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Original poster

Why would a secondary school NOT offer triple science GCSEs?

77 replies

OutOfSite · 23/06/2023 11:08

A friend's DD is in year 7 and they've discovered that the school doesn't offer triple science GCSEs only combined science GCSE. The school does have a have a sixth form and offers biology, chemistry and physics A Levels. This is a big, well funded school that offers a range of different GCSEs and A Levels plus a lot of vocational qualifications.

Why would the school only offer combined science GCSE, and does it matter if the DC wants to go on to take science A Levels at the sixth form?

OP posts:
JemimaTiggywinkles · 23/06/2023 11:18

Possibly due to not having enough subject specialists for gcse as well as a level (particularly physics). If you are in an area which is particularly struggling for teachers (ie somewhere expensive to live so that teaching isn't attractive) it is probably this.

Or they may think that breadth of study is too limited if students selected separate science as an option. If the kids only take 8 GCSEs it is more likely to be this.

Wrt it being a problem - it depends. The teachers at that school will be used to pitching A level to begin at the combined science level. However, if DC move to a different school (where the A level students almost all take separates) it may be more difficult - particularly if the DC is taking more than 1 science A level.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 23/06/2023 11:12

Is this a recent change or has it never offered triple science? I'm aware there's a huge recruitment crisis in teaching at the moment and I can only imagine it's worst of all trying to recruit Maths and Science graduates. Could that be it?

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