11 Plus Exams Forum

Anyone know anyone who is taking up a place in the "grammar stream" at Knole. It says on the website they are now going to offer triple science to the grammar stream. In what way is being in the grammar stream there now any different from being in their top sets prior to the "grammar stream".

I think we're supposed to be excited by this so called "grammar stream" but it is only guaranteed until year 9 anyway.

I've done some research into what triple science means. It is the 3 sciences lumped together to count as 3 separate GCSEs but taught in less curriculum time and consequently much less depth than when the sciences are taught as separate subjects (like they do at Judd and Skinners and all the private schools). The idea behind it was to give more kids a scientific grounding without taking up too much time. This is great if you're never going to be a top scientist, however it doesn't prepare the scientifically minded children well for separate science A levels.

The term "dumbing down" springs to mind.

Er, sorry, this is not correct. Triple science is the one where you do more science – with triple science you study and are examined in each of physics, chemistry and biology and receive a separate grade for each subject. In double science you only get 2 GCSEs. You will get more curriculum time for triple science rather than less because it will count as one of your DC’s options, and this is why it is sometimes only offered to the top set(s) at upper schools.

Triple science is great if your DC loves science, and arguably better preparation (though by no means essential) if they want to study science A levels.

Each of the three Sciences is taught in 3 stages, called, innovatively, parts 1, 2 and 3. So Chemistry for example is C1, C2 and C3. To teachers these tend to be called 'core', 'additional' and 'further'. Dual science is when children take core and additional in each subject; these are then combined to give 2 qualifications, called Core and Additional science.

'Triple science' basically means that the extra module in each (ie module 3) is added in, hence 'triple'. As Rob rightly points out, you then get a separate qualification in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. It is logical to assume that triple science will get more teaching time than dual - there is more ground to cover. 'Judd and Skinners and all the private schools' would do this in exactly the same way as all other state schools, private schools or whatever doing 'triple science' or 'separate sciences' or whatever you want to call it.

Whether this is better preparation for 'A' level splits the jury, I am afraid.
And of course, it is all changing now, with all exams from first teaching this year having to be examined terminally.

mystery wrote:Anyone know anyone who is taking up a place in the "grammar stream" at Knole. It says on the website they are now going to offer triple science to the grammar stream. In what way is being in the grammar stream there now any different from being in their top sets prior to the "grammar stream".

Can you remember, way back when, those four lots of parents who had made a "pact" to send their children to Knole even though they had passed the 11+ and it wasn't on their CAF ?
Does anyone know them? Are they still speaking to each other ? I'd like to bet the pact is off.
Or maybe they are the grammar stream.

If they existed ?...its a mystery!