21st Century Science Suite GCSEs -Any Views?

[WoodRose]

We are currently looking at secondary schools for our Year 5 DS. Our local secondary schools offer separate sciences from the OCR 21st Century Science Suite. Our DS is only 10 so career choices are not written in stone, but he is very interested in all things "scientific". Like all mner DC he is very able, having already achieved level 5s.

I have heard/ read mixed reviews of the 21st Century Science suite, namely that it is good for the less scientifically able but doesn't provide sufficient depth to study sciences at a higher level.

Any first-hand views as to whether it would be appropriate for an able, scientifically minded DC would be gratefully received.

I tend to agree having helped my struggling scientist daughter learn this syllabus BUT our school have been doing it for years and we have had strings of A* triple scientists go on and do well at Science A Levels, including my close friend's lad, who has just got a place to study medicine. So, it wouldn't be fair to slate it really.

It is perfectly possible to achieve well with this syllabus and to go on to achieve high grades at A level. What you need to look at is the number of students that go on to study A level Sciences at each school as this may give you a better indication of which schools are the "best" for Science.
There are no guarantees that a particular syllabus/exam board will still be used when your ds reaches GCSE level though. I have been at schools where a new Head of Science is appointed and changes over to another exam board! The first exams for the new GCSE Science specification are being sat this year and this may also affect results and schools adjust to the new syllabus.

Kez100 Out of interest, are the science A levels at your dd's school OCR as well? I have been told that there isn't much of a jump between OCR gcses and A levels, but it can be a significant jump if the A levels are set by a different examining board. It would be interesting to know how those DC who left school with OCR A levels managed university level science courses. Out of interest , what did your DD find difficult about the syllabus?

crazymum Thanks for your suggestion re A levels . I trawled through our closest school's website ( OFSTED "outstanding" with specialisms in science and maths) and found the following info from the 2011 results:

(1) 23 out of 357 students sat Biology A level (edexcel). 3 of the 23 pupils managed A-B (one each of A,A & B);

(2) 17 out of 357 students sat Chemistry A level (OCR). 1 pupil received A*, 9 received Bs.

(3) Only 6 out of 357 students sat Physics A level (edexcel) 2 of the 6 pupils received Bs.

There is another OFSTED "outstanding" school which DS could possibly get into on 2nd round admissions. It's Alevel results are similar.

What do you think of these results? Am I a bit harsh in thinking they are a bit "meh" for a leafy, north London suburban school with lots of supportive parents and a sizeable proportion of DC entering secondary school with level 5s?

Our school stops at 16 and the students go on to other sixth forms or colleges. True, I do not know what exam board the students I mention as being successful at A Level sat for A level.

woodrose My daughter isn't a scientist so her experience is a different kettle of fish to your son. She was in KS3 bottom set and had predicted E Grades and has worked her socks off in the Science exam modules to get to where she is now (right bang on the C/D borderline). It's been producing that improvement which is why she has found it challenging.

Kez Your DD sounds just like my DD! Well done to her - you must be very proud!

DS (year 10) is doing the 21st century science suite GCSEs he would prefer not to do any real world/opinion based content and stick to factual knowledge but he should still do well in it.

DD2 did the double science version and went on to take A level Chemistry. DD1 did Edexcel Double science for GCSE and she has gone onto study Biology at university.

My DCs have all been similar levels for science and the vagaries of the different exam boards haven't made a huge amount of difference to how they have performed at GCSE/ A level. It was more a case of interest in the subject and whether they put the required work in.

webwiz Thanks for the reassurance. We really like the school, but the negative press about the 21st century science suite has given me the jitters.

The exams themselves evolve and you never really know if the media have got the right end of the stick.

My daughter, sitting now, has a lot more written answers required, whereas when we look at past papers, some of those from 3+ years back are more multiple choice, so they have already changed in that respect. My son, starting them in September, has already been told there will be even longer extended answers required of him. So, same description '21st Century Science Suite' but very different exams.

The Chemistry A level results look fine - it is difficult to draw conclusions for Biology and Physics when the number of candidates is so small. It would be interesting to ask the Science teachers at an Open evening about how to encourage more students to continue with Science subjects beyond GCSE. I would have expected a school with Science and Maths specialism to have more students studying these subjects at A level. Perhaps some students transfer to other sixth forms and this is the reason for the low numbers studying science A levels.
Most of the modular GCSE Science syllabuses have their problems though and that is why they are being replaced by linear courses.

All the science courses have been revamped so the year 10's going through this year are the first year. We now have the ISA's instead of coursework, the examinations are definitely more demanding with more longer extended answers so I wouldn't worry about doing 21st C science. It was a bit wishy washy but is much improved and is fine for going onto A levels. There is a jump for all the GCSE's to A levels particularly for chemistry and the best preparation is doing triple science (but many do double science and cope fine with A level).
I would look for the school with good A level results and if not, maybe change schools for A level as I did as this will have more of an effect.