Back to a 3 year KS3

[Frlrlrubert]

My school is going back to a 3 year KS3 from September. Just wondering what other schools do with science? I know in my placement schools they still started GCSE science in year 9 even with a 3 year KS3.

When do pupils start their science GCSE at your school if you have a 3 year KS3?

We don't start it until year 10. No GCSE courses are started until then at our school.

Devil's advocate, does it really matter? Surely the curriculum is the same whether its "GCSE" or not

Science yes, but 2y other subjects.

Herc - yes, that what a colleague has said! I dunno, I like began able to make it clear, like 'this is B1 - cells and shizzle, these are some relevant past paper questions'.

I was just wondering what other schools did since ours is being rather unclear (HoD doesn't even know if triple will be kept as an option at the moment), and the hours we've been told for 10 and 11 don't add up to covering the content.

You can still give exam questions to y9.
Just call the unit "cells and shizzle".

As the teacher of an options subject I'm so glad my school has a 3 year key stage three. I think 12 years old is way too early to drop subjects and lose the broader curriculum. For science though I'd just carry on as you were. Maths English science and re (faith school) all start the gcse course in Yr9 at my school.

There is no such things as starting GCSE maths. You start it in reception.

We start GCSE science after Easter of y9

We moved back to a 3 year KS3 in September. Y9 are finishing the KS3 curriculum and then we are doing transition units -really reviewing the core knowledge from KS3, further development of practical skills/writing for Science etc.

Our KS4 will have 6 lessons of Science p/w from September so we will have time to cover the curriculum as required.

Personally, I like a 3 year KS3. When we were starting the GCSE at the beginning of Y9, so many pupils weren't ready for it and it was turning them off Science.

I personally preferred working in 3 year KS3 schools. My DD is in Y8 and her school does a 2 year. We've been hoping that will change this year as they haven't had a practical in any subject since Feb 2020. It's crazy how quickly they chuck GCSE content at them. She's in lowest sets and has had science gcse questions as HW since beginning of Y8. Most of them hate it, are not ready for it and it puts them off it.