.....to think that these A'Level options clashes are ridiculous?

[EllieArroway]

My DS wants to do Maths, Physics, Chemistry and possibly Biology for his A'Levels - a fairly sensible group for anyone wanting to go into science, I would have thought.

But he can't because Physics clashes with Biology and Maths clashes with Chemistry.

There are other odd clashes too - English & History, Dance & Drama.

I know they can't please all the people all of the time but.......that's a bit strange, isn't it?

That does sound a bit strange, is it at 6th form? Is there an option for him to go to a different college where he can do what he wants?

Whoever did the timetabling should be sacked.

Those are all mainstream A levels, and it is very normal to want to do at least 3 of them in combination to each other.

I would be kicking up a fuss. Is there anywhere else he can go if they won't budge?

I think its time to change school. I agree that whoever did the timetabling needs to be sacked.

The science teachers are very apparently, unsurprisingly.

Yes, there's a really good college nearby which is an option but he'd really, really like to stay at school with his friends.

Apparently, they used some computer programme to generate the options based on what people had said they'd like to do.

I would be having a serious word with the head. No one will be going on to do medicine if you can't do maths, physics and chemistry at the same time.

That does sound like madness. Have you had a word with the school?

That's appalling. I can't think of anything helpful to say but wow, unbelievable. Excellent, solid subjects.

So you can only do two out of the four subjects you'd need for Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Science etc?

Bonkers

Perhaps when they put all applicant preferences together, clashing those options meant the fewest amount of people couldn't do their preferred selection, as bonkers as that might sound given how mainstream your selection would appear to be.

If your DS is thinking about going in to science, has he seen the booklet 'Informed Choices', drawn up by the Russell Group of top universities:
www.russellgroup.ac.uk/informed-choices.aspx
It's a resource for students choosing A levels, so as to give them advice as to what combinations of subjects they need for different university degree courses, and what combinations are useful. Have a look in there and you'll see how many science courses require Maths and Chemistry together (or Physics and Biology). You could probably navigate your way through most of those required combinations on the basis of the clashes that the school has set up, but surely, beyond things like university requirements, it is a perfectly reasonable set of things for a student to want to study together? So even if the school is working around what they think a student 'needs' for university, it's not all about that, and your DS should be able to choose these subjects together, I'd have thought.

Yes, you're absolutely right. I'm glad I'm not being precious about it. They are basically stopping anyone who is serious about science from progressing.

I think I'll call the head of science tomorrow and see what he suggests.

YANBU

My school had 5 'columns' of lesson slots. Things like maths and English were in two or thee or even four columns.

Stuff like Theatre studies, Business studies was all in column 5 so I couldn't do economics as it clashed with something else in column 5 that I really wanted to do.

Sounds like my school had a slightly better system tho than yours OP!

Those clashes are ridiculous - you can't do a Chemistry degree without Maths and History and English are very often taken together (DS has chosen them both). I would be complaining very loudly.

Time tabling for 6th form is done round other classes and option selections.

Go to another school, probably a larger one that runs a couple of classes for each subject

Definitely have a word with the school and clearly point out the madness of the clashes. I'd say it was a fairly standard science/maths combination which funnily enough my DH took and I nearly took. I did graphics & electronics instead of biology ... Took my DH into medicine & me into construction - both two hugely important professional sectors.

this is the reason I went to a 6th form college rather than staying on for 6th form at school.

much better - plus - you get a more varied bunch of people.

why can't he talk to some of his friends about going to the college too?

I would sooner have to make new friends than have to compromise on my A-levels (which are my future after all)

at the college, they'll have more than one class.

i did physics, maths and german, and at the college, I was able to do this, as each subject had at least 2 classes at different times.
If i'd stayed at school, I would have had to drop one of the subjects due to clashes.

webwiz - exactly. Most Chemistry degree courses require Chemistry and would like Maths. Most would be ok with someone having Physics instead of Maths, but why make it so that the student can't apply to the widest range of courses, and have the best possible profile? They used a computer programme.... Sigh....

That's a great & really helpful link, mother. Thanks.

Physics is his great love and that's the degree he's aiming for - so that and Maths he could do. But then he's stuck with having to choose a third option of something he's got absolutely no interest in. I suggested Philosophy (because I think in a weird way that goes quite well with Physics) but I got this face .

if they won't change these stupid clashes you will have to change schools, it is very sad but my son had to do this to get the sensible comination he wanted for his chosen university science course

Nickel That may well happen. His best friend is pissed off because he can't do Music & Media, so there may well be a mass exodus!

Is it private? If not I would be reporting to LEA and Ofsted tbh. It woudl mae even a pure science degree application hard work.

Philosophy a-level is v hard. So I wuldn't go for that unless you loved it.

actually, i would have been better doing maths physics and chemistry with my degree choice, but when I went into a-levels i was going to do Mechanical engineering, so German was a better plan (all the highest paid engineering jobs were in Germany at the time)

his friend can't do Music and Media?
as in Music and a separate subject Media?
the two subjects were invented to be together, weren't they?

your son's school is a leetle bit barmy.