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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Stats GCSE in year 9? Good Idea or Utterly Bonkers?

30 replies

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 19:19

First off, I rate ds' school very highly. But I am a bit aghast at this, especially as there has been notification (as far as know) to parents, and ds has dyspraxia.

I have talked to Head of Learning, and the Vice Principal about my concerns.

But ds won't even be 14 when he takes it (two days before his birthday!).

Ds seems unworried.

What do you all think?

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Report

MadameDefarge · 14/10/2013 23:10

I will.

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Talkinpeace · 14/10/2013 23:09

Not a disaster. Just a worry for now.
Go nd have a meeting with his head of year and the Maths teacher.
Put to them ALL the points raised on this thread.

MadameDefarge · 14/10/2013 23:06

They aren't all at level 8, just a few. And he was 6b at the end of year 8, and I assume he will be level 7c at least at the end of this year...

ihave to go with the schools assumption he will do well. I have told them I will come after them if he doesn't.

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MadameDefarge · 14/10/2013 23:03

oh fuck. this is a fucking disaster.

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keepsmiling12345 · 14/10/2013 22:18

Sorry op but I would still suggest you discuss with the school. You say you are worried that your DC won't do as well as other children but, to be honest, if he is 6 B and others are level 8, then isn't that a highly likely outcome? And then you say that withdrawing him would reduce his confidence, which I understand. But surely the worst thing for his confidence and his self-esteem would be not to achieve at least a C in this GCSE. So, if I were his parent, i would want the school to give me a lot of evidence to satisfy me that he will achieve a C otherwise a/ he will be devastated and b/ there will be some universities who will not discount a D at GCSE just because it was taken early.

Bunbaker · 14/10/2013 21:26

If he is only working at a 6b I think it is a little over ambitious to do a GCSE in 7 months time.

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 21:50

He knows how crap at maths I am.

But you are right, it will be fine.

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WorrySighWorrySigh · 13/10/2013 21:49

There is something to be said for getting early experience of taking exams. My DD took a GCSE in year 7 followed by an AS in year 9 and A2 in year 10. All excellent experience. Lots of opportunity to get DD practiced in good exam technique.

Talkinpeace · 13/10/2013 21:36

It'll be fine.
There are some really good popular science books about stats that might help as reading around ..... if nothing else then you can help with the homework

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 21:34

I wish I could. but he would never let me. Ah well. I just have to hope their confidence in his abilities are spot on.

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Talkinpeace · 13/10/2013 21:30

OK,
in that case study it with him .... stats is great
there are lies, damned lies and statistics
as part of my A level we tested the average number of matches in a box
hundreds and hundreds of boxes
and then piled the lot up and lit it - marchmallows as part of an A level
a good grasp of probabilty (Bayes in paticular) will make it easier - and more fun.

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 21:20

The problem is Talkin it would devastate him not to do it. Its taken years to build up his confidence...badly bullied by kids and a teacher in his primary. doing this has made him feel part of something special. I can't take it away from him now.

Which is why I am so cross it was not discussed with me beforehand.

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Talkinpeace · 13/10/2013 21:18

Unless he's sure he can get the A or A*, tell them to let him wait till he's done the pure. THey cannot force him to take an exam.

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 20:35

Its a new secondary, so this is the first year they have a full year doing gcses. I know they have done stats before, and did well first year, not so good the second.

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MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 20:33

oh dear. well, I just hope he scrapes a c a doesn't feel crap if all his mates do better. that's my real worry.

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Talkinpeace · 13/10/2013 20:21

Stats is not hard, but its applied.
Therefore sits on top of the pure subject.
Doing the standard maths before the applied parts makes sense.
Doing applied before pure does not.
and actually I think ANY GCSE in year 9 nowadays is cruising for a bruising as modules are gone.

Stats is wonderful stuff, but you NEED to have a good grounding in pure maths to be able to fiddle understand it

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 20:17

he is about 6b atm. there are others in his set who 8s...

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MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 20:15

is the gcse that hard?

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Talkinpeace · 13/10/2013 20:05

I did stats a level.

your kids school is bonkers

MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 19:45

thanks creamteas!

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MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 19:44

right. I just want him to do as well as he can. without extra pressures.

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creamteas · 13/10/2013 19:41

Many universities don't look at GCSE grades at all, and those that do tend to look at the best 8.

So it is highly unlikely that even if he did get a C it would make any difference to anything.

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MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 19:29

Another worry is (perhaps I am looking too far ahead) is that if he has a C pass, that will affect his uni chances, if he needs higher grades. But I assume they would see it was taken early.

I just don't understand any of it, tbh!

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MadameDefarge · 13/10/2013 19:26

that's reassuring oddboots. That's how its been sold to them. He is in top set for maths, and all the top sets do it. But its timetabled as extended studies (farewell, origami!).

VP said he would not have been entered if they weren't sure he would get at least a C. I think because I did so badly at Maths it freaks me a bit. And having a developmental disorder is seems a bit counter-intuitive to push him for something early.

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isitsnowingyet · 13/10/2013 19:24

If he's unworried, why not let him have a go? What do the school say? My nephew took a GCSE in Astronomy in year 9 and really enjoyed it, although it was lots of work..

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