Triple science taught in the same lesson time as double

[Sadik]

Not necessarily an issue - but dd tells me her science teacher has said that they may be changing GCSE options such that set 1 science take triple science in the same option block/ie time that the others take double, rather than as at present choosing it as an extra option.

She's concerned because science and particularly biology/chem are her favourite subjects and she's currently thinking to continue with them, and therefore doesn't want to study in less depth (and indeed potentially get worse exam results). Any experiences?

I'm a bit teed off because I'm sure the reason for it is that they're all going to have to do Welsh bac - and school dropped an option block last year to allow for this - which IMO isn't necessarily that valuable. (Obviously this isn't the school's choice - it's a political thing.)

Our school does that as well. Double or triple science timetabled in the same sessions. For our school, it's more or less an ability thing, where the top set(s) do triple and the lower set (s) do double. So I guess they think that the more able pupils can cope with the faster pace. The results are good though, it doesn't seem to compromise them.

They do this at my DCs' school. A quarter of the pupils do double science, the other three quarters do triple science within the same timetable slots, so it doesn't take up an extra subject option.

So they have 6 hours of science teaching a week, regardless of whether they are doing double or triple science.

Did that 18 years ago. Only top sets so move faster. We did have some extra lessons in lunch/registration as well. Our lessons were 35/40 minute doubles, the extras were 25/30 minutes once per subject per week but think it was only 1 year of the 2.

If the set is up to the speed should be fine. Extension reading is obviously possible out of lessons though.

DC school already do this. Those in top sets do new work in year 11, others consolidate what they have learnt in year 9/10.

I think this is a good set up as it still ensures access to a broad curriculum for top scientists.

The timetabling challenge is to ensure that all students are taught by specialist biology/chemistry/physics teachers. It should all work out if each teacher works at 150% speed.

It helps if they start their GCSE science courses in Y9, then there is no issue.

That's what I did many years ago. I have the opposite problem that for my kids triple science take out one of their option blocks which seems daft to me as clearly it can be taught to the able students in the same time as the less able to double science.

My ds did that. Worked really well. He's not science minded, but it wasn't a problem at all. Didn't start in Yr9 either.

Wish my dd's school had done it, but it would have taken an extra option for her to have got separate sciences. She's got far more of a science leaning than ds, but now has 'Additional' and 'Core' rather than separate sciences he has.

Dd's school has just started doing this.

Some of her friends have opted to do the triple as an option if they are not confident about being able to manage in a double time slot. Dd has opted the other way because she wanted some other actual options including art, other than just the crusty old academic subjects she is expected to do because she is a bit clever.

We do this, works fine

DD's school does both. (My DD did double.)

You can opt to do accelerated triple (in the same time as double, which saves an option for another GCSE), or normal speed triple (which uses up an extra option).

Doing the accelerated I think would be fine for a DC who is quick on the uptake, and willing to put in extra effort to go over things skimmed in class.

Thanks all - that's helpful, and hopefully I can re-assure dd. I wonder if they're planning to start the GCSE course this year - I know dd's target level for end KS3 was upped at the end of last year, so maybe related.

Ds' school does something similar.Yr 10/11 double science is compulsory. Most able do triple in the double science timetable slot. Leaving 4 options for other GCSEs available.

Other triple science students do triple and use up an 'option' so they have only 3 other options.

Doulble science students have 4 options for GCSEs.

The students on the 'accelerated' triple in double lesson slot don't appear to have any time to do practicals.

I would reassure myself by asking how how the course will be taught and whether there will be time for practicals.

My school did this many years ago. 6 lessons available each week for science teaching. The bottom three sets did 'science' in all six slots. The top two sets did 2x chemistry, 2x physics, 2x biology slots per week. Worked fine.

Top set do triple science in two timetable slots
next set do triple science in three timetable slots
next set do double science in two timetable slots
next set do single science

and remember that the GCSE is structured as

Single Science is P1 C1 B1
Double Science is P1 C1 B1 ~ P2 C2 B2
Triple Science is P1 C1 B1 ~ P2 C2 B2~ P3 C3 B3

so they all build on each other

Good question about the practicals, Lemonheads, I think that's the sort of thing dd's worried about. I will ask.

My DD's school have the same amount of time allocated on the timetable for triple and double science, which is 5 lessons at 50 mins each. Those doing double science actually started their coursework two months earlier which surprised me - I thought it would be the other way around, but I guess the school know what they're doing.

sadik
top set certainly get time for practicals in my experience

Have reassured dd, and she thinks after consideration it's quite likely they're going to start GCSE work this year (yr 9) - they def. do this with maths & French already

Doing accelerated triple is fine.

The classes are fast paced, and there is, by necessity homework (to consolidate, as no time to go over things in class). But it's fine for motivated pupils.