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Secondary education

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Original poster

Was there any point in picking options?

55 replies

reddA · 20/06/2017 12:03

Sorry, I'm probably over reacting but DS is in year 8 and we chose options from 3 different blocks of subjects earlier in the year.

He chose Geography, Graphic Design and Triple Science. He has received his subjects for September and has been given History instead of Triple Science. The Deputy head has told me that Science now clashes with Graphic Design as they have changed the option blocks.

I asked if he could do Science instead of Graphic Design as it was much more important to him - he's currently amongst the top in the top set and it is his best subject. I was told the class was full so no.

Not sure what to do now, we are happy to change any of the subjects if he could do triple science so it's not like we're being completely obstinant! It's not really a GSCE he could do outside of School either as far as I'm aware - unless anyone knows if he could?

It's annoying that he was never going to get his 3 options anyway as 2 were in the same block without us knowing so would have clashed regardless.

Sorry for the ramble, just a bit pissed off Angry

OP posts:
PaperdollCartoon · 20/06/2017 12:07

You're right to be pissed off. Science will stand him in better stead than graphic design. The blocks are complicated business but history and science aren't transferable! But why are you doing options for Year 9? GCSEs don't start till Year 10?

Original poster
reddA · 20/06/2017 12:13

I have no idea, they keep changing things! When DS1 was doing them he did GCSE's over 3 years starting in year 9 and sitting some in year 10 and some in year 11 IIRC, that confused me but this is different again, seems to be GCSE's over 3 years but all exams in Yr 11 - wish they'd just leave it alone! Confused

OP posts:
AndHoldTheBun · 20/06/2017 12:37

In similar circumstances, we kicked up a massive fuss with the school (very politely I might add). Asked around to see which other kids where being denied their choice of core subject (very much needed for uni application) due to the class being full. Various parents met with HT to express concern.

The school u-turned pretty fast, and ran two classes that year (as they previously had done most years for that subject).

TeenAndTween · 20/06/2017 12:39

If he is towards top of top set then it is appalling that he isn't being allowed to do triple science.
Maybe contact Head of Science and ask for him/her to intervene?

TheHobbitMum · 20/06/2017 12:42

I would be appalled too! Triple Science absolutely must come first! If there is the demand they need to have more lesson blocks, I would be furious. I'd meet with the headteacher and find out exactly what is going on

Original poster
reddA · 20/06/2017 12:50

Oh that's interesting Bun, glad you managed to make a change, I'm just looking online and found the entitlement initiative by the government to be enable children to take triple science and got excited, but just spoke to the DFE who said the school can do what it likes, it's just a guide so that was a waste of god knows how much creating a stupid report that means nothing anyway!! Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
reddA · 20/06/2017 12:58

Have just rung School and left a message for the Deputy Head asking how many children did not get their chosen subject of Triple Science - may be in with a chance of doing something if there are a few, you never know. Thanks for all of the comments, I've no one to talk to so I'm afraid of losing perspective Blush

OP posts:
steppemum · 20/06/2017 13:00

This is appalling, complain, complain, complain.
See if any other parents are affected, write to head of science, head of year, HT and eventually governors.

This isn't an option issue, this is a core subject issue and could effect his whole future.

Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes · 20/06/2017 13:35

I agree, this is one really worth causing a stink over, not taking triple science when he is clearly more than capable of it is crazy and could make a massive difference to his A level and further education choices.

Allthebestnamesareused · 20/06/2017 13:37

Seriously every school in the country should be able to offer triple science or at least double. Do you mean that DS now has to do double plus history instead of triple. Most schools actually insist top sets do triple!

Any chance of moving schools?

wheresmyphone · 20/06/2017 13:41

What I have learnt as my kids get older is you really have to be assertive.

I was always very laid back and took the view that school knew best and I realised parents who nicely challenged the school got things sorted in their favour. Do it nicely, (don't be one of those parents who do not seem to be able to engage with the school without shouting and ranting) but be assertive.

There is a MASSIVE difference between 3x science option and graphic design!!!!

happy2bhomely · 20/06/2017 13:52

At our school the top 25% does triple, based on sets and end of year tests. It was optional but encouraged. But it is in addition to their other options and they have to do an extra hour a week after school. They also offered a full RE course (instead of half) for those who were willing to do an extra hour after school but did advise against doing triple and full RE.

So ds got to do English lang, lit, maths, chem, bio, physics, computer sci, french, RE (short course), history and Business studies.

I would kick up a huge (polite but assertive) fuss over this, especially if your dc wants to study science at a higher level post 16.

Original poster
reddA · 20/06/2017 14:00

I moved house to get him into this school, the school he was offered had 30% 5+ A*-C in 2016 whereas this one had 77% so I do really take my childs education seriously, I think I'd struggle to get him into another school at this stage and they are all pretty rubbish tbh.

What they've done is move Graphic Design into the same group at Triple Science, chosen to give him Graphic design above the science and chosen History at random!

At least they've not given him PE - guaranteed fail! lol, I do feel sorry for all the kids that have to do 3 years studying a subject that really doesn't interest them

OP posts:
Witchend · 20/06/2017 14:05

It doesn't make sense though. Is this a state school?

Firstly they have to do a science in every school I've come across.
Plus triple science in my dc's school is three subjects so would need three times the time history does. Confused
They get split at the start of year 9 into the top group who do triple science and the bottom group who do double (unless they have good reason) and the middle group who can choose with input with teachers and parents.
Those that do double science have the same length of lesson time as the triple as they need the extra time. It's about 60% do triple.

tiggytape · 20/06/2017 14:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pointythings · 20/06/2017 14:16

You definitely need to complain. It is also not in the school's interest to not allow one of their top students to shine. Schools do allocate triple science places differently - at ours you express an interest, but only the top 20% get it, and it isn't in the option blocks at all. But your DS' school has monumentally cocked this up.

OdinsLoveChild · 20/06/2017 14:28

It seems to be very common for this to happen now especially with the huge number of teachers leaving the profession and there has always been a shortage of STEM teachers.

My friends son was just given Catering instead of Graphic Design and RE instead of PE. He wants to design/create prosthetics so catering and RE are not helpful at all. Mums kicked up a fuss and the school have just dug their heels in and now refuse to talk to her. She's going to move schools I think.

I would advise you to be very very polite, its end of term and staff are hot, bothered, and probably had enough at looking at options, exams etc. Express only honest personal experiences, for example nothing along the lines of 'According to my friend Sharon Toby is crap at science but he got given the 3 sciences anyway' type comments.

If you are going to use other students as examples, only compare another student if you know directly from their parents that they didn't choose to do 3 sciences but go offered it anyway or that you have definitely spoken with 6 or 7 other parents who are disappointed the school haven't offered their children 3 sciences despite it being wanted/chosen so would the school consider an extra class.

Its pretty bad form for schools not to offer 3 sciences for the top set. In my case DD can only do 3 sciences because she is top set and it clashes with Art. Had she been in middle/lower set for science she could do double award and Art as well. She wants to be an Architect and her preferred university is asking for Physics and Art. She's gutted and I'm looking at independent schools instead for her remaining time because they are the only ones able to offer what she needs. The school wont allow her to drop down to the double award because they feel they would be failing her she will make their GCSE results look better with the triple award . I think the success rate of actually getting the GCSE's you want is really quite low as its generally based on time tabling and not on what the students actually might need in the future.

Blanketdog · 20/06/2017 14:46

We are looking at the opposite problem ds wants to combined but it is over subscribed and he's being forced to do triple, no extra timetabling for triple, they just have to work faster! He's good at science but not very interested - science department struggles to recruit good teachers.

Original poster
reddA · 20/06/2017 15:11

I don't know any other parents as I moved to be near the school so I have no idea if anyone else is in the same position unfortuately.

The Deputy Head did say earlier that it was a staffing issue, I have noticed a huge turnover in the last 2 years - they all seem to be on short contracts.

Blanket - shall we swap Ds's for a few years? :)

Haven't had my call returned by the Deputy Head yet so no other news, although I did ring another School for information - worst case scenario really, they're going to call me back.

OP posts:
ifonly4 · 20/06/2017 15:20

In DD's school only the top 25% can do triple science (it's optional for them). If you're sure he's in that 25%, I'd really argue it. They'll have a fair idea (even at this point) what he could achieve at GCSE, if it's likely to be an 8 or 9, and also his report is showing a good effort grade in science, this should back up your argument.

if you don't get anywhere now, raise it again on the first day of term as some children do have a wobbly and change their minds. Also, there could be other children who prefer to do science and if they have enough they might consider extra science classes - we were lucky as DD's school was quite big and they've always listened and tried to accommodate children.

If the Deputy doesn't get back to you today, check if they were in today. If so, take it higher up tomorrow!

BertrandRussell · 20/06/2017 15:23

Might he want to take science further?

ifonly4 · 20/06/2017 15:24

By the way, a science subject sits very well alongside geography if ever he wanted to go down the geography degree route in the future. Another reason to add to your case.

stayathomegardener · 20/06/2017 15:33

Get your DS to ask those in his science set if they were allocated triple as a starting point.

CrazedZombie · 20/06/2017 16:56

I would complain too and be blunt. Why wouldn't one of the top achievers get a triple science spot? Schools are normally results focused so should be desperate for people who are going to get good results in a main subject like Science.

Are you going to swap the history? It sounds like he's not s big fan.

Blanketdog · 20/06/2017 18:07

Sorry Red no swaps Wink - ds just told me that they will allow him to do combined but if he wants to make the leap in Sept, they'll allow him to move to triple.