DD didn't get GCSE options

[El24]

Just found out from DD that she didn't get her GCSE choices despite currently being in the top set for the chosen subject. She wants to be a doctor and having the triple science option is key to her future ? this has been confirmed by several F.E colleges. I also found out someone who isn't in the top set got in. To say we are deeply disappointed is an understatement. I've already called up the school and been fobbed off. Is there anything we can do?

Thanks in advance.

At the school my children go to they can only do double science. It's a big comp - 240 in each year. There is no triple science option. It has good results and good reputation - does this mean no-one from that school can become a doctor? I find that hard to believe.

There are people I went to school with who only did double GCSE science and are now actual doctors.

I would look into changing schools. Double science is not nearly as good ( I did double science myself).

EL24 your DD's school is actively closing doors for her. Yes, there may be some med schools that will take her with double science but that is not the point!!!!!

I really would take this to the top.

schilke it is absolutely appalling that your school does not even offer more than double!!! What about the able scientists!!!

schilke - I think that medical schools would take into account the fact that a student couldn't do triple science because the school didn't offer it as an option.

I know pupils can do GCSEs out of school but it isn't ideal

I would be mad too as in many schools a level 6 allows study of triple. What is her current level (I don't mean the one-off assesments at level 7 but her overall grade)

How do you know someone has been admitted and not made the grade?

Take a look on school website for the complaints policy or get a copy from the reception and follow that if you are getting nowhere.

some med schools may take it into account, but that isn't compensation for being offered a substandard education.

All schools have a responsibility to take science seriously and only offering the double is not taking science seriously. It closes doors for students when a school's job is to open them.

Thought it was some sort of governemnt policy re: level 6 and the option to take triple science. I have just found this on google:
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
has contracted with the Learning and Skills Network to
support awareness and take-up of Triple Science GCSEs
through the Triple Science Support Programme.
The programme aims to support the following policy objectives:
to enable all young people with level 6 or above in science at Key stage 3 to study Triple Science GCSEs from September 2008

oops sorry about the strange characters in my 'copy and paste'!

By the time DCs apply for med school, it will be clear from AS results whether they are "up to it", regardless of GCSE science options. Similarly to think that a prospective medic will not be able to bridge the gap relatively easily between double science and A level Chemistry [key for med school bound DCs] etc is to say they're not really suited.

The only possible question may be when entering sixth form, why she didn't do triple if the school offered it. If you can get round that one, then it's not a problem IMHO.

Agree that EBacc is neither here nor there, if the reason for not getting it is there was something else better/ as good being offered. A talented linguist may opt for four or five ancient/modern languages, failing the EBacc there is fine.

Did he say her overall grade wasn't high enough despite achieving some level 7s?

What is the criteria for taking triple science then?

At our school they like a minimum of 6b overall though they said it's not set in stone and take behaviour in class and keenness into account if someone got say a low 6.

I spoke to the HOY first and was then referred to HOD. It would appear the buck stops with him.

thirdhill I don't think bridging the gap is the point - some 6th forms won't let you do sciences at A level ith only a double science background - for some places you must have single sciences (eg my DD's school).

And also true about some current medical students only having done dual science but most schools have changed to offer the triple option in the last 3or 4 years if ey didn't before - eg my son's school who do have many medics in his year (now at uni) but they changed after him so again, only single science is acceptable to start the A level.

But my DCs friends experience is that it has to be 3A * in the GCSEs to be good enough for a medicine offer....

Have you got evidence that students with lower grades have been allowed to go for separate sciences?

I know your OP mentioned one from a lower set, but it may be that one has recently improved & has actually got better grades; are there any others?

It isn't about being able to bridge the gap.

It's about the value placed on science by the school. It's about the colture. It's about expectations.

Really this is not good enough.

OP I would take this to the HT and the governors. Ask them how they can describe themselves as valuing and encouraging sciences if they don't offer more than double.

You need to find out the reason that your dd hasn't been given triple. It does seem strange that she didn't get it yet another child performing at a lower level did get it.

It made me think that perhaps it might be due to a clash with the other option choices she has chosen and maybe it would be better to swap one of them to fit in with the timetable for the triple. Do you think that might be a possible explanation?

One of DS's frends got an offer from Oxford for Medicine this year with less than A in each science. I'm not sure that it's the A in each of the three sciences that they're looking at: plenty of med applicants will have As but that doesn't mean it's a requirement. DS says he didn't clock any medical school that he looked at asking either for triple science or for A specifically. I would have thought the only critical thing would be if the school refused to let double science candidates go on to take A2 Chemistry, but that would be harsh. Tbh she's far better off with an A* in the double award than she would be risking a B in any of the three. The school does sound a bit intransigent though.

I assumed the OP had ruled out a timetabling issue - that would be easier to sort.

Regards the chatting, Dd2's school said that in the event of subjects being oversubscribed and re-jigging timetables not an option then behaviour merits/demerits would be taken into consideration, especially behaviour in the relevant subject. Could the HOD have been talking about her behaviour when he said her levels weren't enough?

I do think you should talk to the HT and express your disappointment especially as your dd has a career in mind.

If it's because they're pushing the EB, could you change the options she's doing so she could get that and do the three sciences?

What level are the others at - the majority of those who were allowed to do the 3 sciences - compared to your DD?

Is there any chance of moving schools? Now I'm a laid-back go-with-the-flow type but everything here just sounds wrong and certainly in my area all the local secondaries positively encourage triple science (subject to ability - and sounds as if your dd meets that). I wouldn't be very happy with this at all.

DD starts 6th form in the autumn and will study some sciences. Guidelines were - for biology A level double science acceptable, phyics needed triple science though allowances were made if you had strong maths grades; and for chemistry (essential for medicine) you HAD to have done triple science.

That probably doesn't help you much

Definitely go to the HT. Get all your facts sorted first - if other DCs are doing 3 with lower results etc. And find out if any other children have found themselves bumped from a course onto something that will mean they meet the EB requirements - that might not be from 3 to 2 sciences, but if the school have an eye on the EB and league tables then they'll have done it to more than one child.

I'm not sure how doing EBac precludes triple science - DD's school are pushing both.

El24 As long as she has 9 GCSEs there isn't really a need to take more out of school, but if she wants to and she is a good independent learner it is possible to learn the extra units for separate sciences independently and just sit the exams at school with those doing triple there. The ISAs/controlled assessments are the same for both, so the school should have covered enough of these in the double option to use for triple instead.

Another option - there are places offering Astronomy GCSE (another science, so she'd still end up with 3) as a distance learning course. You would need the school to agree to enter her for the exams and probably supervise the controlled assessments (though it may be possible to do these remotely as part of the course). Distance learning also requires a lot of self motivation however.

"Specifically, by September 2008 all pupils achieving at least level 6+ at key stage 3 will be entitled to study triple science GCSE, for example through collaborative arrangements with other schools, further education colleges and universities"

So if the school won't teach her, ask her what collaborative arrangements they will put in place to ensure she receives her entitlement

www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm081216/text/81216w0048.htm