Another for science teacher - recommended websites, books/revision guides for KS3 science 13/14 year old

[bargainmad]

My son was always in top group for science but was moved down in September because he didn't do very well in the test. He is now in a set with boys who don't want to work and consequently if he doesn't do well in the SATs exam in April/May he might be doing BTEC science next year (year 10)

I have told him this is disgraceful as he is predicted mostly As and Bs in all his other subjects, with an A* in maths. He should at least be doing double science.

I want to get him back on track - his teacher told me the CGP guides are good - can anyone recommend anything else?

The CGP guides are good, as is BBC Bitesize.

The SATs examinations have been dropped, as a compulsory thing. Is your DS's school doing them voluntarily?

If you want to look at Sats papers, you can find them on a website called Brightminds, and the markschemes on markscheme.co.uk (I think )

Can you put your foot down with the school so that he does the main science course in GCSE?

The Collins ks3 revision guides are very good.

Yes, I think they are doing them voluntarily so they can sort the pupils out into the groups for GCSEs.

His science teacher said that last year they were very strict and if they didn't get above a certain mark then they had to do a BTEC.

I know science isn't his strongest subject but even if he got two C grades (even though he should be able to get higher) I would be happier than if got put in for a BTEC. I can't believe an A* standard maths pupil could get put in for BTEC science.

I will buy the CGP books tomorrow to make a start.

It sounds very harsh. We teach the full ability range in our school and all the pupils are doing the standard Science courses, with our teaching targeted at Higher level. They are really designed to be all ability.

Being the devil's advocate, there should be a huge overlap between GCSE and Btec candidates.

Do you think I should put my foot down? I suppose at the end of the day he's got to prove himself and get a good mark in this exam coming up in a few months.

Yes, I think you should

Let him have a go at the test first, and then see what intervention is necessary.

The SATs test covers everything from Years 7 - 9, so he can pace himself by reviewing Year 7 and 8 work now.

You can find out the topics in detail from 'the standards site' - which is the government/QCA NC site.

I'm getting more annoyed by the minute as his school is a "specialist science college". What a joke! I've never been impressed with his teacher - I had to ring her up before Christmas to query why she had given him a test to revise for but no text book. She apologised and said she thought they had been given out but were by her desk. She really doesn't give a damn and didn't like me questionning her.

Maybe she's said he might have to do a BTEC to wind me up (or maybe I'm getting paranoid!)

At the end of the day I think it's going to look really bad if he leaves that school say with an A* in Maths, another 5 As and say 3 Bs and a BTEC in Science when the school has specialist science status.

I'm sure the headteacher would think this was a bit strange.