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Original poster

So cross WWYD?

94 replies

bijou3 · 25/06/2012 18:31

DS has just been told by the school that he can?t do triple science despite coming top in all the midyear exams for all the sciences. He is taking geography and history and the school used this as a reason why they think the double will be better for him, I don?t think this is a valid reason. DS has always scored highly in all exams and is a very able child I don?t think that by doing an extra science would affect his grades for other subjects.
If he was in a state school he would most certainly be doing the triple so why as a fee paying parent don?t I have the option WWYD?

OP posts:
LadySucre · 25/06/2012 18:33

Surely if you are paying, then you get to choose what he will sit. You will be paying the exam entrance fee so why are they getting arsey.

Get down there and insist.

Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 18:38

I have no idea, I just don?t understand how they can make a set A student do the double. DS is utterly devastated as he was planning a career as a biologist.

Am I within my rights to insist the school allows him to do the triple?

Thank you for your reply.

OP posts:
Metabilis3 · 25/06/2012 18:51

It might be a timetabling thing? Would he prefer to drop geography or history instead? There is no reason not to do triple science history and goeg on workload grounds, my DD1 is doing all of those. But if it's timetabling then there may have to be a compromise.

wordfactory · 25/06/2012 18:54

Speak to the school. Explain that he wants to take triple and that you insist.

Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 18:56

I think I will go there tomorrow and insist that he does the triple, if not I will move him to another school.

OP posts:
Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 18:59

Wordfactory , in all these years I have not once been in to see a teacher I have always been happy but this has really annoyed me. Do you have experience of schools changing their decision once places have been allocated ? Am I within my rights to insist that they allow him to do the double?

OP posts:
SeventhEverything · 25/06/2012 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wordfactory · 25/06/2012 19:11

bijou I too have had very little call to speak with my DC's schools in any formal capacity. When I do need somehting I point this out Wink.

I think you are well within your rights to want a proper discussion about it.

First, you need to hear what their reasoning is.
Then you can put your own views forward.

If it's not a timetabling issue, I personally think you are in a position to insist.

Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 19:13

What if they say no? Can they say no? I just feel really cheated at the moment I should have saved my money and sent him to the amazing comp down the road where all his friends are doing the triple.
Angry

OP posts:
wordfactory · 25/06/2012 19:16

And that is somehting you can certainly mention Bijou.

I think you need to get to the bottom of the whys and wherefores.

If it's timetabling, then your DS may need to tweak his other subjects.
If there is some other reason, and you're not satisfied with it, and the school still refuse to budge, I would take it up with the governors.

seeker · 25/06/2012 19:17

Did you have meeting to discuss options?
The school my ds is going to next year only offers the double award, but kids who want to can do the triple as a "twilight" subject, with support from the teachers. Might this be a possibility?

TantrumsAndBalloons · 25/06/2012 19:19

My dd wanted to do geography history and triple science but due to time tabling issues she has to do history as a twilight.
Is that an option?

Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 19:20

Oh thank you so much Ladies. I just needed to vent. I will book an appointment to see the head tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 19:22

I am not sure about the twilight option, I will ask tomorrow. DS is happy to drop History in favour of science. I hope they let him. Thanks so much I feel a bit better now.

OP posts:
Dozer · 25/06/2012 19:28

That is really bad, if you're paying he should be able to do the lot!

Duel science is no use to him.

Dozer · 25/06/2012 19:29
racingheart · 25/06/2012 19:44

I really think the school is wrong here. You are paying fees and not doing triple science would prohibit him in the future from choosing a number of high flying careers.

Do they want to get a reputation for holding their students back academically and stymying their career chances and choices?

Kick up a huge fuss. If they stick to their guns, warn parents considering the school. That is really poor management and decision-making and should be grounds for you leaving immediately without paying notice fees, since they are refusing to provide the goods and services you're paying for.

LeeCoakley · 25/06/2012 19:49

Double science is good enough for A-levels. But I would still want to know exactly why the school won't let him take the triple if he wants to.

Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 20:07

It appears that other boys who have all been in the top set since year 7 have also been denied the triple science option. It all seems very strange.

Racingheart do you really think I should kick up that much fuss?

OP posts:
ParkbenchSociety · 25/06/2012 20:08

I am not surprised you needed to vent. Obviously, you are right and he should do triple sciences if he wants to keep his options open in the future.
Good luck

Original poster
bijou3 · 25/06/2012 20:12

Thank you all so much. I thought I might get horrible comments If I had it would have pushed me over the edge today xxx

OP posts:
wonderfultykes · 25/06/2012 20:40

If he came top in the sciences exams i think they have no right whatsoever to deny him the triple award. The triple is there for those that are the school's most promising scientists. End of. Sorry but if that means they need to retimetable then so be it. Your poor DS! Good luck

accountantsrule · 25/06/2012 21:33

I would imagine double science is enough for A levels TBH but at the end of the day it should be yours/DSs choice so definitely speak to them as if he wants to do it then he should be able to.

TheFallenMadonna · 25/06/2012 21:41

Core aqnd Additional Science is fine for A levels, if the school is geared up for it, and I assume that they are given that they have put one of the most able scientists in that position.

If they timetable the extra time for triple science in the same block as either history or geography, then jumping up and down about it will probably not do any good.

In my school, our triple scientists do less core ICT and less core PE in order to acconodate the extra time, but many schools block it as an option.

If it is a timetabling thing, then I would ask for reassurance that it would not affect his A level choices (or teaching) and also whether, as seeker suggests, they could teach him the extra units in twilight sessions.

moonbells · 26/06/2012 14:35

I am rather Shock at this. Is it a well-known school? Whoever they are, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. I would not have dreamed of not doing all the sciences when I was at school, as I wanted to do science A levels. It's been proven that you don't get the depth from double science. Go and kick away!