Triple Science

user yes, if I was massively behind program, and my clients were going to miss out because of my poor time management/forward planning, then my boss might well expect me to do unpaid overtime for a period to get back on track.

but this is in no way related to any time management or lack of forward planning by the teachers, is it.

User Many schools do offer catch up sessions after school, but my expectation would be that staff are paid for the extra time many staff do, and the staff you are cheerfully volunteering for MORE, already are offering lots, I'm sure - and no, they are not paid

DH would say it's not 'dropping back' or 'dropping down' to double, it's changing course.

user yes, if I was massively behind program, and my clients were going to miss out because of my poor time management/forward planning, then my boss might well expect me to do unpaid overtime for a period to get back on track. I'm the actual situation we are talking about, much depends on whether the problem is that the students aren't up to the workload (in which case dropping back to double seems sensible) or whether the timetabling and forward planning is to blame.

User Many schools do offer catch up sessions after school, but my expectation would be that staff are paid for the extra time and I would appreciate that some schools may not be able to offer this.
I also agree that there could be other reasons for the school having to make this decision. However if it was that some pupils were not keeping up with the pace needed for Triple science, I don't think it's unreasonable for the OP to find out whether her ds in this in category and then inquire if some provision could be made for the "most able" to continue. If the reason for the 4 hours timetables for Science is due to staff shortages then I think the school should have been upfront with this rather than just stating the problems are down to "exam changes."

extra hours for no py, to redo what would already have been offered during lessons, but not done by the students
There is no suggestion from the school of that, the OP said they said they are 80 hours behind covering the course.
Many schools do extra lessons to cover the course, so not totally outrageous, and there's also an element of providing what you offered ( so if the school misjudged it, do what is needed to let the kids complete the course, even if you drop it from the timetable for the next year of kids), rather than just giving up without discussing the problem (which is not a great exams for the kids...).

So, why don't more schools drop an option for those taking triple science, like they do at DD's school?

e.g. by offering some extra lessons after school.

right, so having worked a 60-70 hour week (minimum) you are now volunteering the staff to undertake extra hours for no py, to redo what would already have been offered during lessons, but not done by the students, in a department that I can GUARANTEE isn't fully staffed, as we have a massive national shortfall in science teachers.

each hour teaching carries the additional hours assessment and planning.

so how would you feel if you were expected to stay an hour later at work for nothing, as well as taking an extra couple of hours work home with you, which will benefit no one, on top of the hours you are already doing?

it is an outrageously spoilt and entitled suggestion.

Both my DCs did triple science before the new system (but in the last 6 years); their school did 2 extra lessons after school per week because it didn't fit into the school day. So I'm surprised they're blaming the new system, it was always a squeeze, but most schools an ahead and find a solution.

Just to be clear, that's nothing to do with the fact she's done double-it's just how students with Bs tend to do.

He said there would be no issue as long as she gained BB in double science (alongside at least 3 other Grade B & 3 Grade C's)

There might be no problem with starting but if you look at what grades people going in with Bs get the majority will get Cs, Ds and Es, and that's of the students who actually make it to the end.

If you look at degree requirements you can track back to see which A levels are essential.
Our school said in past years about 50% of each A level science pupils had done double, 50% triple, and there was no discernible difference in individual A level results.

I have reservations about the way the school are handling this OP. OK they are behind but surely there are things that the school could do to help those who still want to take Triple to "catch up" e.g. by offering some extra lessons after school. As they are still Y10 surely there's still time to do this now? Perhaps it could be possible for pupils to have extra timetabled lessons in Y11 so they do have 6 hours a week, even if it means dropping another subject. How many GCSEs are they taking altogether?
Yes the exams and content have changed, however there is also no coursework/controlled assessments. Under the old system, quite a lot of teaching time in Y11 was taken up by preparing pupils for 3 controlled assessments : one for Biology, one for Physics and one for Chemistry and although they still need to carry out practical work the same amount of time won't be needed for the new courses.

It's poor planning on the part of the school.

DS1's school offered triple (separate sciences) as an option AND dropped a GCSE so they can concentrate on getting fewer but better results because they anticipated that the new GCSEs would be harder.

Y10 are doing the EBacc (Eng Lang, Eng Lit, Maths, Science x 2, MFL, History or Geography) plus RE plus one option.

It is limiting on the options, but DS1 wanted to put the work in at GCSE rather than catch up for A level Physics, which he needs for career.

Clavinova - head of chemistry is ds's form tutor.

I emailed him to say dd is at a school that only offers double science (they decided to offer triple for the first time ever 6 months later). Would that be a problem if she wished to apply to your 6th form.

He said there would be no issue as long as she gained BB in double science (alongside at least 3 other Grade B & 3 Grade C's)

"Me neither-there's a huge jump to a level in sciences."

DD achieved A* in all her sciences at triple science, and can confirm that A level sciences are hard.

I wouldn't recommend any student with only 'a B grade equivalent in double science' taking science A levels - certainly not Chemistry or Physics.

Me neither-there's a huge jump to a level in sciences.

"There is never a need to have triple science, even if taking chemistry, biology and physics at A Level."

This is absolutely right. I have three science a levels and two science degrees with double award.

Yes, in a class where some people have done both double and triple science gcse there's a catch up period but usually by Christmas there's no difference. There are no differences in final grades between double and triple scienctists, except where schools only allow the top sets to do triple so you'd expect those students who weren't allowed to take triple to do less well.

But a 'B' grade in double science? Have you checked the minimum entry requirements for science A levels at the selective school?

Well that's what the head of chemistry at a selective school (best a level results in the county) said they require. He said some of their best A level grades came from former double scientists.

I wouldn't recommend any student with only 'a B grade equivalent in double science' taking science A levels - certainly not Chemistry or Physics.

If only - the old grading system GCSE is very very different. There is a lot more content in the new GCSE.

I wouldn't be happy either. My DD is in Year 11 and doing triple science - she gets just under 5 hours a week. Physics are now asking them to do an extra lesson one lunchtime a week. They won't have time to teach two biology modules but DD is adamant she still wants that A* so will do her best to self teach. Chemistry they had one lesson on one module. I'm going to ask if some of the revision sessions can include the modules they've missed. She reckons if you're bright enough and working hard you can self teach. This comes from one who always struggled to stay in the top set, so likely to struggle more with triple.

There is the general feeling amongst the Year 11s doing triple that they'd have missed quite a bit by doing double science. I know it's extra cost of having someone available, but could one of the teachers give them an extra lesson at lunchtime or after school?

I have to admit my DD is on the old grading system so maybe it's not so hard, but she hasn't had any more homework from science than other subject, hasn't found it any more stressful and is coping with the catching up she has to do. Her school don't drop an option to do triple science, so she's doing 11 GCSEs.

"What does he want to do career wise? Does he need to take all three sciences? DS is taking separate physics and chemistry and has dropped biology. Is this an option if your DS doesn't need to take all 3?"

My friend's son is doing the same. It means that other 6th form colleges won't let him do A level biology because he isn't doing any form of chemistry at GCSE. You really need some chemistry to do A level biology.

I believe that most schools take the double/triple science route rather than separate sciences, but I am happy to be corrected on this.

DD is at 6th form in a state comprehensive and they had 60 students out of 270 in her year take triple science.