Accelerated Maths

[Sassie'sDad]

It is my understanding that there is a review into the weighting of UCAS marks for competing examinations . It was a Telegraph artical in the last few months. I would not be keen on accelerated either though I would not be popular as I would not allow resits to improve grades let alone multiple resits. My mother's generation sat every subject at the same sessions for matriculation and you had to live with the results. Those were the days!

[dyslexichelpneeded]

One of the problems with taking GCSEs a year early is what to do with the extra time which is freed up on the timetable, especially as it is compulsory to study Maths until the end of Year 11. This is why it is a double-edged sword- though you get a GCSE out of the way early, you end up with a load of even harder Maths to do in the time.

Actually, the QCA told me that this is not the case:

'Thank you for contacting us on 26th February, regarding mathematics in key stage 4.

'The statutory requirement is that the programme of study for maths at key stage 4 is completely covered. If this done during the course of the GCSE in year 10, then it would be acceptable for these candidates not to need to study maths in year 11.

'The programme of study for maths can be found on the National Curriculum website:

http://curriculum.qca.org.uk

'I hope this information is useful. If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. The contact number for the Enquiry Line is 020 7509 5556.'

See this thread: http://elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11pl ... =56&t=9297

[wonderwoman]

Basically, key stage 3 is a complete waste of time.

Is that just ks3 maths or everything?

I'm not keen on ks3 being condensed to 2 years to give 3 years to do GCSEs. It's so sad that children only get 2 years of a wide education with specialist teachers.

[magwich2]

Its everything I am afraid!
Neither DD learnt much during KS3 which is a great shame. Even worse was that they were both put off learning generally because they were so bored. They quickly realised that the whole exam system is like some mad game - use the right words, do not try and do anything extra, forget having any ideas of your own (areally bad idea that one!), do not argue with the prevailing conclusions - academic freedom left the area some time ago and generally toe the line espoused by the State Brainwashing Facility- sorry, school.
Very depressing KS3 - sooner the National Curriculum bites the dust along with Ofsted,Ofqual TDA etc etc etc the better!!!

[mitasol]

forget having any ideas of your own

I thought the whole of secondary school was like that, even at A level. I probably just had bad ideas though!

[KB]

Going back to the original post if DC doesn't want to do AS maths/science then I would let them opt to take the GCSE in year 11 - having had a 'talk' about it not being a 'cop out' but in the expectation that they get best possible grades in it & other subjects.
Even if they want to do AS maths in year 12 they can still do so with only GCSE.
Only real advantage to the Additional Maths would be someone planning on doing A level FM.

[wonderwoman]

I think that at DC GS, now they have stopped doing GCSEs early and stats, they do a whole load of enrichment work in maths, this is certainly the case lower down the school. They have an excellent record at GCSE and a huge number take maths to full A level, including many from the bottom GCSE sets. DC love their maths lessons.

[Amber]

One of the problems with taking GCSEs a year early is what to do with the extra time which is freed up on the timetable, especially as it is compulsory to study Maths until the end of Year 11. This is why it is a double-edged sword- though you get a GCSE out of the way early, you end up with a load of even harder Maths to do in the time.

Actually, the QCA told me that this is not the case:

'Thank you for contacting us on 26th February, regarding mathematics in key stage 4.

'The statutory requirement is that the programme of study for maths at key stage 4 is completely covered. If this done during the course of the GCSE in year 10, then it would be acceptable for these candidates not to need to study maths in year 11.


'The programme of study for maths can be found on the National Curriculum website:

http://curriculum.qca.org.uk

'I hope this information is useful. If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. The contact number for the Enquiry Line is 020 7509 5556.'

See this thread: http://elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11pl ... =56&t=9297

Well, that is jolly good news, and I shall store it up for future use, if need be. I can imagine it going down like a lead balloon, mind, in terms of trying to find something for a Year 11 to do in all those lessons, but then, not my problem. Thanks dhn.

[Sassie'sDad]

I'm with magwich2 on this and I would go further and require any Uni candidate for an academic subject to have achieved their qualifications in one single attempt at each level. There are far too many individuals starting Uni courses and too many dropping out of them. Given that almost 25% of graduates are unemployed (unemployable) we already have more than enough failed Uni students!

[Tree]

Hi sassie's dad

My mother's generation sat every subject at the same sessions for matriculation and you had to live with the results

My dad retook matriculation cos he didn't get it first time this was in 1949 so i think resits have been happening for years and when i was doing a levels in the 80's about 10% of kids from my grammar re-sat their A'levels at the local crammer and as i recall got similar uni offers second time around so i don't think this is some new evil dumbing down thing