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Secondary education

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Original poster

Is it usual to need a grade A GCSE to do A level maths now?

435 replies

Jella2u · 23/08/2013 16:59

Disappointment here too. Son has got 10 GCSE's grade A-C. So what's the prob? You have no prob! Yes I do!!!
He got a grade B, yes that's right, B for Bertie for Maths. The school (which is a comprehensive turned Academy ) will let him do his Physics, Chemistry and Biology, but not Maths for which they say a Grade A is required unless you've clocked up a total of 224 points between the last 2 module papers. Unfortunately his tally was 205. Husband went up suited and booted to the school this morning to plead son's case. Phoned us this afternoon - no go. Have said this to all who got a B. So nothing personal there.
Have tried to contact other schools this afternoon. Needless to say all are shut. Local Authority very helpful and recommended emailing. Are schools running a clearing system that I don't know about? Do tell.
School did offer Statistics as a replacement this morning, but by this afternoon that was off the menu as no-one wants to do it. There are 7 pupils in this maths grade B situation who want to do A level Maths. Strangely the school says Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths are the most difficult subjects. So they might be for most people, but what if your child is the one that has had to struggle with French, Music, English Language and bid their time to do the supposed hard four?
We feel he needs A level maths to support science subjects.
Unfortunately, I said we would be back with an answer as to taking up a place with some sort of substitute for Maths before term starts. Every chance if I can't get something sorted fast he will be a well educated NEET!!!
All ideas welcome. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
cricketballs · 28/08/2013 22:16

hismum - a lot of MNers 'think' they know their DC; but when repeatedly asked the question what their DC want they refuse to answer.....just like the op

HarumScarum · 28/08/2013 22:22

There is a lot of stuff talked about knowing your children and knowing what's best for them on MN and by and large I agree with it. It's normally in respect of children who are too young to really know what's best for them - babies and toddlers and primary school-aged kids. I don't think it's the same for a child of this age, nearly an adult, tbh. I was pushed into doing science and maths A levels (and was far far better at those subjects than the OP's child seems to be) but wasn't happy or fulfilled in taking that direction of study. At GCSE+, perhaps the children should have at least as much input as the adults as to where their future studies should take them. They won't be children for much longer.

LaVolcan · 28/08/2013 23:06

HarumScarum I agree - when your children are about 16 you begin to realise that what you think is best and what they think would be best don't necessarily coincide. At the same time, they need constructive advice - it's a difficult balance to get right.

HisMum4now · 28/08/2013 23:53

Strangely the school says Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths are the most difficult subjects. So they might be for most people, but what if your child is the one that has had to struggle with French, Music, English Language and bid their time to do the supposed hard four?

So what alternative careers would you suggest to a DC like this?

Wuldric · 29/08/2013 00:04

I don't know about suggestions for careers based on school subjects - the world is vast and career opportunities are legion. My son really gets the sciences and maths, but his English is fair to woeful. I have no clue what he will do. Medicine is possible, veterinary science is also possible, but he has a bit of an entrepreneurial streak and might set up his own business. Or he might be an accountant. He told me last term that he wanted to be a physicist. A year previously he mentioned medicine. Who knows at this stage?

circular · 29/08/2013 07:13

Thanks for the info Noble, that does make sense.

Baffled as to why DD has been given the C1 differentiation section on Mymaths to go through.
I've directed her back to the CGP Headstart book as she has forgotten so much in 6 months.

circular · 29/08/2013 08:24

Just thinking about this whole A level choices business, and how much parental influence needed.

Looking back, I think I did influence quite heavily on GCSE choices. As DD used to love science, I told her to stick with 3 separates(which counted as an option) rather than droppng to double and taking Drama. Or if she was really unhappy with science, to take a 2nd MFL.
I think the whole ebacc thing influenced too, and she really regretted taking Geography - that and English were he lowest results. She did well in the sciences, and nobody at her school got above a B for Drama, so her choices probably maximised her results.

But then you think is it really all about maximising results?
She gas chosen difficult subjects as she thinks she can do better in them, her weakest skill being writing.

This thread has really started me thinking though, does an A in maths and a B in English really mean you are better at maths rather than it being just as easy to acheive both, as an above average all-rounder?

We also know many DCs that are choosing some unusual mixes of subjects, usually those that don't know what they want to do, or only 'need' one subject, so anything else goes.

I wonder if enough advice is being given at the time if making the choices?

In the OPs case, if a B was predicted all along, why was this not raised in Dec/Jan when provisional choices would have been made?

cory · 29/08/2013 10:15

There does seem to be some kind of communication issue with the school there.

I'm also wondering what the son's input in all this is. Has not he discussed his future career choices with his teachers, including a discussion of predicted grades and their consequences?

It seems to be all about father goes up suited and booted, mother decides he is capable, we feel he needs A-level maths, mum rings the local college. Where is the son in all this? Why isn't he doing these things for himself?

I'd expect a 16yo to have a little more involvement, particularly if he wants to do a difficult A-level which is above his predicted grades. I would have thought the college would require evidence that he is a mature person who is capable of organising himself.

Those are skills he should start practising now, in preparation for his university interview.

ll31 · 29/08/2013 10:24

Agree re lack of input / info re son, feel a bit sorry for him tbh. I think my ds13 may have more control of his academic path...

noblegiraffe · 29/08/2013 10:25

That does seem odd, circular although tbh so many things other schools do seem odd to me, when maybe they have good reason for doing them! How is she finding the differentiation?

Re communication issues, sixth form open evening in October time is when we get asked 'Am I good enough to do A-level?'. In the OP's case, they would have been told that being in a middle set and with a predicted grade B, probably not and other choices should be looked at. That would have given the OP nearly a year to come up with a plan (including really pushing for an A at GCSE with possible module resits) instead of a last minute rush.

HisMum4now · 29/08/2013 10:28

I would be interested to know what alternative career choices would be suited to DC with a profile similar to OPs.

noblegiraffe · 29/08/2013 10:53

Good at science but not so hot at maths? He could pursue Chemistry or Biology at Uni without the requirement for A-level maths (although it would definitely be beneficial). How about Forensic Science?

bruffin · 29/08/2013 11:00

I thought you needed a masters in Chemistry to work in forensics and that the forensic science degrees were a waste of time and money.

noblegiraffe · 29/08/2013 11:03

No idea about forensic science degrees, the question was about a suitable career path! A few kids at school say they want to be forensic scientists, think it comes from watching CSI.

HisMum4now · 29/08/2013 12:30

Agree. A lot could be done with chemistry degree: forensics, academic research, pharmaceuticals, food industry, oil and gas, accounting...

HarumScarum · 29/08/2013 13:28

I'm not convinced a Chemistry degree would be a very happy experience for someone who isn't very good at Maths!

Boosiehs · 29/08/2013 14:04

Harum, I completely agree. As someone who did a chemistry degree with A/S pure maths only and found it really really tough.

Biology had lots of stats too.

Physics isn't the only science to require maths.

crazymum53 · 29/08/2013 14:56

Pupils with similar profile to the OPs could pursue a degree in Rdiography that doesn't require Maths, becoming a dispensing optician (via foundation degree) is also a possibility.
Physiotherapy requires Science A levels and not Maths (very competitive to get a place though). HTH

crazymum53 · 29/08/2013 14:57

Should read radiography!

circular · 29/08/2013 17:17

NobleGiraffe Not been finding differentiation itself too bad, but only done the first 2 (out of 5) sections.
Following it through OK, but got lost a couple off times through having forgotten some basic algebra.
Hence telling her to go through the Headstart book.

Still wondering why they've been thrown in at Tge deep end though.
Is it the first two weeks where they can get to change subjects if it feels like a big mistake?

5Foot5 · 29/08/2013 23:06

I take my hat off to you for your commitment and determination. I really do. I hope it works.

DD got A* at GCSE Maths and chose it for an A level subject. I was delighted because Maths was one of my best subjects at school and I got an A at A level back in 1980. I told her I would be happy to help at any time if she needed it.

She did. And I was aghast at how much I had forgotten in 30+ years. I think I was of limited help but I can only add my voice to those who say it is hard. I really don't think A level Maths has been at all dumbed down since I was at school.

Incidentally DD has struggled even with an A* at GCSE. She only got a C at AS so she is facing at least one resit next summer and a hell of a lot of work to get this back on track.

bruffin · 30/08/2013 09:49

5foot5
DS turned his E for mechanics to an A this summer for AS, so it can be done. However DS spent too much time concentrating on the other modules and forget to revise properly for mechanics because he was comfortable with it. He now has to sort out Decision 2 next summer.

Noble
do you know if there are any good resourses on Decision 2, M4ths doesnt seem to include it in their dvds

cory · 30/08/2013 11:27

Of course turning around or catching up very quickly is sometimes possible. Dd only got a B for French because she was suffering from extreme anxiety in the exam period and panicked in the oral; I don't really think it says much about her overall ability and have no doubt she could have upped that to an A at any other time.

I managed to swot up on English lit enough to get an A though I had only spent a few months in the country and had previously only been taught English as a foreign language and had never written a real essay. If you have the potential and the drive and the access to good explanations you can sometimes do these things.

Posters are assuming that the B at GCSE level means the OPs ds does not have the potential. I don't think we necessarily know that for sure. But it would need to be combined with drive, as well as access to his mother's excellent tuition.

It really depends on the reason for the results.

noblegiraffe · 30/08/2013 12:21

He got a level 4 at KS2, has not managed to get the results to be promoted up a set throughout secondary, got a mid B at GCSE and only scraped a B on the final module, the one containing the tricky algebra required for A-level.
It's not just the B at GCSE that's causing concern!