Btec science - URGENT HELP PLEASE!!

[verybored]

DS 1 is in year 9. Loves his science and has always hoped to do it at A level and then something science related at uni. He has come home from school today saying that he has been told they are only doind BTEC science and not GCSE.

The way his school work is they are banded into three bands and you are in this band for every subject, so you cannot be in top for English and middle for maths if that makes sense.

DS1 is in middle band and I have always been told he is at the top of that band and is only not in top band due to his attitude - which has improved massively since the beginning of year 9.

So today he has come home and told me that his band is only doing BTEC in Science. Now am I right in thinking this is not a good thing for him. I will be ringing his head of year first thing tomorrow and firstly checking the facts, then secondly asking for him to be moved up to top band, where they are apparently doing GCSE. But I'm pretty sure I will be fed the' they are GCSE equivalnets and just as good etc etc' line

If they refuse, can I do anything? I am absolutely fuming! This is his best subject, he's bloddy good at it and he's going to be lumbered with a BTEC

[Caoimhe]

Great news, verybored!

[roisin]

good news

[verybored]

UPDATE!! He's been moved up

So for yr 10 he'll be in top band and can do GCSE science and also gets English lit as well. He's very chuffed.

Other good news is apparently the new headteacher doesn't like the banding sytsyem and it may go, but not in time for the current year 9s it seems!

[verybored]

Not sure as yet. The problem is, having looked at their websites I have a feeling the problem is the same. They all seem to do the bands that our school does and talk a lot about vocational courses. I don't think they are oversubscribed as they all have pretty much equal results and OFSTEDs. They all look pretty good on paper, but ow I am looking at it, realising they are usuing Btecs to bump p their scores, i'm actually pretty appalled at the results. Our school should pretty much be getting over 90% pass at science with 2 thirds of them doing btec and they're no where near that.

We are now crossing our fingers for him to be moved up. If not, then we have to look again. If he does move up, it doesn't help the others in that band though,including lots of his friends. We now have a problem with where to send DS 2 and 3, and we are also deeply regretting him not taking the 11plus as was planned!

[ShoshanaBlue]

Are there actual places at other local high schools?

[magentadreamer]

The Govt had always planned on using EBacc, with the usual 5 A-C measures in this years tables. Maybe the back pedalling will be that EBacc will not be the sole measure. I looked at last years tables and could see that some schools around here would see their results go into free fall if EBacc was the sole measure due to a poor uptake of MFL.

[roisin]

At my school we have tiny percentages taking an MFL as an option, let alone passing it and passing history/geography as well.

[roisin]

According to this Ebacc figures will be published on Wednesday with this year's league tables.

I was under the impression the government were back-pedalling on the introduction of this measure, because the figures were going to be so low for many, many schools. But now I'm not sure where I got that idea.

[magentadreamer]

Is the English Bacc not likely at some stage in the future to be the only measure for School league tables? I am not 100% happy about the EBacc but do feel it will weed out the schools that sells BTEC with a evanagelical fervor! My DD's school loves BTEC's but they actually offer Triple Science to Sets 1-5 and BTEC to set 6-7. Hopefully the OP's DS will be moved up and allowed to take GCSE Sciences. I would still push for GCSE to be made available to more than the 70 out of 300 who currently do it.

[TheFarSide]

I know schools are under pressure to improve perfomance, but it is profoundly unethical for them to cave in to this pressure and introduce policies that will have a detrimental effect on some pupils.

[roisin]

These sorts of policies from school are all due to the pressure they are under for league tables and so on.

There is no doubt that it is easier to pass the BTEC, or for teachers to drag reluctant lazy students and make them produce the necessary work to pass the BTEC, than it is to get get grade C at Science GCSE.

So, naturally, schools are motivated in this direction.

There is no clarity or definite decision about the english baccalaureate, nor when/whether Science BTEC will no longer "count".

I actually think BTECs are a useful and valid qualification for some students, and they certainly have a role. But they should be viewed, and judged, as BTECs, not as GCSE equivalents. Because they're not equivalent.

[verybored]

Don't worry, he won't be doing it. Either he moves up a band in 2 weeks or we move schools.

I told this to the person in charge of the banding today. We get a letter in 2 weeks to tell us what band DS will be in for his options as a few will change bands.

TBH i'm glad we founf out now, rather than at the options meeting in 2 weeks.

Funnily enough, when I spoke to this person, the science teacher had already contacted him about DS. I think she let the cat out of the bag with a purpose yesterday!

[TheFarSide]

Just to be absolutely clear, our local colleges would not accept your DS for A level science with only a BTEC science.

[verybored]

It's not that they're not capable at all. DS is apparently at the top of this middle band. He, and many of the others were in top sets throughout primary school for Maths and English. I really can't understand what they are playing out. I have spoken to three members of staff today who all had the same reaction when I told them that DS is intending to do A level science - 'oh'. Basically because they know the BTEC is not good enough.

Many of DS's peers are very bright and capable and even if DS is put in the top band, there will still be a lot of students who will be taking this BTEC. I can understand the bottom band, but not the middle too.

All I can think is that it's easier to teach or easier to fit to the timetable. Who knows?

[coastgirl]

70 do gcse out of 300? The proportion should be the other way round, IMO. It's a rare school where less than a quarter of the students are even capable of a C at GCSE.

[verybored]

Well he was right. All of middle band sit the BTEC. Out of almost 300 students, about 70 will do the GCSE. It's ridiculous. The science teacher is not happy, but apparently it's always been done this way. Clearly they keep it quiet.

We find out in 2 weeks what band DS will be in for year 10, as apparently he is on the cusp of moving up. I have told them he will not be taking the BTEC under any circumstances. They were all very helpful and approachable, but we now have an anxious 2 weeks, in which DS must slog his guts out before we find out.

[pippop1]

You could consider contacting your local MP or writng to the local press or at least telling the Head that you will. As long as you get your facts correct this is fine.

[verybored]

I've just had a thought. I'm wodering if middle band will to BTEC as standard but may have the option of taking the GCSE as one of their option choices? Although surely the teacher would have told them this when the students were up in arms about it.

[verybored]

were, not wee!

[verybored]

Sorry Giddy, missed your other post. I didn't think you wee criticising - DS was a little sod in year 8 and I am amazed he didn't go backwards!

[verybored]

That's what the head of year has said to do if we are not happy with what the science teacher says. I don't remember it beign like this whe I was at school!