacher said she surprised she had chosen CS GCSE because of her love of and high ability in ICT? However, she doesn't want to be behind her peers who have done triple science when it comes to doing biology A level.

She defo doesn't want to drop art.....she is really skilled at it and loves it and because her other subjects are very academic, she wants to do (albeit a lot of coursework) for a relaxing, more fun aspect. Byes, I know it's hard work and she knows that too but to her, her personality and skill is shown through her art and she feels calm and relaxed whenever she does it. I think in a world of stress and pressure, that's important if she wants to do it.

OP posts:
GiddyOnZackHunt · 12/05/2016 10:01

This business of triple science really annoys me. I was utterly crap at one of the three subjects, hated one and loved one. Had I not been able to do just that one science at O Level I wouldn't have done any. And then not done it at A level. Or the maths that was obligatory with it. I probably wouldn't be doing my job now and that would be a shame because I'm good at it.

schbittery · 12/05/2016 09:52

As well as Maths and 3 sciences I meant - which are essentil to keep her option open for STEM I think

schbittery · 12/05/2016 09:51

If she is good at Maths and Sciences she should consider doing CS as well I'd say - instead of something she clearly wont use in the future like Art/RS - i.e she has a scientific/technical bent and is most probably going to pursue a career in science or technology. I work in IT, although I did a biological science at Uni, and as others have said, this is an excellent career choice for girls at the moment because they are literally crying out for more women to address their terrible diversity stats. The place where I am working at the moment just hired a female CTO who has announced a program to employ more women because the IT Dept is only 7% female. Where from though? In the 20 years I've been in a technical role in computing I have never, ever had another female in my team (5 companies) Seriously, any woman coming out of uni with a CS degree could waltz onto any graduate program I'd have though as there are so few of them in this country - also science subjects to a lesser extent.

Ricardian · 12/05/2016 09:08

Computer systems engineering degrees which often involve hardware also have Maths as an essential subject and also prefer Physics or electronics.

Yeah, but that's stretching "Computer Science" a bit. The Computer Systems Engineering courses at Manchester and Warwick are hosted in the CS department and don't need physics or electronics; the places that want physics or electronics are hosting CSE in the EE department, like Bath. It's an Elec Eng degree with a bit of computing, for example:

www.bath.ac.uk/catalogues/2015-2016/ee/UEEE-AFM13.html

Yes, if you want to do elec eng, you'll need physics. But few people would describe those as Computer Science degrees.

InsufficientlyCaffeinated · 12/05/2016 09:01

Of all the subjects CS is probably the easiest to self-teach, there are loads of online resources and you can learn just by tinkering if you have the aptitude for it.
There are loads of outside of school CS classes for children too. Look in to Code Club & similar

catslife · 12/05/2016 08:43

Ricardian I think I may be using a broader definition of Computing type degrees. Computer science usually is software development i.e. programming - the key subject is Maths. Computer systems engineering degrees which often involve hardware also have Maths as an essential subject and also prefer Physics or electronics.
My OH did a fairly broad based Computing degree that involved both aspects but the uni no longer offer this course.
In regards to the OP agree that your dd should stick to the subjects that she has chosen, if that is what she would like to do. Taking a particular subject because someone else want you to do it (whether it's a teacher or a parent or even a friend) isn't a good idea.

Original poster
Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 22:30

DD has decided herself that she is best off sticking to triple science. She probably wouldn't take computer science at A level and defo not maths and so wants to stay put with the options she has chosen.

OP posts:
Ricardian · 11/05/2016 21:03

The greatest correlation for Computer Science is being good at Maths.

Correct: the vast majority of selective courses either want A Level maths, or will want A Level maths within a couple of admission cycles. A couple already want further maths, and that can only increase. Without maths, your options for applying for selective CS degrees are somewhat restricted: there are some departments that don't require it, but my informed opinion is that the number will drop over the next few years and will ask for computing in place of maths anyway; it looks like, based on the first few cohorts, that getting an A in computing without also getting an A in maths is rare.

A level Maths is usually essential and they prefer Physics too

I'm not aware of any CS courses which require physics. Do you have an example in mind?

Original poster
Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 20:41

That's really useful. Thanks everyone.
I think DD should stick to triple science.

OP posts:
DixieNormas · 11/05/2016 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catslife · 11/05/2016 20:35

Napnah it is possible to take A level Science subjects from Double Science but it is more work to catch up at the start of the course. It's only a problem if a ppuil moves to a school or college where everyone else has taken Triple Science.
As other people have said for Triple Science you have to study all 3 Sciences.This is because out there in the real world there isn't this division between the Science subjects. Many advances in Life Sciences involve Biochemistry for example and polymer/materials Science involves both Chemistry and Physics. Developments in Artificial Intelligence could involve Computer Science, Physics and Biology.
The greatest correlation for Computer Science is being good at Maths. At dds school the pupils doing best in this subject at GCSE are those who are in the top set for Maths not those who were "best" at IT. For degree level Computer Science, A level Maths is usually essential and they prefer Physics too. So if your dd doesn't really like Physics perhaps CS isn't the best way forward.

Napnah · 11/05/2016 19:12

I wouldn't recommend anyone take science a levels without triple science gcse

Original poster
Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 18:55

Napnah, in theory at DDs school, you don't.

OP posts:
Original poster
Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 18:54

She is excellent at ICT and yes, we realise it isn't ICT.
She loves the idea of robotics and computer game design.
I've sent her the BBC bitesize info on it.

I understand that all science is interlinked but for example, before my A levels, I wanted to do French, biology and Geography.....because I wanted to be a midwife. School said no to biology unless I did maths! I wasn't going to do maths. I got B at GCSE but I didn't want to do A level maths.
You don't need a level maths to be a midwife. I gave up on my idea of being a midwife because my parents didn't fight for me to not do maths or chemistry with the biology so I didn't choose biology.....I chose German and scraped a D at A level.

I know my DD isn't me but the way schools send kids along the path they don't really want, not allowing them to choose the GCSEs they really want, is really sad.

OP posts:
Napnah · 11/05/2016 18:54

If you are thinking of science a levels you need triple science at gcse

Napnah · 11/05/2016 18:54

Dd2 loves computer science. School had allowed her to do it instead of compulsory RE (but personally I think RE is a good subject to do and if she'd wanted to do art I would have talked her out of that instead Grin)

bojorojo · 11/05/2016 18:50

If she really wants Animal Behaviour, then Chemistry and Biology are the best options to take at A level. They probably would like Maths too. This is rather the oppposite of Computer Science that would like Maths and Physics. Keep all doors open now and see what happens for A level. She is not there yet and Computer Science could be picked up then as lots of schools do not offer it for GCSE. Also, ICT is different to computer science. Does she like Maths? That is a better indicator.

sendsummer · 11/05/2016 18:45

If she does want to consider an online course this one would be worth looking at www.cambridgegcsecomputing.org/faq

Is she excellent at ICT or computer science ? The former does n't really predict for enjoyment of the latter

Ricardian · 11/05/2016 18:26

Such a shame the subjects aren't taught separately in triple science.

The whole point is that science isn't remotely as separate as that. X-Ray Crystallography: developed by physicists, used by chemists to solve biologists' problems.

pulpi · 11/05/2016 18:18

I'm learning a lot here - I had no idea that it wasn't possible to pick and choose which sciences you want to study! The differences between Canada and the UK continue to surprise me!

If your DD is interested in the design side of computer science, dropping Art might not be a good idea. I mention this only because a good friend of mine is an artist and a computer scientist - the two are definitely not mutually exclusive! Then again, art classes can always be picked up outside of school. It all depends on which aspect of computer science interests your DD.

Original poster
Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 18:09

Such a shame the subjects aren't taught separately in triple science.
It would be annoying for her to play catchup for a level biology then if she had only done 2/3 of it as GCSE.

OP posts:
Original poster
Verbena37 · 11/05/2016 17:19

Hmm, lots to consider then.

She chose her current options because she loves them and is good at them. She did consider computer science but couldn't choose them all.

A friend just suggested her doing a computer science course online at some point instead. That's something I hadn't considered.

OP posts:
TheSecondOfHerName · 11/05/2016 17:15

In most schools, you can't pick and choose between the sciences. You either do three sciences or a double GCSE which is still made up of topics from three sciences. If she changed to double science to accommodate Computer Science, she would be giving up the equivalent of 1/3 of a Biology GCSE, 1/3 of a Physics GCSE and 1/3 of a Chemistry GCSE.

DS2 (Y9) is studying the new Computer Science GCSE (OCR) and is finding it interesting.

TeenAndTween · 11/05/2016 17:12

To clarify re timetabling.

At DD's school the mandatory RE doesn't take as many hours as an option.
Also at DD's school, Triple science isn't timetabled as separate Physics, Chemistry and biology, just as 'Science'. they may concentrate on 2 subjects at a time, e.g. Start with Biology & Chemistry, then switch to Biology and Physics. etc. So it wouldn't be practical to drop one of the sciences and just do the other two.