School refuses to let child study Higher level Science

[gftye7754]

My child is currently coming to the end of year 10. In December the school informed me that my child was entered for Foundation level science. At the time I asked for my child to be moved to Higher level science. I spoke to then again at Easter and I was told that my child would sit the end of year tests at the Higher level for the end of year tests and the outcome of that would decide what level they would be studying at for year 11.

My child has now sat the exams at Foundation level not Higher and I have been told that there is no chance of them being moved to Higher level because they didn't get a grade 6 in the end of year exam. My child could not possibly have attained a grade 6 because the Foundation paper only goes to grade 5 (which was attained despite one of the papers only being partially marked; they missed marking some of the questions).

The excuses for not moving my child have included: 'If we move your child up then another child has to come down', 'your child might get a U at Higher', 'OFSTED said that we are very good at sitting children at the right level'

My child needs to do A level science to follow their career path and to do that they need a grade 6.

What can I do to get the school to teach and enter my child for Higher level science?

Say that you will get your child to sit the higher papers at home in exam conditions and give them to the school to mark?

If your kid gets a U then he will need to rethink his A-level plans, if he gets a 6 then the school will need to rethink its policy of restricting access to grades by class size.

Insist your child does sit the higher paper even if it's early, before school (teachers usually get in early). There is a possibility for your child to follow a career path by going to college and either redoing the science or they may have a lower grade to do science based subjects at a level. My friend's son went to college as school wouldn't have him and is now studying to be a podiatrist at uni.

I would get him do a higher level paper at home or at school as a test and see how he does. Would need to be under exam conditions so no access to internet etc. If its a 6 or above would try and use its as evidence to get school to review decision.

If you can afford it I would consider using a tutor especially if they are borderline between a 5/6 and they need it for A Levels. A tutor should be able to test them too I think - never used one but heard people say they do this.

It's a real tricky one. They shouldn't, but class sizes do come in to it. Has your child been proactive in trying to learn the higher level stuff? In all honesty, if your child is on that 5/6 borderline then it suggests they will find A level sciences very hard and would probably be looking at a grade D or E at best. If this is ok and your child is motivated then you need another chat with the school. What sort of grade are they looking at in maths? What sort of career choice are they looking at? Is there another way of accessing it?

Do you know what mark they actually got on their paper? Did it scrape a 5 or was it a 95% grade 5?

Ds needs a 6 for A level physics, but he has sat the higher paper.

Is that triple or double science papers? My understanding is that the difference between content of double to A level particularly can be quite wide and to only sit Foundation at double would be a big disadvantage. What does your dc want to do? Would a btec level 3 perhaps be a better option than A level?

If this is predominantly a class size issue (i.e. he's in the "wrong" set to progress to Higher level science), I suspect he's not the only child capable of sitting Higher. Is there any mileage in trying to see if you can find other DC in his position?

(As a point of comparison, my DC is also in Year 10, has been told they don't make decisions on paper until at least after Year 11 mocks, and is being taught in mixed ability groups i.e. all the material whether it's foundation or higher - so it's certainly possible for your school to do something different).

Honestly I'm a teacher, please be guided by the school. The higher papers are so difficult now, they will have done numerous assessments before deciding the paper to sit. She will have a better chance of getting a higher grade on a foundation paper. Trust them. They know what they're doing

@maddy68 . Given the late decisions / mixed classes made in science by many schools, is there much difference between content for Higher & Foundation science? Or is it more just on the complexity of the questions?

I'd insist your DC sits the higher level paper this week as you were told previously this would happen and they haven't advised you any differently in the meantime. If school can't supervise, then ask if it can be done under strict conditions at home. It sounds like they're not convinced a grade 6 is achievable, but sitting the paper will confirm one way or the other and at least give your DC the opportunity to study at a higher level.