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Secondary education

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Original poster

Is there a big difference, work wise, in advanced maths compared to higher maths?

15 replies

cocolepew · 01/09/2013 17:42

DD goes to a high school and is in fifth year. She got the results for the part of her GCSE she did last year and got the highest possible mark of 143. She can't get a higher mark than a B in this exam. Her maths teacher wants to put her in for advanced maths and he will give her the extra tution needed at night in his own home.

DD suffers from anxiety and is worried about added pressure but I think she could do it and obviously so does her teacher.

I haven't spoken to him yet, he wants to talk about it at parents night.

Any advice? I'm finding GCSEs confusing Blush.

OP posts:
BlackMogul · 01/09/2013 17:56

I thought the higher paper was where you could get anA* so I am a bit confused by your terminology. Basically you have to do a wider curriculum and she should give it a go if she is capable. Why can't it be taught in school time this year as she appears to have done the lower paper early. Why was a bright child put into the lower one anyway ? There are still exams in both lower and higher so not much difference in pressure. Also kids who get maths are just able to do it! So this reduces the pressure. She should not have been expected to take two exams in the same subject because the school appears to have mis assessed her ability. I would be wary of taking any exam early and then doing more exams the following year when the grades are too low.

Original poster
cocolepew · 01/09/2013 18:16

Sorry for any confusion about terminology!

The high school doesn't do the paper that you can get an A* on, it's not that she was put in a lower class, she is in the top one. We're in N.I and its either high school or Grammar if you pass the entrance exam. It was still the 11 plus when DD did it and she got an A but because if her being so anxious I didnt send her to Grammar . Our local one puts a lot of pressure on the pupils and I knew she couldn't cope.

She didn't do the whole exam just part of it, but she needs to sit the first psrt of the advanced maths one now. Thanks for your reply Smile

OP posts:
JGBMum · 01/09/2013 19:57

As an aside, and apologies for raising it, but I would ask if dd could be taught the material in school, after hours if necessary. Or at your home rather than the teacher's.

Cheryzan · 01/09/2013 19:59

No way should she do tutoring at his house.

BlackMogul · 01/09/2013 20:14

I think it is a huge shame that the school has determined no-one can take the higher exam as determined by their scores at 11+. They must have known your DD was grammar school standard before she came to this school because they would have had information from her previous school so could have taught her the higher syllabus. Not sure what to suggest now because if she is doing the lower (B)papers in other subjects, it will make things difficult at A level. Under-achieving versus not coping with a grammar school is a real dilemma but doing loads of extra exams is also a strain and could have been avoided. I would say have a go, but argue that this should be done in school during year 11 as she should be educated by this school according to her ability, not their dogma.

Original poster
cocolepew · 01/09/2013 20:44

Why not at his house?

She has extra lessons after school, in the school, for science so she can do the exam that you can get an A* in. The high school only offer double award whereas the grammar is triple award.

It's highly unusal for a grammar school ability pupil not to go to one over here.. You had to opt out of the 11plus, all primary schools started to prepare for it in P6.

I think the school have been good at recognising the fact that she good maybe do better than what they offer.

DD had a nervous breakdown a couple of months into first year (year 8) and has OCD (disturbing intrusive thoughts) and to be honest I am just happy that she is enjoying school. But I want her to do the best she can obviously.

OP posts:
JGBMum · 02/09/2013 07:23

I think it would be more appropriate for your daughter to be taught at school, not the teacher's house.

It's a lovely offer from the teacher, and I hope your daughter is able to take advantage of the extra tuition.

Original poster
cocolepew · 02/09/2013 08:08

I did wonder that myself, I just didn't want to seem hysterical Grin

Thanks for your kind words.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 02/09/2013 15:43

A teacher offering tuition at his own house is just asking for trouble, I am Shock that any would even suggest it.

If the tuition is in addition to lessons and unpaid, so an extension of his role as class teacher, it should happen at school. With the door open.

BlackMogul · 02/09/2013 16:20

It would be highly unusual for a grammar school pupil not to go to one here if they were selected too but you knew what you were doing and this is fine. However, I do find it odd that the school she is at makes NO provision for higher maths - all the secondary modern schools do around here because they know that just because pupils were not selected at 11 to go to a grammar school, good teaching can help improve maths and therefore the higher papers are offered. Yes, the secondary modern children do get A* and A in maths. I really do think you should talk to the school about this because they are not providing a syllabus for the better children in the school. It would be very odd if your daughter was the only one capable of doing the higher paper.

Original poster
cocolepew · 03/09/2013 22:12

I got a phone call from her teacher this evening (during Bake Off! Shock) and he wants to come to our house, not her to his. I only ever seen to get half a story from DD Hmm.

OP posts:
Wuldric · 03/09/2013 22:16

What a strange thing to do ... educationally disadvantaging your DD because you were certain she couldn't cope ... then arranging lots of additional support for her to do the courses she should have been doing had you not decided she wouldn't be able to cope ....

All a bit stressy for your DD. What made you think she wouldn't cope?

Original poster
cocolepew · 03/09/2013 22:29

She wouldn't have coped, she has HFA, anxiety and OCD. She had intrusive thoughts that compels her to think about slitting her throat or wrists.

I'm not 'arranging lots of additional support' for her. She has an hour after school for science and now an hour of maths, two hours a week isn't much. This was sorted between her and her teachers.

I know my daughter this is how I knew she wouldn't cope with the pressure of our grammar school.

Tbh I wouldn't care if she didn't want to do any exams as long as she was happy.

Nice sneery post though.

OP posts:
butterflymum · 04/09/2013 20:44

By 'first part of the advanced maths one now', do you mean GCSE Additional Maths (which from this year will become GCSE Further Maths) or do you mean that she will be tutored by him to now do GCSE Mathematics (Higher Tier)?

If the former, do check the requirements at www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/microsites/mathematics/additional/faqs/index.asp which states:

^Q. Can a student take Additional Mathematics instead of GCSE Mathematics?
A. No, GCSE Higher Tier Mathematics must already have been taken, or it must be taken simultaneously^

which would rule your daughter out, as she sat Foundation level.

I am assuming, however, that you mean the latter. If so, given that you have said the High School do not cater for this, what would be the arrangements for her to sit the exam?

butterflymum · 04/09/2013 20:46

forgot to convert link

see here

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