No setting for GCSE classes, should I be worried?

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Dd is about to start Y10 at her school which is a pretty average comprehensive where she has been very happy.
She has been in top sets but there is no setting in Y10 and 11 except for English and maths.
She has chosen double science, because she prefers essay subjects, but most of the students from the top sets are doing triple science, so she has discovered she is going to be in classes almost entirely with people from lower sets.
Her assessment scores at the end of y9 went from 6 to 9, so she is hoping to get some good GCSEs if she applies herself. However, is she likely to be held back by the mixed ability teaching? If there is nobody else in the class forecast above a 7, for instance, is the teacher going to be teaching to the bulk of the class and not bother to cover what you would have to do to get a 9? Or does it not work like that? If the class was completely mixed I wouldn't be so worried but it looks like because she has chosen double science she is going to be the only one working at a sort of top set level.
Does anyone have any experience of this?
Thanks!

DC's school teaches mixed ability in every subject except maths. They end up with the full range of GCSE levels (including as many higher grades as the local similar demographic secondary that sets in every subject). It does require the teacher to teach well and not just, as you suggest, aim the material at the middle of the range, but we've never had any problems. In fact both DC (for different reasons) have actually said that they are glad their school doesn't set. I would keep an open mind and maybe approach the school if there are any issues.

I've taught all sets and mixed ability. They all do the same exam and the syllabus will be taught fully. I can't see any disadvantage.

Thanks Redsky.
Is that also a comprehensive with a fairly average range of students?

Countess yes, I'd describe it as "average". In a typical year it's something like 30/50/20% high/medium/low achievers.
My DD is actually in the same position as yours in that she's an able student who has chosen double science as her main interests are in other areas. And there will be other good students taking double at your school too, so it's unlikely to be your daughter and a huge ability gap to the next student. Also, what's the triple/double split? At DC's school it's about 45% to 55%.... there are a good volume of non weak students in that 55%!

Good question re triple / double split - I will ask.

They don’t all do the same exam in science though, you need to ask whether she’ll be doing the higher tier exam in the same group as foundation students and how that will be managed.

Completely standard for most GCSE classes to be unset - if there's, for example, 2-4 history groups, they're timetabled to account for option preferences, not to be able to set them.

However, I would expect science to be set in a lot of schools, at the very least into foundation and Higher tier. After all, everyone has to take science. You should double check the situation wrt science and make sure she will at least be in a higher tier class.

Thank you, this is really helpful information.

I have no idea how setting/not setting works with sciences because both my DDs chose triple, but I do know that not setting for the humanities is pretty normal.

Our school doesn't set for English either and it doesn't stop the high achievers - DD2 is likely to get 8/9 for lit/lang.

We don’t set for science, triple groups split across ability as are combined. It does mean that you get higher and foundation tier students in the same group, especially as who is doing which tier is in a state of flux until after year 11 mocks. To be honest I do think it is harder to teach, but if your dc has high targets then she should be exposed to all the content and harder practice questions even within a mixed group.

Ds is in top set science out of 7 sets. He’s chosen double award because of other options he’s wanted. There are a lot like this. There are others from set 2 that have chosen triple science. It makes no difference. No one is held back. As long as your child works.