DD not being allowed to do Triple Science, really wants to, anything we can do?

Some really depressing comments. OPs DD is a solid grade A/B student. There's absolutely no reason why she shouldn't take triple science. We shouldn't be rarioning education at age 15.

Not really. There’s just more content. There’s a foundation option. Not that this applies for OP’s daughter. Sounds like she’s doing pretty well with a MEG of 7.

Science teacher here.

From experience, students get spread too thinly with separates. So there’s a chance of ending up with say, grade 4’s in B, C & P rather than ‘2 grade 7’s in science’. Separates is much harder and significantly more content, which explains the dip in grades that often (but don’t always) happen when they were previously working at a higher combined grade.

If it was my child I’d take it upon myself to prove that she is currently capable of achieving the same grade (or better) such as by giving her exam condition mocks at home in separates, prove her maths is good enough, ask exactly why they say only grade 8 and above can do separates such as is it a class size issue or a ‘spread too thin’ issue described above, for example. See what they say to the evidence in your case as it would be obviously wrong to deny her the opportunity if she is going to excel!

This is ridiculous. I have kids in my triple class with MEGs (minimum expected grades) of 4. They end up doing the foundation paper but still enjoy the course.

Not allowing your enthusiastic daughter to do the triple course is crazy!

Triple science is not harder (there's just more of it). My DC took triple science and got grades lower than 7s.

Some schools do have the rule that they have limited places for triple science and offer to top sets first though. So may be something like that.

Schools vary massively in how they approach this.

Some do not do triple at all and everyone has to do double.

Some make people apply for triple and only have one group doing it.

Some make triple an option but let anyone choose it

Some have an "express" set who do triple in the time everyone else does double (this sounds quite likely for your school if they want everyone to be predicted 8s and 9s.)

Some make nearly everyone do triple and only a few drop down do double.

The best way to get her in the triple course is to make a nuisance of yourself. Do best in mind that they may have started in year 9 so she may have missed content, and if it is genuinely an express set they'll be going like a rocket.

If you are going to move schools be wary of the above. Not all schools offer triple at all,

That's out of order. I would move schools ASAP because if that's their attitude...it doesn't bode well in other areas.

My DC school let anyone who wants it, do triple science. There are tons of options so if you are choosing triple, it's probably because you like it regardless of predicted grade (7 is great anyway!). The triple classes are great and in my opinion easier than a whole new subject. The leap to A level is huge and I wouldn't recommend less than a GCSE 8 taking A level because it's a slog, but if she can get 3 7s that's fantastic!

Have they already started the course? In Dd1's school triple science is compulsory and they start in year 9 to ensure they cover it all by year 11.

Another local school does triple science in the same time the rest do double, so they really have to work hard to get to grips with it all. The triple science kids get 10 GCSEs and the rest get 9.

It would be interesting to know whether there are any boys with a 7 doing triple science.

Is this a requirement for a future career she’s aiming for.

But is that class full? I guess that’s the decider. If there’s no room for her because she joined late, that might be tricky to challenge.
If she’s set on wanting to do triple, and they won’t budge, then I would be looking elsewhere. Do it quickly if so, and make sure to check the whole range of options that she wants. But it may also affect other option choices. DD is doing triple but could only choose 3 ‘options’ as a result. She’s doing what she wanted but for other kids, that could be an issue.
I don’t know about the harder/easier thing, as all kids bar those predicted very low grades get entered for triple and are divided into foundation and higher sets. A child predicted 7s would be a strong candidate here though.

I would raise this with the school and explain how your daughter is really desperate to do triple. If it is the speed at which they cover the syllabus that they are worried about, would you be able to get a tutor to give some extra support.

I would wager a shortage of science teachers is the main reason

Given there is a triple class already, she should be able to join it - she's not asking for an extra teacher so that's not an excuse.

Awful attitude of the school.

Insane, 7 is an excellent grade!!

Surely triple science is not harder- its just more work? As GCSEs are meant to be comparable in difficulty.

A good line of argument here would be that her old school predicted the grade not knowing it would impact her options . So they probably erred on the safe side. Her predicted grade is not comparable to others at the new school.

I must say I find this approach stupid. The economy is crying out for scientists and we are telling kids not to bother unless they are top of the class.

I would definitely challenge that. My DD got a grade 4,6,7 in her end of year 10 exams, and she’s just got 9,9,9 in the real things. If a child is motivate they can do well.

I would wager a shortage of science teachers is the main reason.

Is there space in a triple science class or is the"7" just an excuse?

Most schools would allow anyone predicted a 7 to do triple science (unless there were time tabling issues or some other reason). A predicted 7 is perfectly acceptable and could easily be turned into a 8 with some hard work.

The only issue in this case would be if it was being carried out during the same number of lessons as combined science and not timetabled as an option. That way, one person predicted a 7 may well find it hard to keep up if everyone else is predicted 8/9s.

Absolutely complain to the school. They cannot exclude her from triple science on the basis that she got a 'predicted' grade of a 7 at her old school because they do not know what that prediction was based on, and it could easily put her at a disadvantage compared to their own pupils.

They cannot be based on KS2 SATs results which would be the normal method of prediction because her year group didn't sit them.

I would want a thorough explanation of the assumption that she wouldn't be capable of triple science.

Why does she want to do triple? If she is seriously thinking about at least one A level science, I think that she should.

OTOH, double science has the same rigour, just less content and, if she isn’t looking at science A levels, two great grades looks a lot better than three ok ones.

Do they give the same time to combined and triple?
What are their requirements for A level courses?

Why does she want to do triple science

Why wouldn't all students be able to do separate science regardless of predicted grade? There are foundation and higher papers so everyone should be able to do it. It definitely isn't 'much harder' than double award IMO, most of what they learn is the same. Shocked that only the top students get to choose what they want to do and everyone else's choices are limited.

Agree with complaining. We were told DC1 couldn't do triple. He ended up getting A*AA in maths & two science subjects.

Challenge the decision, challenge it again and keep on.