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.

So essentially, head of science has said the reason she hasn't got the option is because she hasn't achieved a high enough level to do triple science, and you think she has. Is that right?

Have you asked what her overall level is and what level they require?

Ds1 has achieved some sevens but is still a borderline case for triple science as he also had some low marks in physics which brought his overall level down to a 6c.

It makes no difference to medical/vet schools whether you have triple or double science. What is vital is that you achieve all A/A across all GCSEs and AA*AA at A level (inc Chemistry and Biology) and have suitable work experience.

You need to check to see whether your child will be able to study A Level chemistry at the school with double science at GCSE. If not, you will have to change school at 16+.

I have taught both and in my view; both are suitable as a preparation for A Level and for students on route to medical school.

I didn't think it was more in depth at all! I thought most units were exactly the same except the 'extra' three units. That would make it a broader syllabus but not more in depth! Now I am completely confused.

Going by previous (Further Ed) threads on here, 3 Bs at GCSE would definitely be a handicap compared with 2 A*s in many UCAS applications for highly selective courses/institutions, when admissions tutors are looking at 1000s of them

It sounds as if the main problem is blinkered/lazy 6th forms who have decided, for whatever reason, that they just don't want students who only did dual award science (I can't believe it would really take much to catch them up with the single-science students)

There is a selective Y7-11 grammar here (cohort 120), with a separate 6th form which takes in a total of 300+ (the majority, clearly, from a huge number of neighbouring schools); they are not nearly as picky as some of the 6th forms cited on this thread but still get amazing results

coconutty "He said that he teaches A Level science, and has done for many years and the students who have only done double are at a huge disadvantage"

This will be the case, but the main reason for it is that the children 'chosen' to take triple have come from the top sets when in the main those doing combined have come from the lower ones. Who do you expect to do better at any A level - top set children or middle/lower set ones?

I know for an able child GCSE Chemistry is not an essential prerequisite for A level. Ds took AS Chemistry alongside his GCSEs taking the first module before even Core Science and had no difficulties. I really would expect teachers to realise that lower ability children will tend to struggle and not blame it on doing combined science.

Core and Additional Science are fine for A level Sciences. It is about ability and work ethic, not an extra module at GCSE. Triple Science adds breadth not depth, and I am surprised at the comments of the Head of Science (which is also my job). I teach A level Sciences, and I have students who have followed both pathways on the course. I would certainly encourage a student to go for 2 As rather than Cs in triple. Equally I would make sure that a student who could get 3As or A*s in triple did triple. I find it strange that he is choosing lower achieving students over your daughter. Are you sure about the other students' levels?

Like Kez, I also thought triple afforded additional breadth with Unit 3, not depth (all six of mine have done or are doing triple, it's mandatory at their school).

If Coconutty's HoS thinks medical applicants stand a better chance of getting an offer with B's at triple rather than A*'s at double then he's moving in a parallel world.

michaela as from next year one A at A2 for the best med schools seems to be the norm, but not two. Predictions of two or more may be preferable, but very few will be asked to get them and do you really think many universities will be specifying the A in Chemistry? I'd have thought they'd say A*AA across Chemistry, Biology and Japanese (or whatever).

OP the thing which would seriously piss me off is the issue about whether the school is really so shallow as to be prioritising its EBacc performance over pupils' individual wishes and at least arguable needs.

It's also a numbers thing. You have to have a cut off point for a set. You can't have 36 students in a Science lab.

I know the other child got a place because I know what options she chose (her mother told me), she's not in my DDs top set class nor was she in the "disappointed" group.

The HOD said there were only 24 places and she was one who didn't make the cut. With regards to her grades in Science, she is a combo 7 and high 6 student. Also when I asked if there was anything she could do, external exams etc, he was very dismissive and said no. You would have thought if he was trying to help he would have offered some viable options! Instead his whole attitude was that's that, door closed. Apparently all the girls who didn't get their choices were shuffled onto the EB programme, coincidence?

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to go private, but I'm desperately looking at other schools. However, finding a good school in London at this stage of her academic career is almost impossible.

Like I said earlier, my faith in her current school is dwindling. How can I really trust them to ensure my child gets the best from her school career?

Tomorrow I will be calling the education board and writing them a letter including the legal guidelines.

Sorry I also forgot to mention the school has a specialist Science status! What a joke!

yellowtip KnackeredOldBag's dd has a medicine offer this year with an A* in Chemistry specified. Thread here

Hello El24. Sorry your dd didn't get the choices she wanted and i am now worrying myself over my dd. Haven't heard anything yet and don't know when either. Dd too is in top set for all subjects so am so annoyed for you. You MUST speak to the school. Face to face would probably be better. Dd and i was told at options evening that she would get in in an oversubscribed subject BECAUSE she is in top set and that her targets have been met/passed. Now thinking whether i should have took that with a pinch of salt. I know that if dd doesn't get what she wants she will be upset/angry. It was bad enough trying to find a third option as the ones she wanted were all in same "boxes". I will be straight up school if choices not met and certainly will be if lower set children get the choices. Good luck with it and make sure you see school!!

Please please, stop assuming the child in the lower set is a lower grade! Please read my first post or you may be embarrassed when you go into school.

I fully support you going in but a child in top set in NOT necessarily aceing ALL children in lower sets.

I agree. There would be no point for the school in selecting an inferior candidate. And if you want to take it further, then the Head would be the place to start, who will pass it on to whoever is in charge if curriculum. Anyone rosary you contact will pass it to the Head.

Yes I saw that gelatinous (not in a position to add wisdom!), but very unusual I'd have thought. Probably used to test a particular candidate than used across the board?

Don't get me wrong, the child in the lower set could have got a high grade, but i don't see how that is possible. The work given in different sets vary meaning a child shouldn't be able to get a higher grade if they are doing easier work in the first place.

I guess the other child isn't really an issue here, but as another MNer kindly pointed out, any student with at least a L6 is entitled to do the triple science option. The school is making no provision to fulfill this at all. had the HOD said, okay, we're full, but we can do x, y, z to help your child do them in her own time, I would have been happy. But to close the door and then tell me you would be reluctant to take a child at A Level who hadn't gone down that route is unfair.

It seems to me that the school are closing down options for your dd and I would resent that. Stretch everything to find somewhere else for her! Dd1's school offers both combined and triple and the teacher makes the choice but she was clear at Parents Evening that it was to some extent negotiable. I am confident that were my dd in your dd's situation our school would not want to close down her optiosn as our school are doing.
At the very least I would push the school on the A-level question. You really want them to agree that assuming dd does well on double award they will accept her on to A-level and will ensure she has the grounding needed.

I'd love to know what the 'EB programme' is. Triple science should have no bearing on the subjects that make up the EB. Ok, if you have 4 choices, EB take up 2 and the triple could take up 1, you only have one real 'choice' but EB or Triple is not an either/or option. School sound odd to me.

Are there enough students who want to do triple that together you could pressure the school for an extra set at triple?

Why on earth is it triple science OR ebacc? Surely a school should be able to timetable to include the ebacc subjects with triple science - Eng lit/eng lang, maths, language, hist/geog is 5 subjects so adding 3xscience is 8 .

It is certainly possible in our school for a child in a lower set to achieve a higher mark. Ds in in the middle set and got higher marks than his two friends in the top. They all took the same exam. There's a bit of crossover with the top of middle set and bottom of top set I think.

If your dd is working consistently at 7/6a then it does seem unfair and head of science saying her marks are not enough doesn't make sense. Did he say all the others were working higher than her?

Could it be the chatting might be more of a problem than you thought? There's chatting to your friend isn't there, and then there's chatting so much that it disrupts the lesson?

I'd speak to the head if you're not getting answers from the science dept. It sounds very vague.

Our school are absolutely clear and reasonable. Lots want to do triple science and have been kindly told no because they wouldn't keep up. Bordeline cases depend on exam results and behaviour/effort.