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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Six form subjects

16 replies

monstermunch123 · 09/02/2014 19:36

Does anyone think that Maths, Computer Science, Physics and Further Maths is too much at A level or would you say drop the idea of further maths for a humanities subject to get a broader spectrum.

OP posts:

addictedtosugar · 09/02/2014 20:17

I've not been around students since the AS/A2 system came in, but as someone who did bio, phys, chem and maths, and work with lots of the phys, chem, maths, further maths type combinations, I'd say if hes happy with the subjects, and it leads to a job / uni course he wants (you can check typical entry requirements for likely courses online), go for it. If it starts closing doors for things he's still interested in, broadening things could be sensible.

MillyMollyMama · 09/02/2014 20:45

Lots of Maths/Science people never do a humanity at A level. I suspect computer science is not needed for many university courses so this one could be swapped. However if he loves computer science, why not do it?

Suffolkgirl1 · 09/02/2014 22:03

Many maths and physics degrees like further maths. If he wants to broaden options then another science such as chemistry may be better than a humanity or computer science, but if his future lies in maths or physics these are fine.

tiredlady · 09/02/2014 22:05

Sounds fine to me.
Funny how everyone is assuming your dc is a boy not girl!

OddBoots · 09/02/2014 22:11

They are what my ds is thinking of taking with a view to an engineering/surveying career. If that's what your dc wants then there is nothing wrong with that combination in my opinion.

starballbunny · 09/02/2014 22:22

If he's thinking of doing a physics degree, drop the IT after AS

No need for a humanity and most Maths/physics computing people hate essays anyway.

JohnnyBarthes · 09/02/2014 22:22

I can't speak for the other subjects, but having studied computing at HNC (which I imagine isn't dissimilar to A Level) I found there to be plenty of scope for creativity in it. I found it more satisfying than sociology in that respect (which I know isn't a subject you've mentioned, but it's what my first degree is in).

It has also been tremendously useful.

mindgone · 09/02/2014 23:27

Sounds like a great combo. A humanities subject would look very odd in the mix. At A level, they normally go for subjects which go well together and help each other out, rather than a broad spectrum. Hth.

Eastpoint · 10/02/2014 03:45

Chemistry instead of computer science as it will leave more options. You don't need computer science a level to study it at university.

Original poster

monstermunch123 · 10/02/2014 06:03

Thanks for all the replies. It is my DS we are talking about and I should also have mentioned he wants to study Computer Science at university.
I know you can just enter university courses without being taught it at A level but it must give some advantage. Most of the universities do not state that they need further maths for this which is why I'm thinking that all four subjects are very maths based and he should drop the idea of further maths as previous grades for past pupils in this have not been too great.

OP posts:

Original poster

monstermunch123 · 10/02/2014 06:56

I should also say that the whole Maths A level would be done in 1 year and the second year spent on the Further maths which will obviously all be highly accelerated. Has anyone out there done this and what was the workload like?

OP posts:

DustyBaubles · 10/02/2014 07:04

I don't have any experience of one year courses, but the fact that it's being considered as an option suggests that your some must be an extremely competent mathematician already.

I would keep both maths courses and drop computer science if you had to drop one. The maths courses will underpin pretty much everything he studies at university, and will give him much better options.

HSMMaCM · 10/02/2014 08:04

Further maths is a good one alongside physics as they overlap.

LeapingOverTheWall · 10/02/2014 08:17

DD1 did Maths in Y12 ad FM in Y13 - each subject was double timetabled, so there wasn't any acceleration as such, and she found it perfectly doable. I'd have thought you'd struggle fitting two 2 year courses into one subject slot though, even though those choosing the Maths/FM combo are generally v good at Maths.

ChocolateWombat · 10/02/2014 09:48

Sounds fine for an able student.
He has 3 facilitating A levels there, (not computer science) which are liked by RG Unis. These keep his options open in case he changes his mind about computer science.

MillyMollyMama · 10/02/2014 12:20

The best students keep 4 A levels going if one of them is Further Maths. This is definitely what happens at the best independent schools so do not sell yourself short by being second best when lots of competing students will have 4 A levels. Lots of schools now teach both Maths A levels over 2 years.

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