GCSE: two individual science subjects instead of combined science?!

[gcsepanicmum]

DS's school doesn't offer triple science so everyone was supposed to do combined science. It was a bit of shame as he was really strong at maths and science. But it was still OK as I knew triple science wasn't a necessity to study a science subject for A-level and at uni.

Today, I found out that the school was planning to drop combined science and instead encouraging the pupils to do chemistry and biology as a separate subject (no physics). DS knows it will narrow down his choices for A-level so feels a bit sad but says he would do chemistry for A-level anyway. It's true he really likes chemistry at the moment but he's as good at physics. He might change his preference then regret he let physics go so early. They still cover physics in lessons though, at least for now.

I am trying to understand the impact of this for his future. I see physics will be 100% out but what else I should know? Doing only two individual science subjects is going to be a disadvantage if he wants to pursue a science subject/career later? I am seriously thinking if we should move him before too late. He's very capable academically.

[grenadines]

I think this is a strange approach. The school should simply take on a new physics teacher and continue to offer combined science.

Combined science is sufficient to study any of the three sciences at A level. My Dcs school only does combined science and it means one's child can study a broader range of GCSEs (than you would if did triple science) and still have the choice of any of the sciences at A level.

I went to a private school and only did a single science (chemistry) at O level and regret not having studied physics and biology.

[TheLetterZ]

Very poor decision by the school and it will affect recruitment and retention, you won’t be the only parent unhappy with this. Imagine you are coming from overseas with a vast array of schools to choose from - why would you pick one with a limited curriculum. The school is limiting the career paths of so many students.

I know it isn’t easy to find physics teachers, but it is possible to find science teachers and provide training (IOP offer loads) so they can teach physics up to GCSE level.

A very strange choice and I would be looking elsewhere it is too much of a compromise (especially as you say he is into maths and chemistry, it is far to young to rule out physics).

[gcsepanicmum]

Thank you everyone for your input. I was nearly giving up and might have been even trying to be blind. But thanks to you all who took time to write a comment, I've decided to come back and tackle this issue again. It's really important to act quickly as it's rather time-sensitive because of DS being Y9 already.

There are several ways to solve the issue, but first of alI, I would like to go back and ask the school to continue offering combined science. Because that was the condition we knew and accepted when we decided to send DS to the school.

They said the decision was already made nearly a year ago but the fact that they haven't announced it yet may be because they knew it wouldn't be taken well by parents? I would like to show the school how I feel and think of the change and how much I would prefer keeping the current available set for GCSE. There might be a slight chance for them to reconsider the decision, or at least they may try to facilitate access to study physics as an extra subject. They offer FM for some pupils as an extra subject so they could do the same for physics (though I don't know the complexity of doing this).

Also I would like to add that, even though it may sound awful to many of you who only know the school by reading this tread, they do offer lots of wonderful experience and education and I do understand why DS loves the school. I just can't write everything here as I would like to protect the privacy of the school and the children attending there. Though things may rapidly change under the new leadership.

[RedskyAtnight]

They said the decision was already made nearly a year ago but the fact that they haven't announced it yet may be because they knew it wouldn't be taken well by parents?

I think that's probably true. There is also very much an element of they want to encourage new parents to join the school without knowing that they don't offer physics (which would definitely put an awful lot of people off). Clearly they are hoping once children are in, their parents will be loathe to move them, for the reasons you are expressing yourself. Very cynical of the school.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

OP, I'd like to refer you to a new thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4087490-A-Level-Maths-mechanics-help where a DC who for some reason didn't do Physics at GCSE is struggling with a more physics-y bit of A level maths.

I would really be examining your options here, it won't do any harm to look at different schools...

(Doing a GCSE out of school with no support from school will be hard. He'd have a full load from other subjects. Plus there is the issue of practicals.)

[Thisismynewname123]

I would be seriously considering moving my child over this. She has just started her GCSE curriculum, doing triple science. She's strong at maths, and she finds physics comes more naturally to her than chemistry or biology.

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

If a student might be expected to be able to self-study for a GCSE like physics, I can’t see why one of the other science teachers couldn’t be expected to get themselves up to speed enough to teach the course - were talking GCSE, not A level!

I didn’t take physics at school (in actual fact, I only took biology and failed even that!), but my daughter was in this year’s GCSE cohort and had always struggled with physics, so I made it my mission to get to grips with it to be able to help her.
There are so many brilliant resources on the internet, I can’t see why a science teacher couldn’t teach themselves the course.

OP, I know your predicament and I sympathise completely, but I don’t think I’d be happy with the current proposals, given your DC’s strong ability and interest in the sciences and maths. If I remember correctly, you did a lot of soul searching before he entered the school, because of the limited subjects available at A level. This new situation feels like the thin end of the thin end of the wedge.