Changes to GCSE Science

[H202too]

I like the idea in principle but I do worry about the recruitment and retention of specialists not to mention the effect on timetabling.

I have always thought the Sciences are so different. You don't do a combined language or humanities. So do think they should have always been separate subjects.

I hope it will encourage more woman into STEM.

<a class="break-all" href="https://archive.ph/20251101081204/www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/science-gcses-to-get-biggest-overhaul-in-more-than-a-decade-b00mnkngj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://archive.ph/20251101081204/www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/science-gcses-to-get-biggest-overhaul-in-more-than-a-decade-b00mnkngj

If they aren’t interested/don’t have the ability in science then they shouldn’t take the subject, or alternatively they can opt for foundation level. It’s that simple. If a pupil can’t manage GCSE level science then realistically they won’t be taking it any further. Not everything needs to be accessible to everyone and that’s just life unfortunately! An entire cohort’s future shouldn’t be disadvantaged so that the less capable can keep up. It’s why my child went to a grammar!

For a subject that everyone has to study, forcing it to take up 3 of possibly 8 subject choices is just not for everyone.
Combined science is a good general basis, takes up two subjects and plenty can go on to A Level from that point - or A level in something that interests them more.
I can't view the Times article so I am not quite sure what they are proposing, is it that science will now take up three GCSE subject slots for everyone?

It's compulsory for children in state schools to do science at GCSE though. Dual was brought in specifically to ensure that DC, who weren't able/interested to pursue science after GCSE, obtained GCSE in sciences.

Not everyone has to study science where we are (NI). DD did 10 subjects, 3 of which were sciences and didn’t feel that she was hard done by in terms of choice of optional subjects - she still had 3 spaces left.

I am reading it as you have to offer triple science not that combined is being removed and that the ebacc marking of schools to English maths and science is being overhauled

a school local to me who used to be seen as a science school stopped offering triple sciences as an option - because it wanted to improve grades and spend more time which is a slight disadvantage for a level and those who are better in one science than another

It is mandatory in England

@joanofaardvark this is my DS(15). He was made to study 3 separate sciences for GCSE along with the other students in the top set (rest of yeargroup doing combined). This only left him with one free choice for GCSE for a non academic subject. He’s in year 11 now and really not enjoying science - it’s looking unlikely he will achieve his target/predicted grades & I honestly think he’d have been better suited to combined science with a second free choice of a subject that actually interests him.

The cynic in me thinks the schools policy of insisting top set do this is purely motivated by their wish to maximise Ebacc results rather than because it’s right for the individual child.

Since GCSEs were overhauled (to 9-1) and A levels were not changed to match, the new dual award has provided a very good basis for all the A level sciences.

DD, from a school doing dual award in order to allow maximum range of choice for all for GCSE, went to a triple-award studying school for A level. The difference was, according to the Head of Physics, one topic, which was always taught from scratch in Y13 as everyone had always forgotten it. She got an A*, as did all the science-studying students who had moved between the two schools with her.

I agree that old dual award left a much bigger gap - but that is no longer relevant.

(DD’s dual award school had 5 option blocks at GCSE, offering a genuinely wide and varied menu. If this ends up being reduced to 4 due to a large number of students studying triple award, that seems a net loss of artists, DT specialists, dual linguists, those doing 2 humanities etc.

in the article there is talk about dropping the Ebbac.
We do manage to teach them all separately for combined Science. But that is because we are a very large school. We have 9 lessons a fortnight for combined ( 3 each) 14 for separates.

7 a fornight at ks3.

Exactly this. It’s a real shame for students who excel in these subjects and further limits the choices of students who are less academic. Surely it is just setting up some students to fail.

I timetable Ph/Bi/Ch for all of KS4?

They aren’t removing combined science that will still be an option. But they must offer triple science as well

removing the ebacc as well is part of this as I assume was a motivator for schools not to offer triple science to bump up