GCSE triple science

[Svrider]

After 5 years of working to the higher level triple science, my DD school has decided to only enter ALL students to the combined sciences exam only
my DD (age 16) is really upset and disappointed
Can anyone help me draft an email to the head about this decision
Note the school is has a science specialism!

Maybe they haven't covered module 3 of all the sciences? It wouldn't be surprising given current circumstances, and while I understand the disappointment there should be be any problem accessing A level sciences from having done just modules 1 and 2.

OP GCSEs aren't a 5 year course, they are supposed to be 2 year courses, although some schools spread the content over 3 years.
Missing 6 months of teaching time over a 2 year course probably means that the teachers have decided that they cannot possibly fit all the content into the remaining teaching time.
A pupil will do much better achieving 2 high grades 7,7 and above in combined science than 3 average grades in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
It's still possible to move onto A level courses with high grades in Combined Science.
The new 9-1 courses are linear and not modular, but there is still 1/3rd extra content compared to the Combined Science. All the topics needed for A level are covered in Combined Science, but there is less depth.

I realise the GCSE's are 2 year course, but let's be honest, they are the end point of 5 years of work at comprehensive school.
Unless everyone other state school drops the triple science, my DD will be at a significant disadvantage not having all 3 GCSE's she has studied for (expected grades 9, 8 and 7)
Really annoyed the school have done this. I've emailed today, and asked how to enter her for the 3 sciences. I'm prepared to pay if needs be

They really shouldn't be throwing the smart, hardworking students under the bus like this

So she could end up with one less GCSE than she had planned? If this the case I'd be annoyed too and disappointed for my DD.

She won't be at a significant disadvantage at all! Why do you think that?!

Has she studied the extra topics required?

She won't be at a significant disadvantage.

Have they actually finished all the content for triple? With the disruption I can well imagine they might not have. They may be taking the view that going over the combined is better than finishing the triple. Plus they won't need to revise so much.

Are they doing triple in the same timeslot as combined? If so that is likely to be quite fast paced and the disruption this year could really have impacted things.

Even if she goes on to do science A levels she won't be at a disadvantage as she will have done most of the content.

That said, it seems a late decision. Perhaps the mock results were poor for the cohort?

I would be pretty cross to find out at this late stage. But depending on the exam board your DD might be ok still to take triple. Aqa teach the triple content as they teach the double. Edexel do 3 modules so might be harder. If you got a tutor you should be fine if the school will allow her still to sit the triple exam. I'm a biology teacher and have taught both. My current classes are still on course for doing triple. However if it's not possible your DD will not be too disadvantaged by just doing double if planning to move on to a level sciences

@lalalalasee As a matter of interest, if someone hasn't been taught the 'triple' bit of biology, how many private 1-1 sessions do you think it would take to cover it?

(ps Are you the right way round with AQA & Edexcel? Our Edexcel guides have the triple content mixed in with the Combined), and I know it is only 2 papers for biology regardless.)

To those who think she won't be at a huge disadvantage, she has been accepted by a good local college from her expected grades. The place depends on certain grades at biology and chemistry (which she was planning to take at a level)

Not idea how she can achieve these grades, if she's prevented from even taking the exams!!

Thanks to the person who said about the exam boards, I'm looking into this today. I'm prepared to pay for her to take these exams but honestly surely the school shouldn't be penalising the more able students like this 😡😡

I would consult the college. Our 6th form accepts grades from combined that meet the offer, same as grades from single sciences.

But I think it's shit nonetheless. The exams sit at the same time, just the triple exams are longer. A bit more work for the exams officer, but not a LOT more, so I hope you can convince them to let her sit the triple if that's what she wants.

Contact the college and check the situation if the school unilaterally switch everyone to combined. If she was expected 9,8,7 she should be able to get 8/8 or better in combined.

The college shouldn't penalise your DC because her school doesn't run triple science.

You do need to watch out for the practicals. School needs to sign off that she has done/seen (seen for this year only) a set of required practicals. If there are any triple practicals not yet done you'll need to sort sign-off with the school somehow.

(DD's school seem willing to send us video links for DD to view).

My daughter is doing triple and plans to do biology at A level. She would be devastated to only take the dual. She has worked very hard at her individual subjects. She is not planning on taking the science beyond A level but she really enjoys biology and physics, and wants the exams and grades as a reward for all her study, regardless of where it will get her in the future.
I'm sorry not much help in drafting your email, but I would be seriously annoyed if our school did this.

Yes Leon , I think the school are heavily disadvantaging the students to save themselves a bit of time and effort

Her offer letter clearly states biology and chemistry

She wouldn't have applied for biology and chemistry A level if she had known she would be prevented from even taking them at GCSE!!

Anyway I've emailed the school at letter today, with head of science, head of year 11 and the head teacher copied in

I'm going to contact the exam board today

Pipandmum, yeah devastated is the word I would use

Thank you

OP. Practical steps:

• contact the college and ask what would happen if your DD was only permitted to take combined
• contact the school and ask them for reasons behind the decision, how much content is still to be covered, and whether they would support your DD if she wanted to to still take triple
• ask you DD to go through the spec / revision guides with you to see what she has / hasn't covered

Suggested email:
Dear Head of Science,
I am writing regarding your decision to drop triple science this year. Although I am sure you have your reasons, DD is very disappointed, and she currently has a college offer based on her doing triple. She and I would like to explore how feasible it is for her to continue with triple somehow.
Please could you give me more information behind the decision? Is this because you have not covered as much of the content as usual due to the pandemic, or is it because the cohort's mock results were disappointing, or something else?
Is there any way that the more able of the triple cohort can be supported by the school to continue?
Kind regards

x-post.
You shouldn't need to contact the exam board. What would you be asking them? You need to contact your exam centre (ie school).

Contact the college first really. She will have studied bio and chemistry, just won't have them named. Again has she actually covered the extra content in all three sciences. Can she self teach it if presumably she hasn't. You need to be calm and rational here, for her sake. It sounds like you've adopted an all guns blazing approach which won't help her at all.

@TeenPlusTwenties I taught Edexel at a previous school and it was separated it out into three sections, core, additional and biology only, however it seems it may have been scrapped with the new 9-1 GCSE and that you are right, it is all integrated, which is what we have with AQA.

As for how many lessons it would take to catch them up, I'm more sure as it would depend how much of the course they have already covered. Self teaching is definitely possible. Use the specification and text book to see what needs to be covered (specification alone will not necessarily help you see what depth everything needs to done in, text books are written by those who understand the depth required). Then use websites like bbc bite size and Khan academy to learn the stuff. Most importantly find as many past paper questions as possible and use Mark schemes to get used to what examiners are looking for.

lala Thanks. Self teaching isn't really possible in our situation, hence the tutor being engaged. More or less all the combined syllabus has been done, but none of the 'triple'. (Making a switch from combined to just doing biology). I really just need to ask the tutor after he has done a couple of sessions I think.

OP. Sorry for mini-derail.