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Secondary education

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Original poster

Triple science GCSE - sorry if this has been done to death

96 replies

himalayansalt · 23/03/2018 17:49

I'm looking for advice on the impact on his future if my son decides not to opt for triple science at GCSE, hope someone can help?

His teachers assure us he is capable of doing triple science but son is reluctant. He says he doesn't like science and tbh I just think he is slightly daunted by the effort it will require.

He hasn't even thought about what he wants to study at A level or University yet (he's in Y9) but I am worried about entrance requirements for good sixth forms and Universities if he doesn't have the magic 3.

His strongest subjects at school are maths, English and history. He isn't doing any foreign languages at GCSE.

Infact, if he doesn't do triple science he will come away with only 8 GCSEs if he passes them all - maths, statistics, computer science, English x 2, history, music, science.

I think that looks a bit poor for someone who is in the top set of all classes at school. Or perhaps I am just comparing him unfavourably with his rather more hard working older sibling who also doesn't have a great interest in science but managed AAB in triple science at GCSE.

I'd be very grateful for any thoughts at all. Presumably you need to do triple science if you want to do any science at A level? And would a (dare I say it) red brick University dismiss someone who doesn't have triple science GCSE or who only has 8 GCSEs?

Sorry that's a bit long and rambly. Just trying to include all info.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 19:38

user1471530109 was that polite answer for me ? 🙄

Original poster
himalayansalt · 23/03/2018 19:41

I'm not convinced the ebac is something he needs to aspire to either (even though older child has it - how is it helpful, what does it count for??).

I was sad he doesn't want to carry on with French but tbh he is hopeless at it! He doesn't have the languages knack.

OP posts:
Allthebestnamesareused · 23/03/2018 19:48

Even if he does doubleb science and therefore 9 gcses he still studies all 3 sciences and is still able to study the individual sciences at A level if he changes his mind.

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 19:48

OP - I only asked why the school wasn't encouraging him because many schools do seem to try to make the kids do the EBacc subjects if they are capable. Obviously if he finds the language difficult then there's no point. I think 9 GCSEs will be fine.

My son has been asked to do triple Science and is keen to do it as he's not sure what A levels he will take and thinks he may take a Science. He said if he definitely wasn't taking a Science at A level then he would just take double.

He's also decided against statistics as a Maths teacher told him there isn't much value in it. He was keen to do it before he was told this and I don't know what to think about it really as one of his strongest subjects is Maths

Chewbecca · 23/03/2018 19:58

DS's school was very clear that choosing double, not triple science would not close any doors to him at all. He loves science and will almost certainly do at least one science A level, maybe beyond but the school were very happy for him to choose whatever worked with other options he wanted to do.

I wouldn't push your DC to do it if they don't want to, but you do need to find out what they do like and encourage them to do that!

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 20:00

EBacc is bollocks
It was invented by Gove to bash non selective state schools
IGNORE EBACC

BennyTheBall · 23/03/2018 20:04

At my son's school only the less able students are not entered for triple science. Almost all of them are doing 11 GCSEs this year.

Non-selective boys' state school.

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 20:11

TalkinPeece Not a Gove fan. But I do think that for more able children who can do the EBacc subjects it does give them a well balanced education. I did my GCSEs many many years ago but they were the now EBacc subjects and I think they were good solid subjects. I think there is value in the humanities especially.

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 20:14

Perfectly
Look at how he brought that damned thing in.
Its offensive.
It has destroyed Music education.
It has destroyed extended MFL eduction
It has destroyed vocational subjects in comp schools
It has NO positives at all
(and I say that as the parent of two children who sailed through it)

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 20:25

TalkinPeece I don't agree that it has destroyed vocational subjects, music etc in comp schools. More able pupils are not forced to do the EBacc subjects, at least not in my child's school and even with the EBacc, Music, another MFL and vocational courses are offered.

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 20:30

But The Dfe were going to mark as inadequate any school with less than 50% Ebacc
how will that EVER work in a Comp
and your school may not yet have noticed austerity but many have

AlexanderHamilton · 23/03/2018 20:32

He will get 9 GCSE’s. That’s the same numberc as all three of the schools my children’s have attended (grammar, Private & state)

AlexanderHamilton · 23/03/2018 20:33

Perfectly - many schools ARE forcing their more able children to do ebac subjects reducing thrirvoptions down in some cases to 1.

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 20:47

TalkinPeece Well our school definitly has well under 50% of students that take EBacc, so music and things like photography and media studies are very popular. My son is really happy to drop all of the art, music, drama type subjects as he absolutely hates them. I guess he is lucky to be good at the more 'academic' subjects being as they are the ones he likes.

I think at 13/14 most kids haven't got a clue what they want to do so they should just take the subjects that they like.

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 20:54

Perfectly
are you already in an academy chain ?
If not, count down the days till Ofsted come knocking ....

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 21:53

TalkinPeece Yes, unfortunately my sons secondary is an academy and has been for a few years. It only has 20-25% of kids taking EBacc and I can see there are many issues with the school. Standards do need raising academically, there's a lot of bad behaviour and a lot of parents that are not very interested in what their children are doing. I guess it's a typical comp but I find it quite depressing. Many kids that were achieving above average at the end of primary have gone completely off the rails. It needs addressing, why is it that in this country, in state schools, it's embarrassing to be either very bright and/or interested in your school work ? It's hard for the kids who want to get on with their work to do so without being took the piss of. My daughters primary thankfully isn't an a academy....yet !

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 21:56

why is it that in this country, in state schools, it's embarrassing to be either very bright and/or interested in your school work ? It's hard for the kids who want to get on with their work to do so without being took the piss of.
Sorry but I call bollocks on that one
if there is a bullying culture in a school, that is down to the school
nothing else

Statistically bright kids get the same results in any type of school

if your school demeans achievement, become a governor and DEAL WITH IT

Onceuponatime21 · 23/03/2018 22:05

Going back to gcse options, this is a great website funded by 20 southern universities and free for students to access. It has good explanations for students about what to consider when choosing GCSEs, and explains that dual or triple is good enough to study that science at a level.

Have a browse. It links through to the Russell group's informed choices, and also to icould - another website with what they call the buzz quiz, which is basically a Myers Briggs quiz for children, which assigns them an animal, and suggests careers that might suit them. Is quite good fun. Links through to interesting videos etc.

www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/your-choices-at-14

Potentialmadcatlady · 23/03/2018 22:08

Be very careful because a lot of the advice you are being given here is out of date. Unis do very much take on board which GCSEs your child will have. And what grades. It is very different to what it was even two years ago. I have a teen who is finishing triple science btech at min and going to uni in sept. I have another one who is finishing GCSEs this summer. His choices of what to do at GCSE have already limited his choice of A’level and will very much limit his choices of uni. You need to be much clearer now of choices than ever before. I know of one teen ( friend of a friend) who is having to do a third science gcse along side A’levels next year in order to have GCSEs required for uni course he wishes to do/ it was not needed when he started his GCSEs and is needed now.

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 22:11

potential
My son has open UCAS at the moment
NOTHING I have said is out of date
Unis do very much take on board which GCSEs your child will have. And what grades.
99% will not so stop scaring folks

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 22:15

TalkinPeece I don't think it's a problem just in this school though. In my experience it's just the average teen doesn't want to be seen to be putting in effort. Its 'cool' to not hand in homework, get detentions, not answer questions in class. It's not cool to go home and study and listen to the teacher in lessons.

I agree that bright kids achieve the same result in any type of school. I got better GCSE results at a comp than my 2 friends that went to grammar school. I have seen a lot of kids enter year 7 as 'bright' and then underachieve as they get pulled into the 'cool' gang and maybe don't have the insight to see that they need to engage in their studies as well.

I think I would find being a governor completely frustrating. I think the whole culture in this country needs changing. Don't get me started !

TalkinPeece · 23/03/2018 22:17

I don't think it's a problem just in this school though. In my experience it's just the average teen doesn't want to be seen to be putting in effort. Its 'cool' to not hand in homework, get detentions, not answer questions in class. It's not cool to go home and study and listen to the teacher in lessons.
NOPE
its your school
DH goes to around 100 schools a year
its your school

but proper funding is key

Potentialmadcatlady · 23/03/2018 22:20

I’m not going to get into an argument and am not ‘scaring’ people. Uni DO take GCSEs into account. Out of my teens five choices- one didn’t give her an interview because she didn’t have 1 gcse that they wanted despite having far above the grades at A’level/btech. They went so far as to write to her asking her to go and obtain the gcse and reapply. She was interviewed and received offers from her other four choices.

Onceuponatime21 · 23/03/2018 22:21

Totally agree with TalkinPeace.

Lots of universities don't even specify a levels for particular courses. Obviously if you want to do medicine, courses will specify chemistry and/or physics a level. But I haven't heard of any specifying GCSEs?

PotentialMadCat, do you mind me asking what course and what uni has asked for specific GCSEs? If this is right, it's something I want to know about as I'm surprised by this.

Perfectly1mperfect · 23/03/2018 22:26

TalkinPeece We have a family friend, who has been a teacher for 30 years and now does supply teaching. He said it's the same pattern in every school he goes in so its not just our school. My own school was also the same and that was 20 years ago. I have 3 nephews in another part of the country and their school is the same. It's widespread and it needs addressing.