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need help with a level choices

hello

i am in need of some help choosing a level subjects:

i want do do:

maths
physics
chemistry
history
(further maths is not offered at my school)

the courses themselves shouldn't be a problem as i will get at least grade A's at gcse but am almost definitely on course for A* in maths and science

the only problem is i attend a state school which has a very small 6th form and i have been told that physics will not be an option for me if there is not enough interest (and i believe i am currently the only person who wants to take it)

so what do i do?

change schools
change courses
or insist they teach me on my own

also do you think these are a good set of choices as i want to do some sort of mathematics/ engineering degree but as you can tell i haven't thought all that much about it i have just went for the subjects i have a real interest in and am good at

sorry for rambling but i am quite concerned about it as i really wanted to do physics

Reply 1

Ashes_to_Ashes

Change school or insist they just teach you lol. It's a standard subject, they should teach it.

Reply 2

Charli_90

If I were you, I would probably change schools if this wouldn't be a huge problem. I changed schools for sixth form and the transition was really easy because there were so many new people! I am currently being taught Italian in a class of two due to little interest and although it has its benefits, its after school and I don't think its the same as being in a slightly larger class! But if you're dead set on staying at your school, I would definitely try and campaign for a physics class to be offered as the one on one attention could be beneficial.
Plus you may be able to do further maths at a different school if that would interest you :smile:

Reply 3

purple-girl

Yeah, they're excellent choices :smile:

. However, Further Maths would be a very good subject to have, especially for maths. And you'd definitely need Physics for engineering, so I'd suggest you change schools, for Further Maths if not for physics.

Reply 4

kashmir.noir

Teach it yourself.
Makes you look determined. And it can be done. Try taking on further Maths, if you really are good at Maths too. People have done it, if you really want to you can too.
Just put your head to it!

(But then again i'm biased, I teach my whole A-level course to myself (except AS lit))

Reply 5

theredwindmill

jess_17_07

Change school or insist they just teach you lol. It's a standard subject, they should teach it.

:dito:
i totally agree, changing schools is quite good because there are loads of new people in the same boat so its quite easy to make friends

Reply 6

*chosen_one*

yeah i know they should teach it but the point they make is that they wont for one person

Reply 7

kcfch

omg, thats a bit cr*p! physics not generating enough interest? how is that possible?! anyway, change school, then you will have the benefit of studying both further maths and physics (2 of the best subjects ever :biggrin:

) but, if you dont want to, learning physics yourself is possible, but I personally wouldnt want to. Get some good textbooks, allocate a few hours a week learning the content. Its doable, but i think moving school would be a much better choice. And as said before a mathsy/engineering degree would have ideally double maths and physics.

Reply 8

* Catrin *

change schools is your best bet mind you my school works with other sixth forms to offer subjects like, french, spanish, german, dance etc, nore specialised teacher and bigger classes it seems to be working well, mind you it doesnt effect me

Reply 9

Dimbat

I'd change school (though my opinion's biased, I think Physics is great). If you change school, you may get to do Further Maths as well. Your subject choices are fine for the kind of degrees you're looking at, however I'm not sure if you can do Engineering without Physics (don't quote me on that though, I've not done any research).

Reply 10

xinolisss

I would say your choices are fine only you HAVE to do physics for engineering courses, and you probably HAVE to do further maths for mathematics courses... well, maybe I'm lying here about the maths thing because I didn't apply for maths, but I'm sure FM will be of great advantage if you could do it, both for engineering and mathematics. What I wouldn't consider doing is history, I mean, it looks impresive and all, but more useful and more impressive still is Further Maths. I think you should insist on them to teach you on your own, our school does not offer FM either, but I'm half self teaching myself A2 FM and well, I think I've done quite well until now.

Reply 11

crosscurrents

To be honest, I go to a small sixth form also and we have the same problem. The reason Physics may not be offered is the same reason subjects such as Business Studies/Sociology are not offered at smaller places; not enough demand. Although I recognise Physics is much more 'standard' than any of these. Our school need a minimum of 6 to make a subject viable, and I doubt they'd even teach 4, let alone 1. After the AS class is given the go-ahead, it must continue to A2 even with 1 person, but that's different.

OP, I recommend first checking if Physics is required/preffered for your university/course of choice. If so, I definately recommend looking at studying this as your priority. You could teach yourself, and you seem very clever and everything, but don't risk your grade by teaching yourself. Consider another colllege where you can be taught the subjects you need!

Good luck anyway.