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 my ds school everyone does the Ebac ,have since time immemorial ,the only get out might be from the language element .If you do triple science you then you just choose the third part as one of tour options .My ds did double because he knew he wanted to do humanities at A level and so wanted an extra choice .
Don't understand why they do Ebacc or triple

I don't think it is Ebac or triple. I think that, in the OP's DD's case, by refusing her permission to do triple science it has left a gap for her to do another GCSE option, which just happens to be one that ticks the last box needed for her to get the Ebac.

I agree the other child has no bearing on your daughters situation but it was you who made it so - by saying someone in a lower set had a place and implying your daughter was more worthy. I just did not want you mentioning it in the school, as you have repeatedly on here, without realising what you might be getting yourself into.

My sons set - (set 4 out of 6 at bog standard comp) covers all the work of set 1 and differentiates for the abilities in the class. He is level 7 and has been offered triple science, although has chosen not to take it as he wants to do History instead.

No, it's not a case of thinking she is more worthy. It's just at the Parent's Eve, we were told those in the top set were pretty much guaranteed a space in triple sciences. If the school were concerned about her progress, surely they should have contacted me beforehand to see how to get her back to speed?

I've since spoken to the exam board and was told I can ask for a review and if not happy, can take it to the education department if I feel my DD is being discriminated against.

What I am struggling with is the dismissive approach of the school. I get you had more applicants than spaces, but what I don't get is the unwillingness to find alternative means to get the ts, even if it is at the expense of the parent.

In terms of your daughters personal situation, I agree, although you say pretty much guaranteed, which isn't the same as guaranteed. It is very important to find out what is going on if she really wants to do triple. Do you have actual written reports showing she is definitely and overall level 6+, for use when referring to her ability?

Yes, her reports from Yr8 and this year.

Without the triple sciences, she'll be leaving school with only nine GCSEs, which can be pretty damning for competitive A Levels.

My daughter isn't the only one who was left disappointed, I just wish the school would split the groups into two making separate sets of 18 each. Or at least give some positive advice on how to get them externally.

Good (re: levels)

I can't see how she will have less GCSEs. Does triple not take up an option block?

My average ability daughter, with double science, is sitting 10: English Lit, English Lang, Double Science, Maths, RE and 4 GCSE options

If she had been able to do triple she would have had :

English Lit, English Lang, Triple Science, Maths, RE and 3 GCSE options

....still 10.

It actually isn't necessary to do triple science in order to read medicine. They make no stipulations about GCSEs other than they are to include maths and english (and at UCL you must also have a GCSE in a MFL).

My son did dual award science then went on to do biology and chemistry A levels and he's now in his first year at med school.

9 GCSEs is fine. If she gets mainly A and does the right A Levels, gets A/A in 4 x ASs and predicted A/A* for A2, not having triple science at GCSE won't disadvantage her.

Cross post frieda!

It sounds as if at El24s school the triple science group don't get extra lessons Kes. Some schools do it this way - the triple group just cover the work faster. It also explains why they are being even more selective on ability than usual.

El24, 9 GCSEs is fine for even the most competitive courses - I know offer holders from Cambridge who only did 9.

Ahhh, ok. My bad, as they say. Yes, that would exlain the uber-selectiveness of it.

I am still a bit lost on the 9 (not 10) GCSEs though but that is taking it off topic, so not relevant.

GCSE's are treated differently by different universities and departments. Leaving aside the effect of contextual data, some look at the number of As and put a premium on that, some assign a score for each grade and add it up and some calculate the percentage of A against the total number of GCSEs sat.

9 is standard at some schools. Hence why 9 is enough for FE. Most universities look either at the overall %age A*s and As, or else just look at the top 8 regardless of how many taken.

Oxford spell it out here and say that the dual award science for medicine is fine:

here

Now ask them what % of their current medical students did dual award.

Apparently all the girls who didn't get their choices were shuffled onto the EB programme, coincidence?

Do you think there is a sexism angle here? Can you find out the gender mix of the class?

This seems absolutely crazy and if I was in your position I would be creating hell.

Her DD might go to a girls school WhatTheCatDraggedIn

NakedPuffin - At my son's school 11 applied to read medicine and 9 got in. All of them did dual award science. Why would a GCSE chemistry be important when you have an A or A at A level chemistry? WHy would a GCSE Biology be important when you have an A or A at A level in biology?

OP Of course if it's important to your DD that she does triple science, then please make a fuss. BUt don't make your argument about Med School as it's not a valid reason.

That's a very impressive success rate LittleFrieda. But how come all eleven applicants took dual?

I think the question must be: is the decision because the school doesn't think she's up to triple science for whatever reason and please could they tell you straight.

I would query the only 25 places for triple science anyway- what if there was a very bright year group and there were many more pupils that had the ability to take it? Seems very rigid.

YellowTip - Because that was all they offered. It's an academically selective boys' school.

I'm confused how the school can meet the requirement for level 6+ to be offered triple if they only do it as fast study option.

I would think some level 6's would need the extra option block time to study and, if the school, isn't doing it that way then they are not meeting the DfE criteria mentioned before. Maybe it's an academy, do they have to meet the criteria?