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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to STORM into school tomorrow and punch a teacher right in the fucking mouth?

115 replies

HeyMumma · 21/07/2011 20:24

NOT REALLY, I am a lady and would never dream of doing such a thing! Just wanted more replies to this thread.

DD (Yr9) took her options earlier this year. We were told that if there were any concerns with the choices made we would be invited to discuss it by the end of May. We did not hear anything. Had a parents evening a few weeks ago where we met next year's tutor and again nothing was said. On this evening we were also given a letter confirming the options and DD had got what she wanted which included Triple Science.

Got a call tonight from the school (last day of term tomorrow), saying that they are concerned that DD may not be able to keep up with Triple science and they strongly advise she does not take it Hmm. She is on target for Science but is behind in Maths which we are aware is a problem and will be taking steps to deal with over the summer holidays (summer cancelled for DD, she will be STUDYING).

AIBU to be furious they have decided this with only one school day before she starts Yr10 when she will be start studying what she has chosen? DD is adamant she wants to do Triple Science and we are behind her, hence the summer home schooling. Can we insist she does it? When I asked if she has a choice, I did not get a straight answer.

OP posts:
Roo83 · 21/07/2011 20:59

I understand why you're annoyed, the school should have said something sooner-you have no time now to discuss/change her options. If she's keen I'd let her go for it, enthusiasm will mean she'll probably work harder at it anyway. If she's struggling you can always get a tutor for the topics she needs extra help with

janajos · 21/07/2011 21:00

I wonder when the end of year exams were? Sometimes option choices need to be re-thought if the exams are much worse than expected! This should not happen if enough assessment has taken place through the year, but sometimes does. I would be grateful that they have flagged it up now and not waited till half-way through year 10!

Don't be unrealistic about her capabilities and listen to what the school says, they see your DD every day and have a fairly good knowledge of what she will achieve.

I am a HOD btw and have had to have a similar conversation with a mother this week.

Mobly · 21/07/2011 21:04

Thread title is horrible but attention grabbing.

Maths was not my strongest subject, I had to work at it, but I took higher level science and got all A's and managed so it's prefectly doable.

Don't pile on the pressure though, Im sure if she is bright she can manage GCSE level maths strongest subject or not.

TheSkiingGardener · 21/07/2011 21:06

The school should REALLY have flagged this up earlier. If they didn't then surely the problem is more a marginal decision. Nobody looked at her name on the triple science list and went "No Way".

If she's willing to work hard then it's her decision. I would ask some of the above questions of the school from other posters.

Original poster
HeyMumma · 21/07/2011 21:07

Haunted I think you are right on the money about class number. DD is very upset that they think she can't do it so I will insist. They did say she will find the Physics too hard as she has trouble with Maths but I am inclined to let her prove them wrong.

With regards to the summer studying, we have told her we expect at least 2 hours a day studying in Maths with our help for the first 4 weeks of the holidays (she can do AM or PM and then go out) and she will also start jogging with me in the eves so she is tired for bed so does not stay up on her laptop until 1 am! . We will be away then for a week and she can have the last week to do what she wants provided she has improved her Maths. I don't think this is unfair and she knows she needs to pull her socks up as her maths teacher has been saying for ages that she is very capable but she talks all the time and does not listen.

Thank you all.

OP posts:
startail · 21/07/2011 21:10

Your thread title is exactly what I'd have said if school had said something like that on the last day of term.
If your daughter is sure that's what she wants to do and is prepared to do a bit (and believe me it will only be a bit of Maths over the holidays) then that is what she should be allowed to do. Unless things have changed greatly there isn't a huge amount of maths in GCSE science anyway. Physics A'level yes, but not otherwise.
Polite firm letter to head of science, copied to head and or governors I think.

puddinghead · 21/07/2011 21:12

Well, if I'm to go by the title then yes YABU, no need for such language.

balia · 21/07/2011 21:17

Lots of school start the GCSE syllabus a bit early - or at least start having a practice go after the SAT's are over. Maybe the school have given her a go and she has struggled?

You need to think this over carefully and not just have a knee-jerk reaction of 'oh yes she will do it, summer over'. She's very young and has a long way to go in education (hopefully). It is a marathon, not a sprint. Any idea why she is so fixed on triple Science? DD has just done her GCSE's and was very well supported by the school but Science just isn't her thing - she has worked very hard to get C's in Double (she's forecast A's and A*'s in everything else) maybe, just maybe, they know what they are talking about?

lovesicecream · 21/07/2011 21:19

If she's on target with science what is the problem? Being behind at maths shouldn't matter, my son did triple science and was in the top set at maths, his English however was not so great, I would go and see someone and ask them why they don't think she should take it, it might be that it realy will be too much for her

basingstoke · 21/07/2011 21:30

What did she get for end KS3?

2rebecca · 21/07/2011 21:34

Is it just physics that they want her to drop? I find it weird the way you are all calling it "triple science". My kids have been doing physics chemistry and biology since starting secondary school (in Scotland)and I would have expected the teacher in the relevent science to say your child wasn't able to do it when she took her options.
If she really wants to do all 3 sciences and has been coping with them so far then saying she can't do it late in the day is bizarre. I would contact the school, say she still wishes to do all 3 and say that if her maths is the problem you will give her extra maths tuition, although it seems odd her maths teacher isn't the one complaining about her maths as there is much more maths in maths than there is in physics.

severnofnine · 21/07/2011 21:37

ok I did double award science at gcse and went on to do science at a levels and then on to cambridge. I'm now a doctor. It was a bloody long time while ago I will admit so maybe things have changed since then!?!

is there any reason why she really wants to triple science?

YANBU though to let you know so late in the day

Katisha · 21/07/2011 21:41

I do have an issue with schools telling us things right at the end of the year.
WHy can concerns not be flagged earlier?

2rebecca · 21/07/2011 21:42

Do they not call the sciences by their separate names in England any more? I'm confused by this thread as I did o levels in all 3 sciences many years ago and my kids are doing standard grades in them but I've never heard of this "double science with award" "triple science" stuff.

Rhinestone · 21/07/2011 21:45

YANBU for being furious at the school but i think YABVVVU for 'cancelling' her summer holiday and making her do 2 hours of maths a day.

You sound really horribly tiger-mother-ish. Let the poor girl have a proper break for goodness sake. If her maths fails to improve during the next school year then you can do something like get her a maths tutor. But not giving her a proper break from learning is going to do more harm than good.

Roo83 · 21/07/2011 21:48

Double award is where you get an average for the 3 sciences, AA, BB rather than a separate grade for each science.

Roo83 · 21/07/2011 21:50

Also agree 2hrs a day just on maths is loads! There's so much more to life than just school grades-let her enjoy summer and go back refreshed and ready to work hard next year

basingstoke · 21/07/2011 21:52

In England you have to study a balanced course of all three sciences. There is no option to drop one. But there are quite a number of ways to do it.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 21/07/2011 22:03

In single award science (not particularly common) you do 1 biology module, 1 chemistry module and 1 physics module. And get 1 'science' gcse.

In dual award (most common) you do 2 modules of each. You get 2 'science' gcse's.

In triple award you do 3 modules of each and get a gcse in biology, one in chemistry and 1 in physics.

In theory you can do 3 biology modules for a gcse in biology on its own.
3 chemistry modules and get a chemistry gcse on its own.
3 physics modules and get a physics gcse on its own. So in theory you can study 1 or 2 specific sciences to the exclusion of the other one(s). This is rare though.

SKYTVADDICT · 21/07/2011 22:03

DD1 has just reached the end of Yr10. She is doing triple science and struggles in maths. Having got her report yesterday she is predicted A or A* in the three sciences and maths with current grades of A or B. I just asked her and she said yes she does struggle in physics because of the maths although her current grade is A!

I think you should definitely push for your DD to try the triple.

Al0uiseG · 21/07/2011 22:04

Let her have her summer for goodness sake! It's the last stress free one for years.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 21/07/2011 22:05

And as has already been said she will do 2 thirds of the physics gcse as part of dual award...no matter how good her maths is.

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 22:09

I think you sound mad. 2 hours of maths a day? Get a life, and get a grip.

My dd has just finished year 10 - she has dyslexia and dyscalculia, and is studying triple science. The school was rather concerned that dd wouldn't be able to keep up (the kids which do triple science have the same science lesson time as those who are doing double) however we reassured them that she would work hard to keep up.

DD is useless at maths. She will barely scrape a C. This obviously ytransfers somewhat to physics, however she finds physics easier than maths because to her there is a practical application iyswim. With support and lots of study she is on course to get 3 x B in science. Which I would be delighted with.

DD is starting extra tuition in maths every week from september - I am hoping that this will keep her on course to get a C in maths, and will assist with the physics.

Let your dd have a summer holiday. The next 2 years are very stressful.

Mitmoo · 21/07/2011 22:12

What does the child want to take? Do you really want her taking a subject that she may not thrive doing?

SKYTVADDICT · 21/07/2011 22:14

I also meant to add that DD1 is going to be mentored in maths by some sixth formers from September so we are hoping that will help her. I think she would laugh us of the face of the earth if we suggested summer schooling!

Her RS report (she is taking full course) says she could do with learning some religious teachings - I suggested she should do so over summer Grin which wasn't met with much enthusiasm!