Unwanted School Imposition

It’s probably worth saying that the Combined Science content, in the new curriculum, is actually very close to the old Triple content - so the gap to A level is much smaller than it used to be. Dd did Combined, got 99 and went on to far exceed the marks of many of her triple-taking classmates at A level. There was a single unit in Y13 (none in Y12) where she had not covered required GCSE content that was covered in triple, and the school taught it again anyway as the triple - takers had forgotten it....

She started at Oxbridge last week. No issues at all with ‘only’ taking double Science at GCSE - all thr admissions tutors said that ot was always grades, not numbers, they would look at - so 99 much better than 887, for example.

Oxford admissions for instance consider GCSEs alongside As.

Even for Medicine, Oxford happily accept Combined Science at GCSE. Grades matter-not the science option picked. It is not the ‘dummy’ option you seem to think it is, OP.

Level of attainment in Science and Mathematics
There are no formal GCSE requirements for Medicine. However, in order to be adequately equipped for the BMAT and for the academic demands of the course, and if Biology, Physics or Mathematics have not been taken to A-level (or equivalent), applicants will need to have received a basic education in those subjects (for example at least a grade C/4 at GCSE, Intermediate 2 or Standard grade (Credit) or equivalent; the GCSE Dual Award Combined Sciences is also appropriate).

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/medicine

And I find it shocking that an employer is wilfully discriminating against potential employees based on inaccurate and biased judgement as opposed to factual knowledge and I hope a future candidate raises their own ‘judicial review’ against the OP’s company for such practices.

I've just seen you've said his true love is history!
What are you doing? Stop buggering about with science, let him pass the double and focus on his humanities subjects!

Double Science has been a very normal subject for a long time - I did it back in school. It doesn't in any way stop you doing Science at A Level.

If you're really bothered that he will be missing out on one area, eg physics or biology, whichever interests him the most, get him a tutor and do some studying in your own time at home.

Taking the LA to court over this sound ridiculous and a massive overreaction for A GCSE subject. It seems like you've misunderstood what the Double Science is, sorry.

Who is telling you the average marks are "appalling"? - would it be your sone by any chance?

Sorry, cooking. About 80%. Don't want to leave the scores for this years year average here in case of breadcrumbs - but appalling, hence why they're in panic stations.

saying "80%" doesn't mean anything at all, unless you know the grade boundaries. We have no idea if you are comparing like with like.

YOu can't compare end of topic tests with a full mock, for example. 80% in end of topic tests is likely to translate into something more like 40% in a full mock.

I doubt anyone is at "panic stations". I expect the school has the expertise and experience to evaluate and extrapolate from the results, and the result of that was to put your child in double science, from triple.

They will have done similar every year for very many years.

Combined science has less science in it than Triple science. There are areas not covered in CS and while you can of course do A-level science, there will be some areas other students will have a slight head start in.
There is nothing wrong in pushing your child to do better.

But as has already been explained numerous times, doing double science does not preclude doing 3 science A levels. Some schools only offer double science, but children at those schools still go on take science A levels and degrees. Although it's a moot point as it doesn't appear OP's son is likely to do science A level anyway.

And the point is that it isn't pushing the child to do 'better', it's pushing them to do 'more' which might actually be counter-productive…

Sorry in my SEcondly comment I meant to say as the latter point are they only doing the combined course now and not offering separate sciences.

@LisaRear

There are a number of issues. First Judicial Review in normal times would take at least 3 to 5 months. However at present there is a large backlog of cases in the court system and I would be very surprised that this would be of any use to you in seeking to win a judgment to force the school to change their decision, unless you want your son to repeat year 11 which I suspect would not be the case if he is a high achiever anyway and probably not possible within the state system in any event.

Secondly, is the school still running the separate sciences too and your son has just been redirected to the combined sciences course? If the latter then I would seriously let it drop. Some schools only do combined sciences and as stated above pupils still go on to do STEM A levels and STEM degrees at Oxbridge and other RG/high end unis.

If they are running separate sciences still and you insist on your son taking that route against their advice then that is a different matter.

It would be a case of on your (your son's) head be it were he to take separate sciences and end up with poorer grades.

If History is his passion at present I would assume he would be selecting that at A level maybe. When does he have to select his A level choices, around February maybe?

Funnily enough, FIL opposed the school over a similar issue with DH's step-brother's science GCSEs. As FIL happened to be a Governor the school gave way and changed his set back.

We never actually found out what Dstepbro's exact results were, only that he didn't get into sixth form.

I can't fathom why you would risk a history student's uni place for this.

I don't know why people are so upset.

Combined science has less science in it than Triple science. There are areas not covered in CS and while you can of course do A-level science, there will be some areas other students will have a slight head start in.

There is nothing wrong in pushing your child to do better.

I would be very content as a compromise for the school to have my child do 2 science in school and one at home. But state inflexible, unlike paid.

Combined science (aka double) is still three subjects, just at lesser depth than Triple.

It is normal for schools to decide who is allowed to do 3 sciences and who isn't. The decision is taken according to likely end result. No one can see into the future, predicted grades are "likely" not definite. Sometimes if students feel very strongly, we do allow individuals judged best off in double science to attempt triple science, but only for a limited period, and we move them back to double before entries are done, if they have not demonstrated higher achievements.

You can ask the school for a longer trial period, they might agree to that, but the end result might well be the same.

It does sound like your son would be better off doing double, and getting higher grades. He might have got high grades previously, but clearly not in the exam that really mattered, which might have been under circumstances far closer to real GCSE exams than his previous tests - they might have been based on individual units, much shorter, or open book tests, for example

Wow, you have been so spectacularly rude, particularly to @Comefromaway.
I cannot imagine why his school aren't really engaging with you
Thank goodness he's not at my school is all I can say.

Anyhoos. Do take a look round the rest of MN while you're here.

I have no doubt your refreshing tone and commitment to a thread would be welcome right across the site.

Whats the drop off OP - where does your son normally sit attainment wise in science and what were the results of this test - whether that is in form of a % mark or a GCSE grade or schools own grading system

@LisaRear

"Mother knows best?"

Mother knows how to end up with an adult son who wants absolutely nothing to do with her, that's for sure

The thing is, even if you are totally right and your DS would recover to get 9,9,9 I still don't think talk of legal action is the right thing to do.

Neither do I think attempting to do the subjects independently. If nothing else, the school has to sign off he has done/seen the required practicals.

By all means have a proper conversation with the school, but let the school do its job, and then support your DS in whatever they decide.

I can confirm that @Comefromaway is always supportive and helpful (on this thread and plenty of others).

You don't really want to hear any alternative views by the sound of it.

I've been on this website since 2002 and I can honestly hand on heart say I have only ever been supportive to posters looking for advice. I do like to deal in facts and will not give incorrect and misleading information or advice to anyone.

I am pretty sure that the other posters on this particular thread will not agree that I have been at all snarky.

Sciences are an odd one. My ds was considered Ed able enough in science to do them 3 separately but he struggles a lot with reading and it required quite a large amount of independent study.

He did the combined and got a double 9.

It's likely he'd have had 7,8,8 separately so it worked out better in the end.