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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Parents of Year 11DC support thread. The final term.

997 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/03/2016 14:53

Eep.

OP posts:
MrsGuyOfGisbo · 11/05/2016 16:46

I would beware of schools and colleges that will accept lower grades for A levels. A school near us did this as they were desperate to fill up places, and the majority ended up having to re-do Y12 - complete waste of a year for them.

Icouldbeknitting · 11/05/2016 17:35

Kappadelta my guess is that it's the C in maths that is leading to the offer of Btec science. DS is off to a state sixth form next year and if he was doing a science he would need a B in maths as well as a B in the science subject.

If his results turn out to be better than the mocks predict he can presumably switch at enrolment?

kappadelta · 11/05/2016 17:57

Ohyou - thank you

Icould - I think your right. I did raise his illness with the deputy head who had no record of it. I suppose it is just a wait and see game at the moment.

catslife · 11/05/2016 19:56

So that's IT completed. dd thought paper was hard but managed to get the website working so that should be OK.
Leavers Day events tomorrow so that's a bit of light relief before the written exams start on Monday.
Welcome to kappa and Starfleet.
Kappa I am not sure whether to comment on here or your other thread but agree with knitting that it's probably the C in that Maths test that is causing the concern. At most schools there's a bit of adjustment once the actual results are out. In a way it's a good thing that there is the option of BTEC is needed.

catslife · 11/05/2016 20:05

Should read if needed.
As a former A level Science teacher the what grades do you need for A level isn't always straight forward. A candidate may only obtain a grade B at GCSE because they had a poor teacher or went to a less high achieving school for example or if there were extenuating circumstances such as illness or bereavement. So I am not sure if the you must have an A to take A level is always correct. Having said that though some pupils with grade Bs struggle with AS level and may have been better taking another subject as previously stated. For level 3 BTECS the entry grades are Cs so a pupil with Bs would be at the top end of the ability range and it may be better to have Distinctions at BTEC than low grade A levels.

ExitPursuedByABear · 11/05/2016 23:04

Your hoodies are later OP. Dd is sleeping in hers as I type.

Welcome lurkers Wink

ShanghaiDiva · 12/05/2016 00:04

Re A level maths, my ds is taking AS now as he took the iGCSE in year 10. He got an A* in the iGCSE and did find it a big jump from iGCSE to A level.

The main difference seems to be that at GCSE level you are given clear directions on what to do - factorise this , expand that, but at A level you have to consider what is in your metaphorical maths tool kit and work out how you need to solve the problem.
Just my ds's experience for what it's worth :)

BlueGazebo · 12/05/2016 06:28

DS wants to do Biology A Level. He was told by sixth form at a different school that he will need a B in Maths as well as in Additional Science (already has a B in Core). This is a school that accepts A-C for A Levels. His current school requires Bs for A Levels but he was told he would be able to do it with a C in Maths. He is predicted an A in Additional Science and a C in Maths. His B in Core Science was definitely affected by disruptive classes and supply teachers. He has dyslexia and is not good at maths. Does anyone know how much Maths there is in A Level Biology? He is definitely bright enough to do A Levels but the dyslexia is a real spanner in the works re the Maths, essay writing, organisation, etc so picking the right subjects is tricky.

He could probably scrape a B in Maths if he did some revision! He is not revising! It's very frustrating!

Au79 · 12/05/2016 07:01

Blue gazebo if he wants to do biology I think he should do it. I'm a biologist, never liked maths and did the minimum, it's never been an issue- I just do the maths y parts I have to, and use a calculator and double check everything.

But maybe you can leverage this a bit and say to him, it's his future and it's like training for a sport, if you want to do X, sometimes you need to do extra fitness training in something you don't enjoy as much. Opening doors, etc etc. There's no doubt maths is helpful in all sorts of parts of life.

BlueGazebo · 12/05/2016 07:09

Thanks Au79. That is very reassuring re the Maths and Biology.

Re the revision.... I have been nagging and telling him for months and months on a daily basis. He has stopped listening now and lies that he is doing it. I've tried threats and big bribes but nothing has worked. He has even agreed to me taking away the PS4 but he still can't/won't revise. He will usually do some with me so I have waved goodbye to my weekends for the next few weeks.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/05/2016 07:12

Bluegazebo, would he consider taking 'use of maths' a level, to support his biology?

OP posts:
BlueGazebo · 12/05/2016 07:36

I have never heard of that before... just googled it. I think it's more likely to work as a threat... ie, if you don't work hard now, you will HAVE to do "use of maths".

I think the dyslexia is responsible for his maths problems - left/right/up/down/decimal places/graphs/boxes/symbols/wordy questions are not strong points. The maths books will shortly be consigned to a ceremonial pyre. I think he's worked fairly hard to be in Grade C territory and he is reluctant to do one jot more. He MUST go back and check every single answer on his exam paper - thankfully he does get extra time.

BlueGazebo · 12/05/2016 07:40

On a recent past paper, he missed out the first digit on a whole row of numbers in a table.

ShanghaiDiva · 12/05/2016 07:50

Blue - my ds is taking Biology for the IB next year and just had a quick look through the text book re maths content:
lots of graph work
some formulae for specific tests
ratios in genetics
rates of reaction -again just graph work
This was for IB, not A level but imagine the content would be similar.

ShanghaiDiva · 12/05/2016 07:52

Good luck to everyone with Physics ATP today!

ExitPursuedByABear · 12/05/2016 08:07

I did query with DD why she needed a calculator for her Biology exam. Don't remember using one in mine (probs hadn't been invented then).

Use of Maths is offered at our local sixth form. It was explained to us very badly on our visit, but I thought it could be an ideal alternative for those who really struggle.

raspberryrippleicecream · 12/05/2016 08:15

DD has Drama practical today. this and Photography have been very stressful and feel the remaining 9 will be easier!

She is going to a showing of View from the Bridge tonight (recorded play) at the cinema, which seems an ideal way of revising her Literature book after her day!

Mysillydog · 12/05/2016 08:18

It's dd's last day at school today. She is feeling very conflicted. She's far to stubborn to admit that she will miss the place!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/05/2016 08:31

Good luck for today physics people!

OP posts:
Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/05/2016 08:37

oh! I hadn't refreshed. I can get my pompoms out for drama and last day of school too if you like?

dd is off to see a View from the bridge as well. I think that it will be full of students pretending to revise. I'm actually really grateful for them for screening it now. It seems like a really thoughtful thing to do.

Dyslexia can affect maths badly. For instance, it makes learning tables much more difficult for some kids. As a result that simple issue alone can knock confidence and make it more difficult to engage and lose ground. Add in transposition of numbers and for some difficulty in holding things in short term memory and it makes it very challenging. I do wish that more went into educating teachers about the impact it has on maths.

OP posts:
catslife · 12/05/2016 08:48

Just waved dd off for her last official day of school. How did that happen ? I clearly remember the first day of Y7. Her "friends" on FB are all getting rather emotional about this. Hope she remembered some tissues. dd thinks they are being OTT, given that most of them are staying on for sixth form whereas she is planning on going elsewhere. Hope the Leavers Celebrations don't go OTT though.
Hopefully Leavers hoodie will come home today.

TheSecondOfHerName · 12/05/2016 08:59

Good luck to the Drama and Physics students today.

needastrongone · 12/05/2016 09:10

Good luck for Drama and Physics today.

Seems so damn real now!

Hope your DD has a good day cats.

situatedknowledge · 12/05/2016 13:16

Just back from leavers assembly. Sad I know I shouldn't be. It really isn't sad. It was just such a shock to see all those beautiful girls who in my head have only just left playgroup, preparing to leave school. DD is embarrassed by me. Grin

EllenJanethickerknickers · 12/05/2016 15:37

DS2 will be home soon to get ready for his prom! Posh sit down meal and a disco in a local wedding venue manor house. He's looking forward to it, and I hope he enjoys it. He has ASD and doesn't socialise at all really, so I've no idea who he'll be sitting with. He had to choose a table, apparently, but can't remember who else is on it! Confused

I hope exams went well today. DS starts next Wed with ICT and RE.