Triple Award Science
Triple Award Science is the name for a course in the United Kingdom which delivers three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The course is usually studied throughout Years 10 and 11, but may be started in the latter stages of Year 9. The course provides the broadest coverage of the main three science subjects at Key Stage 4 available, and incorporates the compulsory programme of study for Science.
The course is offered by the four main awarding bodies in the United Kingdom; AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC. In Northern Ireland the awarding board is NICCEA.
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[edit] History
In 2008 the Government introduced an entitlement for all public schools to offer a Triple Science course to students who achieve a level 6 or above from September.
Specialist colleges must offer all students the opportunity for Triple Science which will be rolled out in the following stages:[citation needed]
- from September 2008 for Science Colleges
- from September 2009 for Engineering and Technology colleges
- From September 2010 for Maths and Computing colleges
or at the latest by the next re-designation.
An increase in the number of students studying Triple Science GCSEs has been identified as one way to encourage more young people to take science subjects at A-level and to continue into science in Higher Education. 2008 showed a resurgence in the popularity of Triple Science with an increase of around 30% in the number of students taking GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics.
The Triple Science Support Programme delivered by the Learning and Skills Network (LSN), helps schools prepare and implement Triple Science GCSEs.
[edit] OCR
OCR have awarded a Triple Science award since 2007 through their 21st Century Science program. The course aims to develop scientific literacy.
In OCR's singular award science there are 3 modules of work, in their double award there are 6 modules and in their Triple Science Award there are 7 modules which is made up of the six modules from double award and an extra one.
- The Biology module is called "Biology across the Ecosystem"
- The Chemistry module is called "Chemistry for a Sustainable World"
- The Physics module is called "Observing the Universe".[1]
