Unwanted School Imposition

And being bumped down to foundation would have a massive detrimental effect on someone wanting to study a science A level.

I agree with prior posters too that legal action would take too long and cause unnecessary stress and conflict with the school. You have to also consider effects on your DS as he will be in that school every day interacting with teachers and staff that will be aware his parents are taking the school to court, because you are asserting he is capable above his actual scores and should have special treatment compared to his peers. To be frank, this will not incentivise the staff to do any extra help or mentoring of him in his studies. You will be sending him to unfriendly territory every day. How incentivised will they be when it comes to writing recommendations for sixth form? You could do a lot of harm to your DS future by getting adversarial with the school instead of working with them.

Most students studying a level sciences did combined because many schools only teach combined, he will need the double certificate though. My dd is at a top university and she did double science.

Do have a meeting (or phone call) with the school first. You appear to be approaching this from the standpoint that doing combined science is a detriment, and that’s far from established.

Like everyone else has said, combined science isn’t easier. There are simply fewer modules (topic areas)covered. But the missing ones are not the ‘harder’ ones otherwise schools presumably wouldn’t allow pupils with combined to progress to A Level.

I’ve also never put actual GCSE subjects on a CV.

Probably get strong grades whatever route they take this year what with the grade boundary decision taken last week. So use your evidence and push for what you want.

The school will either bend to your will or it won't.

If it doesn't what are your options?

1. Move schools
2. Privately enter & tutor
3. Suck it up.

So probably the situation is something like this.

Your DS has so far been taught most of the combined science syllabus. He has underperformed on tests showing he hasn't grasped/learned this content to a high enough standard.

School has two options

1. Drop him to combined so he has less new content to learn and can instead spend time consolidating and improving his knowledge of the combined content

2. Continue with the additional content for triple at the same pace they have been teaching at so far, which your DS for whatever reason hasn't been keeping up with. Limited reviewing of content covered up to now.

With triple there are more topics, but the content of each topic is to the same depth as with combined.
If however he continues to struggle with triple he may be bumped down to foundation, which does have less detail, and is capped at 5s.

Oxford admissions for instance consider GCSEs alongside As.

And Oxford would rather 2 x 9 than 3 x 7....

further maths comes under a different funding hence why some sixth forms offer it
@OnTheBenchOfDoom
Are you sure? AFAIAA only ESFA fund A Levels, all subjects. There is additional Maths Premium available, but it applies to Maths A Level, not just Further Maths.

"There are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge. GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, but within the context of the performance of the school/college where they were achieved.

Applicants have generally achieved high grades in subjects relevant to their chosen course, and most students who apply have at least four or five 7/8/9s at GCSE

Our research shows that post-16 examination performance is a much better predictor of degree success at Cambridge. "

That doesn't follow. If the missing science was replaced with another subject then that would be the same overall number. If it wasn't - as in Combined Science - then it would not.

But how would you know what an applicant would have done?

Candidate A has 10 GCSEs including Combined Science. Candidate B has 10 GCSEs including Physics and Chemistry (no Biology). So you discriminate against the first but not the second?

@LisaRear, you're obviously certain that you know best and have already consulted a lawyer. Many people have taken the trouble to post with advice, but I am finding your replies both arrogant and dismissive. What are you hoping to achieve from this thread?

Because if I saw combined science on a CV it would cause me to have some initial assumptions.

But that would only happen if he left school after GCSEs? If he’s going to do A levels and not go to university, then A levels would be on CV. If he goes to university, then only his degree(s) will be on CV.

You do realise that all schools do a different number of GCSE's? The average is 9 but some do 8 and a few do 10.

Have you talked to any Oxbridge admissions tutors recently? Oxford look at overall GCSE performance and would expect mostly 7, 8 and 9's but they are much more interested in A level results. Most RH universities look at either the best 6 or best 8 GCSE results. Some use a scoring system and lower grades at triple science would score lower than higher grades at combined science.

If it's a selective school,then it's likely they're an academy, in which case they answer to DfE and an LA judicial review would be of no use, surely?

FWIW, I have a Y11 child currently, taking dual science as they didn't want to lose an option choice which is what happens for those opting for triple science in her school. It's a super-selective grammar, and plenty of those choosing to take dual science go on to study science A Levels without difficulty. She's on track for 9-9, and has already been told she'll be welcome to take chemistry and physics A levels.

I really don't think you know what you're talking about, despite trying so very hard to sound well educated & superior.

Your best first step (as others have said) would be to speak to the school, to hear direct from them why they’ve taken this step.

If you’re determined to take legal action, go ahead, but be aware of what it can and can’t achieve. JR (if it goes ahead) will examine whether the school’s decision was reasonable in the legal sense and you might struggle to persuade the court that it wasn’t, if (as you seem to be saying) the decision is based on tests in which your son under-performed. Your legal adviser should be able to assess your chances of success.

8,8 would look better on a CV than 6,6,6 any day of the week, (and for Oxford).