'A' level good results: good teaching or academically able pupils?

onlyroz

Just another thing to chip in about getting into medicine. I have a friend who really wanted to be a doctor - but her A levels weren't quite up to it (I think she got AAB). In the end she did a biology degree and *then* went on to do a degree in medicine. She's now qualified and is currently doing the rounds of the London hospitals getting herself experience in different departments.

It took her a long time - 3 years studying biology and then I think a further 4-5 years studying medicine - but it shows that if you're determined enough then you can get there. And at least with this route if you still don't get onto the medicine course you've got a degree in biology/chemistry to fall back on.

Mrs_Ryan

I used to work with someone who did a psychology degree, and then was accepted to read medicine at Cambridge so it can happen if not necessarily first time round.

To whoever it was said it was unlikely that someone could do significantly better than what they were predicted and cause shock, yes it happens. It happened to me. I've always excelled at English but I had an utter cow of a teacher at GCSE (she bullied my friend so badly that in the end her mum got involved and my friend was moved to another class so she started on me instead) who, without justification as my mock results were fine, decided to predict that I would get an E grade for my GCSE English, 'if I even passed at all' she sneered. This could have been catastrophic as I wanted to do English A-Level. Needless to say I took great delight on results day at waving my B-grade results slip in her face and saying what happened to the fail you so confidently predicted? I went to a high performing state faith school who only gave 2 sixth form options to those not getting A's at GCSE- and that was GNVQ's. I went to college and did A-Levels- I worked hard but my results were lousy. My German teacher didn't care about those less able and we were just left to it, I'm shocked I managed to pass at all! I think there was a few appealed their Law results as the exam board screwed up but I was happy that I had even passed! I got a C in English and am still gutted about it 15 years later as that is the only thing I was then and still am to this day any good at!

Good luck to your DD, OP. I would love to have been bright enough to do medicine but as it turns out I couldn't even get on a nursing course! Although I'm told I'm bright I'm not really- I'm doing an OU degree now and would like to teach but I'm not sure if I'll get the grades I need.

Westward_bound

I agree that it is possible to apply for medicine with a first degree, however currently this is considered an even more competitive process than applying with A2s.

FBaby

I went to DD GCSEs option evening today. I was reading the documentation provided and the description of the BTEC in Health and Social Care and thought that would be a perfect option for someone wanting to study medicine (exploring human lifespan development and the Health and Social Care values), but as I expected, when I asked the Assistant Head whether this would be a good option for a pupil interested in medicine, he shyly said that this course was more for pupils considering a career in nursery care or teaching and that for a career in medicine, a core subject in humanities would have more weight.

Is this the case just because it is a 'btec'. Surely this is exactly the subject that you would expect to show an interest and commitment in a career in health?

I'm sorry about your DD's experience Katem. I certainly wouldn't think that in time of the current health reports that the current focus in healthcare is money over patient care. I'm sure she is happy with her decision, but do hope it is not this experience on its own that made her change her mind.

CruisingSaver

FBaby wrote: »

I went to DD GCSEs option evening today. I was reading the documentation provided and the description of the BTEC in Health and Social Care and thought that would be a perfect option for someone wanting to study medicine (exploring human lifespan development and the Health and Social Care values), but as I expected, when I asked the Assistant Head whether this would be a good option for a pupil interested in medicine, he shyly said that this course was more for pupils considering a career in nursery care or teaching and that for a career in medicine, a core subject in humanities would have more weight.

Is this the case just because it is a 'btec'. Surely this is exactly the subject that you would expect to show an interest and commitment in a career in health?

I'm sorry about your DD's experience Katem. I certainly wouldn't think that in time of the current health reports that the current focus in healthcare is money over patient care. I'm sure she is happy with her decision, but do hope it is not this experience on its own that made her change her mind.

Hi FBaby


I had a similar thought at my DD's options evening last month, however on looking at the syllabus it is clearly aimed at pupils looking at a career in nursery nursing.


My DD is really interested in becoming a physiotherapist/dance therapist, so I thought it could be a good course for her to do based on the title, which is very misleading.


For your DD there really is no other choice than the traditional GCSE/A level route.


She should be able to get a more rounded view of health and social care via the voluntary work she'll need to do as part of her personal statement for UCAS.


CS

Person_one

Medical schools like very traditional subjects and qualifications.

POPPYOSCAR

FBaby wrote: »

Since we are today on the subject of choosing schools and career choice of secondary school pupils, I thought I would raise the query I've been wondering lately.

My DD is 14 and we have just started to look at 6th forms. She has been set on wanting to go to medical school for 3 years and I am starting to believe that it might very well be the path she shall take. If that is the case, there wil be no alternative but for her to get all A or A* at her A levels.

Now looking at local college results, the percentage of pupils getting 3 A*/A/Bs goes from 2% to 42%. All higher percentages are pupils from private schools.

So my question is: Is it mainly because private schools attract more academic/hard working pupils, or is it because the level of teaching is really superior? Can a very academic, hard working motivated child be assured to do as well at a lower percentage college (ie. be in the 2%), or can their performance be directly affected by the quality of teaching/level of the class? For instance, could an academic child be hindered because the level of the class is set lower and not all the curriculum is covered over the years?

My niece is a teacher in a private school.

She tells me that the children are no more academic than other students but they get good results because the classes are much smaller and so she has more time to give each student.

daisiegg

Health and social care is generally taken by students who are not as suited to traditional academic subjects. It would NOT be a good idea for someone intending to pursue medicine.

FBaby

She tells me that the children are no more academic than other students but they get good results because the classes are much smaller and so she has more time to give each student.

I don't think my DD would need more individual time, but a teacher who can teach at a certain level, either because they have the skills and/or because the pupils in the class can pick things up at a similar speed.

Health and social care is generally taken by students who are not as suited to traditional academic subjects. It would NOT be a good idea for someone intending to pursue medicine.

Yes, I could tell the Assistant head was almost embarassed to tell me so. It only came to my mind because we were given a leaflet about btec and it gave an example of a pupil who took it, went on to do 'A' levels and I thought ended up in Medical School, but it actually said aspiring to go! A bit misleading maybe!

Spendless

Health and Social Care can be offerred as a GCSE, my son's school does it. In fact it offers both a single (1 gcse)and double (2 gcses) award. It sounds like your daughter's school only offers it as a BTECH

What attracted us/son to the Health and Social Care display was the board was covered by occupations under the heading 'what career would find this subject helpful' and plastered over it was health occupations (not doctors though).

Unis might not accept or recognise some subjects, where the same wouldn't be said of a traditional subject such as History or Geography.