Nice People 13: Nice Save

silvercar

LydiaJ wrote: »

It doesn't work like that, I'm afraid. There are 9 units, which make 3 GCSEs.

You can have bio (B1+B2+B3), chem (C1+C2+C3) and phys (P1+P2+P3)
Or you can have science (B1+C1+P1), additional science (B2+C2+P2) and further additional science (B3+C3+P3)

So, yes, I'll have to do some bio. But really, how hard can it be for somebody with my teaching experience and scientific background, having access to plenty of resources, past papers with mark schemes and the like, to pick up enough bio to be able to teach it one on one to a reasonably able and motivated student? It's only a GCSE, not a degree or anything! Back in the late 90s I taught the stats part of A-level maths to several classes of kids, despite never having learnt it myself, and having to keep a chapter ahead of the classes in the book, and I managed that all right.

I think I can do it. I'll phone the helpline at the exam board for a chat some time this week when I have a spare moment.

Thanks for the explanation. I thought it would be something similar in syllabus terms, but that the marking may be different.

For example, when DS1 did triple science, there were practicals in all 3 subjects but only your best two marks counted in your final score, so some students didn't bother doing their third practical as they had already scored excellent marks in the first two.

lostinrates

LydiaJ wrote: »

How does he feel about it now? And how do you?

Not offering triple science at all is one of the few things I don't like about DS's school. The school where DD will be going offers it as an option.

I have to say, I still cannot get over it. In a country where science uptake in later education is a constant rumble in news and the plethora of soft subjects in higher education.......is no one looking at these GCSE options and going, "well, er...."

To me, biology and physics are like ........apples and.........wing nuts. One person can have interest and like for both, the two might even combine .....but they certainly don't have too. Wing nuts can also combine with art, as can apples...
.

Generali

The NRMA (our AA/RAC) has taken 5 payments from us in error totalling almosst a month's salary. I have every confidence that we will have the money back before the end of 2015.

I had my work appraisal. Ooh this is a good job. One of the things I've been asked to do is start researching companies to see if they're worth buying or not.

zagubov

Generali wrote: »

The NRMA (our AA/RAC) has taken 5 payments from us in error totalling almosst a month's salary. I have every confidence that we will have the money back before the end of 2015.

Our pet insurance company did the same for a good part of the year. It didn't take a lot of sorting out. Incidentally do all NPs insure their pets or do any self-insure (just put money aside for problems).

GDB2222

Generali wrote: »

The NRMA (our AA/RAC) has taken 5 payments from us in error totalling almosst a month's salary. I have every confidence that we will have the money back before the end of 2015.

I had my work appraisal. Ooh this is a good job. One of the things I've been asked to do is start researching companies to see if they're worth buying or not.

Aus is much bigger than the uk, so does NRMA charge much more than the AA or RAC? Do they charge different amounts depending on where you live?

silvercar

lostinrates wrote: »

I have to say, I still cannot get over it. In a country where science uptake in later education is a constant rumble in news and the plethora of soft subjects in higher education.......is no one looking at these GCSE options and going, "well, er...."

To me, biology and physics are like ........apples and.........wing nuts. One person can have interest and like for both, the two might even combine .....but they certainly don't have too. Wing nuts can also combine with art, as can apples...
.

The options to do science, more science and triple science were meant to encourage a more balanced science education. As opposed to those who were not that interested in science being forced to choose biology to study in depth.

GDB2222

zagubov wrote: »

Our pet insurance company did the same for a good part of the year. It didn't take a lot of sorting out. Incidentally do all NPs insure their pets or do any self-insure (just put money aside for problems).

We do neither. Doglet is old enough for the premiums to be quite a lot of money, and I'm not convinced I would want to put her through any major treatment, anyway.

lostinrates

zagubov wrote: »

Our pet insurance company did the same for a good part of the year. It didn't take a lot of sorting out. Incidentally do all NPs insure their pets or do any self-insure (just put money aside for problems).

When we were 'liquid' we self insured all but special girl ( those bills can mount up quickly). Partly because of a legacy from living witht he cats etc in Europe where uk policies did not ( do not?) cover you for longer than 30 days stays and becUse it didn't make much sense to financially.


Even with dog dogs broken back legs ( nick named kitchen and central heating at home) it still doesn't quite stack up.

However, in my end of life planning last year I put them all on the healthy pets scheme through the vets which covers wormers, vacs and check ups and discounts on meds, ( which will be useful particularly when I am not here but I have used it lots for help when I just haven't fancied the effort or wanted reassurance). We also decided to insure them at the same time while rebuilding the self insure fund. Tbh, the self insure option is almost always going to make more sense in a household like ours. I would not put ours through some ops and even this month we could draw down enough for a accident. Four accidents at once might be a bit gulpy. I think it very much depends on your attitude to what happens in older years for pets. A lot I consider good to do isn't covered by insurance......so isn't done, but by doing it, I don't need to use the insurance IYSWIM. Probably works out similar in cost in middle years of no claims, but I might not extend life as long as I can.

lostinrates

silvercar wrote: »

The options to do science, more science and triple science were meant to encourage a more balanced science education. As opposed to those who were not that interested in science being forced to choose biology to study in depth.

Sure, but to remove the option to ALLOW those who do want to study in greater depth seems pretty shocking IMO. I did dual, I was content to do dual award, I did not plan at thirteen to do a science degree. I agree an option to do dual is valid and worthwhile, but the lack of option to do three science seems to me pretty poor and indeed, I would go so far as concerning. Not on an individual school basis, ( w.g. Lydia says in other regards this school is good) but that as an overview of education this is such a possibility that can essentially be a decision made for a child, presumably at ten or eleven based on ....parental preference and geography? Didn't a lot of kids then just want to be firemen?

Generali

GDB2222 wrote: »

Aus is much bigger than the uk, so does NRMA charge much more than the AA or RAC? Do they charge different amounts depending on where you live?

Everything is more expensive in Aus than England just about. Land of the Rort.

We get 2xcar insurance plus contents plus 2x breakdown insurance. It costs a bloody fortune.