Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

Original poster

Private Physics A level

25 replies

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:22

I'm sorry to ask this, but I'm getting confused with my google search and not sure whether I'm putting in the right terms.

How do I find out about local Physics A level courses? Are there good key words that keep me away from sixth forms etc. Are there always practicals? Some of the online courses don't mention them but son thinks that they're a thing.

Son potentially has a place in an amazing sixth form college, but it's only doing three A levels. He could stay in his quite amazing school sixth form and do four A levels but it could look not quite as good on uni applications. Son is coming up to his GCSEs and is predicting a 9 in physics. He's reading AS level Physics and Maths textbooks for funsies. Otherwise I wouldn't consider it. This is all driven by him.

Any help towards resources and ideas incredibly welcome. I'm so old I did O levels and I fail at anything more complicated than straightforward addition.

OP posts:

loobylou44 · 04/04/2023 13:25

Why does he need to do 4 A levels? Most unis aren't interested in 4 A levels. Surely it's better to do 3 to a high standard?

TeenDivided · 04/04/2023 13:28

I don't understand how staying at his current school and doing 4 would look 'not quite as good' on uni applications?

What other A levels and why wouldn't the college let him do 4 if he's a top grade student? Especially if it is 'amazing'?

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:29

loobylou44 · 04/04/2023 13:25

Why does he need to do 4 A levels? Most unis aren't interested in 4 A levels. Surely it's better to do 3 to a high standard?

That's the argument of the college, and I agree with it. It's just that he needs the maths and computer science for his intended career and he really loves physics.

I'm sort of in favour of less work at A level, as I know that it can be tough, and I suggested that he just work through the textbooks in his own time and look at it as learning but without the homework.

OP posts:

TeenDivided · 04/04/2023 13:29

Or is this another 'my child is at private so I am worried that he will be discriminated against for uni' situation?

SE13Mummy · 04/04/2023 13:30

Some universities require a practical endorsement as part of science A-levels but that can be completed via partners of some of the online course providers e.g. here.

An alternative idea might be for him to see if the sixth form college offer EPQ for which he could look at something physics-based.

A-level Physics

Enrol on our A-level Physics Online Course. AQA Syllabus with Oxbridge, through tutor supported Distance Learning. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyhow

https://oxbridgehomelearning.uk/course/a-level-physics

TeenDivided · 04/04/2023 13:31

I'd be surprised if somewhere doesn't let him start with 2 maths, comp sci and physics, as doing double maths is often permitted in a 4 even if other combinations aren't.

titchy · 04/04/2023 13:34

It's just that he needs the maths and computer science for his intended career and he really loves physics.

So he does Maths, Physics, CS? Not seeing the problem here tbh. I'd bet my bottom dollar he could also add FM as a fourth (was there a different fourth he was thinking off?)

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:34

TeenDivided · 04/04/2023 13:28

I don't understand how staying at his current school and doing 4 would look 'not quite as good' on uni applications?

What other A levels and why wouldn't the college let him do 4 if he's a top grade student? Especially if it is 'amazing'?

His current school is a selective state grammar which gets visits from Cambridge to tell people how good it is to go there. The college is one of the new Maths schools that are attached to universities, get lectures from professors, do an additional maths certificate etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maths_school
They concentrate on getting students to Oxbridge and top unis and take the view that it's better to concentrate on three plus a specialist maths certificate.

I'll be listening to son, and trying to keep it realistic. It's all driven by him so far.

Maths school - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maths_school

OP posts:

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:37

titchy · 04/04/2023 13:34

It's just that he needs the maths and computer science for his intended career and he really loves physics.

So he does Maths, Physics, CS? Not seeing the problem here tbh. I'd bet my bottom dollar he could also add FM as a fourth (was there a different fourth he was thinking off?)

If he goes to the fancy maths college, maths and further maths are compulsory and he can choose one extra A level only from Physics, Computer Science, Chemistry or Mandarin. They also do an extra maths certificate.

I think he can get to do Physics to AS level, and I wonder if that will be enough on what I'm sure will be a tough workload.

OP posts:

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:39

Just to add, he can do four A levels at his school, and he would have a good chance of excellent grades, with great staff and a good pastoral system. He may be better off there.

OP posts:

TeenDivided · 04/04/2023 13:40

If I was taking up a place at a fancy maths college I think I would listen to what they say wrt numbers of subjects to take. Double maths, another A level, and an additional maths certificate sounds full to me.

titchy · 04/04/2023 13:41

His chances of a top university (whatever that means!) will be no different, so if he wants to stay where he is he should.

Unless he's totally fixed on a Maths degree (which I assume he isn't as you say he needs CS) there's no benefit to the college.

PinkFrogss · 04/04/2023 13:42

I would actually suggest doing 3 alevels, dropping CS and doing physics instead.

If he is interested in a CS degree they will be far more interested in maths (and DM is possible) a level than CS.

I’d imagine CS is far more easier to learn in his spare time as a hobby, and he could do some really good relevant activities and competitions that would help in his application possibly more than the a level would

Ironoaks · 04/04/2023 13:43

There are certain circumstances in which four A-levels can be preferable to three. DS took Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry; he needed all four in order to be able to do the courses he wanted to study in his first year at university.

Universities don't favour applicants because they are attending a particular sixth form college; if the school/college is taken into account at all then it would only be to provide context (e.g. their GCSE grades as compared to the average of the school they attended in Y11).
In my opinion he should attend the sixth form which offers the combination of subjects he wants to study.

If he studies physics outside of sixth form, where will he do the practicals?

SpringBunnies · 04/04/2023 13:47

None of the CS university courses require CS do they? The most common choices for physical sciences are maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. If he's interested in CS then he doesn't need chemistry. But many physics degree do. You can find out what the courses he likes to do require at A level. I assume you have looked?

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:48

Thanks for all the help and advice. I'm about to go and pick up son from a maths GCSE revision class hosted by maths college.

I wish I knew how best to listen to him about this. It's his life and his passions. I just don't know enough about the subjects to ask even the right questions.

I really appreciate all the posts. Thank you.

OP posts:

SpringBunnies · 04/04/2023 13:49

For example, if he wants to go to Kings' computer science then
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/computer-science-bsc

It's maths, further maths and computer science, with only maths and further maths required.

Computer Science - King's College London

Study Computer Science BSc at King's College London.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/computer-science-bsc

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:51

SpringBunnies · 04/04/2023 13:47

According to son, who has looked, he'd like to do a combined maths and computer science course at Oxford and that apparently requires CS A level, maths and further maths.

I managed A levels back in the 1980s. I don't even know what I don't know. Thank goodness for Mumsnet, and I'm grateful for all the help.

OP posts:

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 13:53

SpringBunnies · 04/04/2023 13:49

For example, if he wants to go to Kings' computer science then
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/computer-science-bsc

It's maths, further maths and computer science, with only maths and further maths required.

That's really helpful. I didn't know that this course existed.

And I worry that he's aiming above himself and taking on too much pressure and then he comes home with half a dozen 9s in his mock GCSEs and I don't know.

OP posts:

TeenDivided · 04/04/2023 13:53

Anyone going to the maths specialist place will be very good at maths.

Unless your son is known to be the next Stephen Hawking then there is no reason to suppose he will be able to take on more work than anyone else, is there?

SpringBunnies · 04/04/2023 13:57

@nomdegrrr1 sounds like he already knows what he wants if he has looked into entry requirements. He's done his research. From Oxford's own page https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/computer-science

AAA including at least an A in Mathematics, with the A in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computer Science.

Those taking Further Mathematics A-level or AS-level are required to achieve at least Grade A.

It looks to me that maths is the only required subject. And the A* must be in any of the 3. And if you take further maths, it must be A as well. From what I can see then with Oxford and Kings College, his choices should really be maths, further maths and computer science.

I'd let him decides where he wants to go to do A level, as long as the private isn't going to be too expensive for your to afford? It doesn't sound like he's making the wrong choice either way.

The only reason to do 4 A levels, as far as I can think of, is that he wants keep his options open. For example to do physics. I can't imagine a maths degree has anything else as 'required' either.

SpringBunnies · 04/04/2023 13:59

There really is no need to do a private physics A level.

lanthanum · 04/04/2023 15:15

If he really wants to study all four A-levels, and has the ability, stay put. It doesn't sound like his current school is a bad option, and I doubt universities are going to be prioritising those from the maths schools - in fact, with the extreme focus on maths, they may feel that those achieving similar results in broader sixth forms have in some sense done better.

Some kids cope absolutely fine with four A-levels including maths/Fmaths, and enjoy the learning. I don't think DD's fourth A-level will make a jot of difference in uni applications, but she's enjoying it and it's not detracting from her others. It's really sad if youngsters who are quite capable of doing four are being advised to learn less - it seems we're forgetting the point of education.

Our nearest maths school allows 3 or 4 A-levels, but only offers sciences/CS. The top sixth form in the area insists that all those doing further maths do four, and the EPQ is compulsory too. (I wouldn't be surprised if quiet exemptions are made in individual cases if they are struggling, but they have to start on that basis.)

Another option is Maths, FMaths and Physics, with an EPQ doing some programming. I think a programming project can work quite well as an EPQ, and as universities mostly don't require A-level CS, it would be a good halfway house. The maths school may not do EPQs either, though.

LIZS · 04/04/2023 15:25

Would it not be easier to do Maths, Physics & CS then self study for
FM if needs be.

Original poster

nomdegrrr1 · 04/04/2023 16:30

LIZS · 04/04/2023 15:25

Would it not be easier to do Maths, Physics & CS then self study for
FM if needs be.

FM is compulsory at the maths college and he's really looking forward to it.

Thank you for all the ideas and advice. I'm really grateful as I don't have any terms of reference to deal with this. On the whole, I'll listen to him and let him take the lead. I think I'll squash any private a level, though, as I suspect that he'll have a lot to do even without it.

Thank you again.

OP posts:

Flip