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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE science setting

29 replies

janinlondon · 17/12/2014 11:44

Just curious really. Does your secondary set triple science GCSE students for the individual sciences or are they assigned one science set for all three combined? Think school size might be relevant so if you know how many in the year that may help me please. TIA.

OP posts:
MEgirl · 17/12/2014 12:14

Ours has 2 sets for triple science. Same set for all three subjects as far as I know. The cohort is 150. Some doing triple, some double. Don't know if any are doing single.

OddBoots · 17/12/2014 12:17

There are two top sets doing triple science, each set is the same for the three sciences. The year group is about 200 children.

darlingfascistbullyboy · 17/12/2014 12:17

they are setted for science over all.

There are two triple science options, the higher group do the triple as two options & the lower do it as three 180 in each year. They want a level 6 at the end of y9 to do the triple, the higher set is all level 7s.

Original poster
janinlondon · 17/12/2014 12:22

Thanks guys. Looks like setting for all three sciences combined is fairly common then. Not sure why??!

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 17/12/2014 13:05

200 in year, also set for all 3 combined.

The science teachers teach all 3 so not specialised for one branch of science only. They don't have timetabled 'Physics' lessons, only Science, so eg coming up to exams the teacher may choose to revise anything they like. More flexible.

catslife · 17/12/2014 13:14

Triple Science is timetabled as separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics at dds school with each subject having a different teacher. As far as I know (dd is doing Double Science) although there is some setting by ability it is the same set for each subject.
School has year group of 220 approx 90 pupils take Triple Science.
They use NC levels from the end of Y9 to decide the sets and this just gives one result for Science so this could be the reason. The other could be timetabling as it would be hard to set for different Science subjects as well as fit other options into the timetable.

18yearstooold · 17/12/2014 13:19

Dds school has 270 in the year

The have to have level 6 at the end of year 8 to do triple which is then timetabled as separate sciences and the are kept in the same set for all of them

Below 4a at the end of yr 8 they do single, everyone else does double which is timetabled as science

Bunbaker · 17/12/2014 13:26

DD's school has 270 per year, but I'm not sure how many are doing triple science. I know both top sets are at least, but I think there are more. The pupils can opt for either double or triple science - triple science takes up one more option so they only get three more options to choose from. Those opting for double science get to chose from four further options.

TheWordFactory · 17/12/2014 14:06

At DD's school only the top set do triple science. The rest do double.

At DS school, everyone does triple and there are several sets, but if you're in set 3 for Physics, you're also set 3 for chemistry and biology IYSWIM.

Walkinginfog · 17/12/2014 14:32

300 per year group, split into 2 halves for timetabling purposes.
Top set in each 'half' do triple science. I don't know how they decide whether 1 person who is very good at eg. Biology but useless at Physics is 'better' than a fairly good allrounder or not.
There always seems to be a lot of arguing/ complaining about children not being allowed to do triple.

Original poster
janinlondon · 17/12/2014 15:41

Yes, walkingfog, that is sort of where I am going with this too. "Good at science" just doesn't seem to be a very scientific way of working this out! Bit tricky for a child with A* in physics but E in chemistry, for example. But it does appear to be the way they do it in all schools.

OP posts:
SlowlorisIncognito · 17/12/2014 15:55

Unless there is a very large number of students doing triple science, it probably won't be practical to have them in different classes for different subjects. If there are two classes doing it, it may be that either these classes do science at different times (to accommodate different options). Sometimes one teacher will teach two sciences- e.g. biology and chemistry, so it would not be possible to change sets for these subjects.

I think the example of a student getting A* in physics but E in chemistry would be very unusual, as they use mostly similar skills. I think it would be unusual for someone getting an A in one science to be getting less than a C in another, unless they weren't putting any effort into that subject.

OddBoots · 17/12/2014 15:57

Are there students with such a wide range in ability between the sciences? There is so much overlap between them it would be surprising.

Bunbaker · 17/12/2014 16:49

I have just asked DD about how many take triple science and she said there are currently three classes of triple science, but they will weed out some of the less able students so that there are two classes of triple science. Her school is split into two halves as well so there is a top set in each half. They have a massive science test in January so I imagine that will be the decider.

DD is currently scoring As in science so she should be on course for triple science.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 17/12/2014 18:00

Cohort 100. Not set for GCSE Science at all. Only set for Maths and French. But it is a selective boys' school.

TheFallenMadonna · 17/12/2014 18:04

For ease of timetabling, mostly. Science timetabling can be a nightmare. Very unusual for someone to be an A* in one Science and E in another IME.

summerends · 17/12/2014 23:19

At one school all do triple science but none set, groups depend on timetabling. At the other school all do triple science but school has luxury that all three sciences are set separately. Top sets are covering work beyond GCSE in any particular science so as more than GCSE competence is required top physicists may not always have a leaning towards biology and vica versa.

Original poster
janinlondon · 18/12/2014 12:07

Unusual as it might be...........it has just happened in our household!

OP posts:
MillyMollyMama · 18/12/2014 17:39

DD went to selective girls' independent school and about 1/3 of 60 in the cohort did triple science and they were taught together for all 3 sciences. Triple science is a decent enough preparation for A level because many girls went on to get A*s at a level. There is no need to go above and beyond at GCSE to get a good A level result.

catslife · 18/12/2014 17:40

It is possible OP. I have marked both GCSE Physics and Chemistry papers and there are slightly different skills needed in each subject. I don't agree that there is much overlap in the content. Please pm me if you have any specific questions.

TheFirstOfHerName · 18/12/2014 17:42

There are six sets doing triple science. If you are in the third set for one science subject, then you are in the third set for the others too.

TheFirstOfHerName · 18/12/2014 17:43

Plus three sets doing double science, so 190 in the year.

TheFirstOfHerName · 18/12/2014 17:46

DS1 is in set 2 because he got a level 7 in Science in the internal assessments they did in Y9. This was a general level for Science, which is why he is now in set 2 for Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

WittyUsername102 · 18/12/2014 20:54

About 300 in DD's old year group. If you did triple science, you were with the same pupils for each science, but had a different teacher for each.

summerends · 18/12/2014 21:51

Milly certain independent schools with a high enough proportion of very bright DCs are not going beyond the constraints of GCSE and (in the sixth form) A level or preU to achieve the highest grades but to stop the best at these subjects from getting bored.