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Original poster

Best School for Science 'A' levels for Girls

35 replies

INEEDanIpad · 22/03/2012 21:31

I'm struggling to find a school that has a decent number (more than 10) girls taking Further Maths and Phsyics at 'A' level, whilst also offering Product Design 'A' level.

Anyone able to recommend any schools either independent or state, not FE colleges?

We are in the New Forest, so anywhere a distance from there would need to be boarding, but that will be considered.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 22/03/2012 21:35

Peter Symonds
Brockenhust College
Barton Peverill
Ringwood School

in Hampshire most schools stop at 16 and all the kids go to 6th form college
if PSs busload of Oxbridge is not academic enough, I start to run out of ideas

EdithWeston · 22/03/2012 21:38

A friend's DD went on to do physics at Imperial; she went to Wycombe Abbey. I've just googled and in last year's results they 12 doing further maths (all getting A/A) and 16 doing physics (15 A/A).

I should imagine all the big name girls schools are similar.

Original poster
INEEDanIpad · 22/03/2012 21:45

Wycombe Abbey only had 2 sit Design & Technology and unlikely it would have been Product Design.

It's that combination that's difficult to find in the big name girls schools.

My dd and I don't like the idea of 6th form college, hence why would prefer to not do college.

But may have to, if we can't find anywhere offering the subjects, with a suitable number of candidates.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 22/03/2012 21:59

What is your problem with 6th form college?
its not just for proles you know
PS gets amazing A level results, fab numbers into RG unis and as is well known, over 50 kids a year into Oxbridge

Original poster
INEEDanIpad · 22/03/2012 22:37

What's proles?

Not a formal structered regimental environment for our preference. Not a criticism, just not how my dd operates, and I'm the same and understand what she means.

She doesn't want to only attend for lessons, and have all the free time.

It's more routined and set within school environment than FE.

OP posts:
chopchopbusybusy · 22/03/2012 22:52

My DD is doing maths and sciences at one of the colleges mentioned by talkinpeace. I'm sure there are other girls in her classes. Most of her friends are boys though
My opinion is that 6th form college is a good stepping stone between school and university.
I will say I don't think Ringwood school enters many candidates for sciences.

chopchopbusybusy · 22/03/2012 22:57

Unless she boards she will still have frees in school though. Most schools do allow a lot more freedom to 6th formers to come and go during the school day. As another poster said most Hampshire schools don't have 6th forms.

Original poster
INEEDanIpad · 23/03/2012 07:10

I appreciate Hants schools don't have 6th forms, but that's why I'm happy to look further a field - Dorset, Bucks, Surrey, Wilts etc for a school.

At the moment we have Bryanstone, KES and Welbeck on the list. But those are the only one's I've found.

Not bothered if majority of class are boys, just want girls accepted (i.e. not boys only school) and a tutor group no smaller than 10.

OP posts:
thetasigmamum · 23/03/2012 08:49

@ineed When I did further maths A level, back before the dawn of time, there were only 3 of us in the class. The year above, there were two. The year above that was a bumper crop, with 4. We were all fine. I know that these days further maths A level is a more popular A level but I don't see what would be your problem with a tutor group of

goinggetstough · 23/03/2012 09:07

Millfield has an amazing design department and has A level product design.
www.millfieldschool.com/assets/PDFs/Product_Design.pdfNot sure on the number of further maths students but they have 4 Oxbridge maths offers this year. It is difficult to find the exact numbers from the website but I expect their admissions department would be helpful.

IShallWearMidnight · 23/03/2012 09:25

DD1 did Maths and Physics at a school (not college), had loads of frees (didn't go in at all every other Wednesday Shock), but her tutor group wasn't the people she was in class with. I'm not sure why the tutor group is an issue for you?

IShallWearMidnight · 23/03/2012 09:29

also, now that she's at university, she can see the difference between those liek her who have learned to work independently, and those who had a lot of stuff spoonfed to them at school. It's possible to set up your own structured environment within a more relaxed atmosphere [flashbacks to DDs 8 hours a day of Maths, except on Saturdays when it was only two or three].

yotty · 23/03/2012 09:44

If you are considering private. Have you looked at Canford. I understand science is very popular there. When we looked round there were plenty of girls helping with the demonstrations in the various science labs.

senua · 23/03/2012 09:54

I am curious about which subjects she is taking to A2. Is it going to be all four of them or is she going to drop one, in which case is it such a deal-breaker?

MrsHoarder · 23/03/2012 09:55

Why do you want 10 girls in a further maths class? I went to one of the biggest FE colleges (which is locally known for science) 6-7 years ago. There was one further maths class with about 16 of us. Two girls. It was fine, and the free time was important in learning how to manage when you get to uni and there is no-one to tell you where/when to go.

Our tutor group was irrelavent though: we never saw each other except at the one tutor session a week, and I don't remember those being anything useful. Subject classes were far more important.

Just make sure the place in question has somewhere for A-level students to work, either plenty of room in a library that's always accessible or study rooms. Then she can treat them as a "study period" rather than a "free period".

TalkinPeace2 · 23/03/2012 17:07

I'm sorry but I think your expectations are utterly unrealistic.
KES has free/study periods for A level students.
My GDST school had free periods for A levels.
And what is the thing about the number of girls in the class?

eatyourveg · 23/03/2012 18:57

If I was anywhere within striking distance of Peter Symonds I would jump at the chance to get my dc in there. It may be a 6th form college but it is one of the very best in the country (And thats not just because I went there)

cakeandcustard · 23/03/2012 19:09

Nowt wrong with an FE college, I did A-level Physics and Further Maths in an FE college with excellent teachers and got A grades in both. The informal structure prepares you better for university and teaches you to be more independent and self motivated. You're going to be hard pushed to find a school with majority girls in these classes and what's the issue anyway - she'll learn she's just as good as the next man!

webwiz · 23/03/2012 19:22

The numbers that take Physics and Further Maths varies from year to year at my DCs school never mind the number of boys and girls. DD2 was 1 of 6 who took further maths (3 boys, 3 girls) to AS and then 3 went on to take the full A level (2 girls, 1 boy). Both DD2 and the other girl in her class are now studying maths at university and the boy is doing economics.

I was more concerned that DD2 was taught properly rather than the make up of her classes although a small class was a bonus.

Florizella · 23/03/2012 20:06

As a chemistry teacher at one of hose aforementioned 6th form colleges, I cannot strongly recommend them enough. Peter Symonds is especially good for science, I wish I had had the opportunity to go to one myself.
You get the advantage of specialised a level teachers, who only teach a level and are usually qualified to a much higher level than secondary teachers. These colleges are the best state funded way to access university, as there is much more support for university applications interview practice and excellent careers advice.
However, if SHE really does not want to go to a college, then she'll just have o accept that she'll be in a small class as probably the only girl, as I was, that wasn't a problem for me.

Btw these sixth form colleges outperform many private as well as state schools.

Original poster
INEEDanIpad · 23/03/2012 20:35

Just to clarify - not looking for 10 girls in a class, just looking for 10 students in a class, in a place that accepts girls. If she's the only or only one other girl then neither she nor I are bothered by this.

I just can't see that having only 1 or 2 pupils in a class can be enjoyable. Hard to bounce ideas off, work together for support etc.

She's hoping to be able to do all 4 at 'A' level, although if she did drop to 3, it'd prob be the product design that would be droped to 'AS', but of course this is all dependent of how the first year goes.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 23/03/2012 21:30

Then surely PSC is the obvious answer - their year groups are so huge they can SET for A level - find me the fee paying school with enough kids to do that
FFS
they hang out with the Winchester Boys at the Buttercross - how much more up market do you want?

Buffs nails at the fact that the buses to PSC, Brock and BP all leave from outside my house!

Original poster
INEEDanIpad · 23/03/2012 21:42

I hadn't realised boarding was available at PSC. Ok it's now a possibility ;)

OP posts:
TalkinPeace2 · 23/03/2012 22:08

PSC Boardsers are exclusivley non UK parents : Falklands and far away Forces and Diplomatic
if you live within bus range you'll get short shrift in favour of those who NEED

EdithWeston · 23/03/2012 22:17

The PSC website says that they do accept boarders from within the county in addition to Falklands and Forces. Worth an enquiry about how they prioritise and to find out what your chances are.