Options Triple Science

[Hellocatshome]

Neither myself, DH or DS1 did triple science. DS2 is choosing his options and has gone for Geog, Sports Science and Triple Science.

So in total he is doing:
English language
English lit
Maths
IT
Geography
Triple Science
Sports Science

He is averagely intelligent, he is currently down as age expected for everything apart from maths and PE where he is working above.

Is Triple Science only for the extremely brainy? He doesnt have a single clue what he wants to do post 16 so doesn't NEED it. I dont want him to bite off more than he can chew, he has some general anxiety issues.

I will be emailing his science teacher but just wondered how other people have found it?

In a way, yes, in a way, no. I don't know about your sons school but for us it wasn't an option anyone could take. You start doing GCSE exams earlier, your scores affect the schools overall scores. So they don't put you in if you're not capable. The people in my triple science class were alot of the brightest people in the year, but not all of them were the ones youd expect. If his teachers haven't talked him out of it then that's a good sign.

He's chosen very good subjects imo, he'll have to study but they're some good GCSEs, big him up, encourage him. He could find it hard if he's at the lower end of the classes abilities. But someone has to be and there will be alot of sciencey kids in that class.

Is he interested in the science subjects? That’s the main one.

DS taking triple science, he had to pass a test to be accepted onto it.
we got told that they aren’t learning at greater depth but more breadth of the subject. If he is interested and his teachers are happy then why not?
if there is a selection process make sure he has a back up plan. I think Ds choice was dt. Computer science might suit him too.

If it is an option then it should be no different to taking any other option.

Let me explain what I mean; a lot of schools offer triple only to the more able students, who then study it in the sane time allocated for everyone else to take double- which is two GCSEs not three and less content. My DCs' school did this - so those doing triple got 10 GCSEs not 9. (But 9 is fine ofc.) This is kind of where "have to be smart to take triple" comes from I suspect.

If it is in an option block, a whole extra xxx lessons (maybe 3 a week) will be allocated for the extra work. I don't think as such it is any harder. And as it goes there are foundation tiers for science so he could even take (for example) H bio, H chemistry and F physics if that was harder for him.

I'm wondering about IT - what is that qualification? There is no GCSE IT. Does he have to take it or has he chosen it? Worth asking what he will get.

Thank you all very helpful. Apparently as it is an option he would get 2 extra periods of science a week compared to those taking double science.

He does like science so I suppose that is one of the main things. Its good to know they can mix and match Higher and Foundation levels across the 3 sciences if he does end up finding one harder than the others for example.

@clary sorry I've looked again and the IT is actually a Btec in Digital Information Technology and that's a has to do not an option.

Yes and crucially (IMO) you cannot mix F and H if you take double; all the grades are averaged for your final grade, and it's either F or H across the board. So if you scored (say) 8, 6, 4 in the three sciences, you would get (probably) 6-6 in double; but if taking triple ie separate sciences you would get those grades. I think this can be useful if thinking about A levels - the 8 in biology would lead nicely to A level and never mind the 4 in physics. Does that make sense?

@Hellocatshome is sports science a Cambridge nationals I presume (ie not a GCSE)? Nothing wrong with that - in fact with two non-GCSEs he will have a much lower exam load at the end of yr 11. The OCR sports science, if it is that one, only has one exam. But he will need to make sure he is working hard from the start on that and the BTEC.

Hi- Science teacher here. My school offers triple science as an option block to all students and is not based on ability. Previous posters are correct that you can sit foundation tiers if necessary and mix and match tiers for the individual subjects.
This could be a good option choice to if he does have anxiety issues. With triple you are adding some extra content and practicals to subjects that he already has to study. In terms of revision, it can be beneficial not doing a whole different subject and getting to spend some more time focusing on Science. If he has an interest in the subject then that is all he needs. Science is a good subject for employability and it will allow him to keep lots of options open going forward.
Obviously talk to your school about this, but we are actively recommending triple to our students and will put on as many classes as there is demand for it. Feel free to ask me any questions you have.

@clary yes Sports Science is a Cambridge Nationals so you are right that and the Btec IT should mean a few lesa exams to take during the main exam period.

I think I was just worried as my experience of Triple Science was the very clever kids got told they were doing it and nobody else even got the option. So when DS said he was going to choose to do it with no input from the teachers I panicked that he would be choosing an option out of his reach.

I will email his science teacher and check they are not completely against the idea but I'm feeling more reassured.

At my dc's school you have to be predicted a certain grade in math and science to choose triple science. I think it is a 6.

@StarDanced thank you. That makes me feel a lot better. I was suprised he wasn't tempted with the new exciting subjects on offer but as you point out with his anxiety there is something to be said for expanding on something he already does than starting something completely new.

If it is a separate option then it would just replace something he is less interested in, so it isn't any extra GCSE work overall.

When DD was at school she could choose either double science and 4 options or triple science plus 3 options.

Some schools only let the very able children take triple science. For example, the school near us only allows the top 20% of children take it.

Other schools let anyone select it, like they would any other option. As there is a foundation and higher paper, it's very open to children who are "working at age expectations". The main thing is that you like science.

I had one child who took triple science foundation papers and one who took combined science higher papers. It wasn't an issue for either of them.

In wales they have done away with triple science this year, they’ll do double science which is a blend of all the sciences. Not helpful for you I know. 😂

Just wanted to say thank you again everyone for the posts on this thread.
Just had an email back from his science teacher who sang his praises and would love to have him in the triple science group so guess that's that then.

Why?

That sounds really positive.

As others have said, there may be an advantage to doing an option that isn't a brand new subject, and having 3 GCSEs which will be assessed in exactly the same way.

Behaviour in the triple science group will also likely be better, which may be calmer for him. It may also end up being a slightly smaller class (depending on how popular science is as an option).

If he has a good relationship with the teacher, that may also be helpful?

It's different at our school, only the very bright ones get the choice to do triple science, the rest do combined.

DS1 did triple, and then dropped down to combined . Ds2 who really needs A'level biology, because he's interested in sport, was only offered combined.

At my children's school, a state school in Derbyshire the only option is triple science so they all do each individually and get 3 seperate grades.
My daughter ended up being entered for the foundation papers for each one so highest grade could get was a 5 for each of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, it was decided in year 11 what papers was entered for.
Ds currently year 11 is stronger at Science and doing the higher papers in each individual Science, no one does double Science at this school.
They all take 9 Gcses apart from if also doing further Maths.

DS is studying triple science currently in Y10. His school is selective for triple science, and teaches it in the same time as combined /double science. They also strongly recommend that these students take a creative subject - drama, music, art, textiles - and an MFL is compulsory.

I also studied 3 sciences, then onto science A levels and degree, so I am a big fan of science, but what strikes me about the OP's son's options is that they are very sciencey, alongside sports science and geography (I realise Geography isn't all the sciencey physical stuff).

At my school triple science is an option that anyone can take. It does tend to attract a lot of top set kids, and that is who we push it for as it's mainly useful if they want to go on to a level science (although certainly not necessary). However we end up with really mixed ability classes. In my group this year several will sit foundation paper and I am expecting grades from 3-9. It isn't harder than double award, there is just more content.

If the school teaches it as an option block and he gets more time allocated it should be fine, but make sure he really likes science as there might be a lot t of lessons!

At my dc's non selective school everyone did triple science entered for higher/ foundation as applicable. Definitely not just something for the most able. I actually think offering it as an option is better but my dc was good at science and would probably have chosen triple science anyway.

I’m not actually sure, my DS has been given his options and it mentioned it there.