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

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.

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

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.

Are there actual places at other local high schools?

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!

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!

good news

Great news, verybored!