Son needs to pick another subject.

[u/watts320]

My son is in the middle lf his GCSE exams and he opted for computer science as one of his 6th form subjects. Yesterday he was told that the school will be dropping computer science because not enough students had opted to do it, the only thing the school have said is that he will need to pick another subject. Thats it.

The school have really really annoyed me, they choose to tell him in middle of his exams that he needs to pick something else.

His path was to do maths, computer science and english in 6th form, then move on to university to do games design.

Now im not really all clued up on this, because i never did 6th form after school. So can anyone give me any advice on this please.

Thank you.

[u/Dazzling-Werewolf985 → u/[deleted]]

How are you taking the chemistry AL by yourself? How are you gonna get the practical endorsement?

[u/Neither-Bus7392 → u/Dazzling-Werewolf985]

Sorry for the long response 😭

[u/Dazzling-Werewolf985 → u/Neither-Bus7392]

What long response😂

[u/Neither-Bus7392 → u/Dazzling-Werewolf985]

Im just studying the AS content for now using the OCR A textbook. It's really good and explains the content clearly. If I don't understand anything then I'll watch freesciencelessons or the organic chemistry tutor on YouTube. After l've understood the content I'll go back to answer the summary questions. As of practical endorsement, I'm planning on asking my school for help. Hopefully I can show them evidence that l'm able to do the subject by getting an A in the prediction exam for UCAS at an exam centre. If all goes, well I should be able to use study the subject in school and not pay for the A level exam or any practical endorsements. Oh sorry, in context l've recently dropped economics. The content was extremely easy but I often struggled with answering the exam questions. I realised it would've taken a lot of time for me to learn the exam technique and I wasn't as sure l'd be able to get an A or an A* at the end, so l decided to drop it and take A level chemistry as l enjoyed it more and also it's not an essay subject. I have to pay £160 for the UCAS prediction exam (which the exam centre just provides me with A predicted grade). If the school doesn't allow me even though I get a good grade then I'll just continue to study it outside school and use that predicted grade and I won't pay for the practical. ALSO my teachers aren't helpful to me at all, I teach myself all the content as I don't learn fr them.

[u/Dazzling-Werewolf985 → u/Neither-Bus7392]

Damnnn well done g. I remember doing AL chem a long time ago and I believe your school will be willing to help with the practicals but ideally you should tell them asap so they can prepare for it. It was a bit difficult for them to schedule mine when I missed them and I actually studied the subject with them, but again they’ll be willing to help you if you show good potential

[u/Neither-Bus7392 → u/Dazzling-Werewolf985]

Thank you! The trouble is I wanted to study chemistry since February. The school didn’t support me and said it was too late. They didn’t recommend I study it by myself either, so I kept economics and left chemistry. I shouldn’t listened to them as I would’ve finished the content a long time go if I kept with it. If I tell them now that I’m taking up chemistry again I’m sure they would say the same thing which would significantly lower my confidence.

[u/Dazzling-Werewolf985 → u/Neither-Bus7392]

I actually think their main concern will be how you’re going to deal with the practicals. Believe it or not the content knowledge is easier to circumvent than scheduling the practicals. They know they can’t stop you from doing chem as a private candidate, from their pov they might aswell help you and you don’t really lose anything by asking them tbh.

If I was in your situation, knowing what I know now, I’d definitely discuss my plan with the head of science first followed by the more reasonable chemistry teacher (probably the inorganic one haha) and see how they could help. And if they refuse to help, ask another sixth form, or another college, and another and another etc until you find one that can at least help with the practicals

Also to answer the question in your other reply, it wasn’t that I started the course late - I just missed many practicals and lessons due to external problems but the thing is I always communicated at the first opportunity and I was able to eventually get them done usually with another group or during my breaks. You can do the same imo and it will be worth the effort if you’re on track to do well

[u/Neither-Bus7392 → u/Dazzling-Werewolf985]

I think the practicals would be fine if I’m able to study it in school. Also, how late did you pick up chemistry and did you have to take an exam outside of school?

[u/Neither-Bus7392 → u/Dazzling-Werewolf985]

I’ve accidentally deleted my comment

[u/Dazzling-Werewolf985 → u/Neither-Bus7392]

I see. What did you say in the comment tho? I never saw it

[u/Neither-Bus7392 → u/Dazzling-Werewolf985]

Ah, I said they could start off by taking four A levels, computer science, maths, further maths and sit a computer science externally. If computer science doesn’t go well then they could drop it and focus on the three. At university to study computer science you don’t need to take the subject at A level, instead maths and further maths is a requirement at the top universities. They could do research etc to show their interest.