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Pip's AS Levels
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by Arosebyanyothername (U5195299) on Saturday, 17th April 2010
Can someone from the prod team clarify what AS levels Pip is doing? There are several threads about this in DTA and we are all very confused!
From past episodes, she appears to be doing all three sciences, and recently we have had much talk about her diploma in enviromental studies (usually diploma's are equivalent to three A levels) and then in Friday's epi we heard her talking about her music A level - it says that in the synopsis too. She would have to be seriously bright to be doing all of these and from her GCSE's results we did not get that impression.
I've never heard it mentioned that she's doing music A level before. Did she even do it for GCSE? You have to be at least a grade 5 to do A level music, and we've never heard any mention of Pip practicing the piano or doing her grades. You also have to do compositions and performances and there's never been any mention of that either. -
Message 2
Posted by LostInML (U13646691) on Saturday, 17th April 2010
I'd second the view that listeners are confused about what AS levels Pip is doing and would love to have an official answer on this one!
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Message 3
Posted by nellie (U14359436) on Saturday, 17th April 2010
Agreed, it would be good to have official clarification. The different courses now available at post-16 are quite hard for people to get their heads round and there's more than one kind of diploma available now. But, just to be clear, you don't need Grade V or above to do AS level music. Individual school or colleges may make this a stipulation for their own reasons, but it certainly isn't a requirement.
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Message 4
Posted by petal jam (U1466691) on Saturday, 17th April 2010
Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:34 GMT, in reply to Arosebyanyothername in message 1
It's the first I've heard of Pip doing Music. Although it isn't necessary to have taken any grade exams, just to be able to perform to the required standard. Not that we've heard any kind of practice. Beethoven sonata or two might be fun for the cows at milking time. Unlikely to be just for AS - that's a non-starter at the offspring's school. -
Message 5
Posted by bob larkin (U2297537) on Saturday, 17th April 2010
I think a state of ignorant bliss is probably best.
We have never heard too much about the academic achievements (or lack of them) of people in the enclave. Let's leave it that way.
I still maintain that when Shula needed an A level to get into estate management with R and W she took one that she had passed some years before. But I can't prove it.
Then there is Alice and her engineering (not specified what sort IIRC) which strikes me as unlikely, can't say exactly why.
As I say, best not to enquire too deeply.
bob -
Message 6
Posted by Janet (U14427863) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
Pip used to play the piano with Phil and wasn't he helping her with exams???
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Message 7
Posted by mike (U14258103) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
Sun, 18 Apr 2010 10:33 GMT, in reply to Janet in message 6
We never heard about Pip taking an piano exams. -
Message 8
Posted by wrengirl (U14336773) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
We never heard about Pip taking an piano exams.
well we'd have been very bored if they put that kind of thing in the few minutes we have of TA ...
I think Pip would certainly have taken several piano grades, since it was the thing she shared with her grandfather. At AS it's possible to do (say) 2 or 3 sciences,plus a couple of others. She'd find AS level music quite easy.
The trend these days is for the type of student who does Alevels and wants to goon to higher educationto take 4 or 5 AS levels and then maybe drop 1 or 2 before doing A2.
The AS levels help for Uni entrance points and for CV. So Pip might be taking (for example)Chem, Bio, Physics, Geography and Music AS. -
Message 9
Posted by Reggie Trentham (U2746099) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
Then there is Alice and her engineering (not specified what sort IIRC) which strikes me as unlikely, can't say exactly why.Ìý
I think you might be getting on to dangerous ground there, Bob. What do you expect a 'lady engineer to be like, a bespectacled, frumpy, blue-stocking? Alice always strikes me as an intelligent young woman with her head screwed on properly who knows what she wants just the sort who might choose engineering. She likes to enjoy herself too, so what? -
Message 10
Posted by petal jam (U1466691) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:21 GMT, in reply to wrengirl
Err.. obviously I don't know your experience here, but offspring's school say it is very tough for kids to go straight from GCSE to the technical Harmony writing requirements. Recent bunch were all post-grade VIII performers, good Maths ability etc and all struggled on the Bach chorale paper for AS year then 'got it' half way through the second year. This group included four who were Saturday morning kids at London conservatoires and proceeded to full-time degrees. Consequently School discourage kids from taking Music as a one year course with the intention of dropping it as the fifth subject.
As Aroseby says in the opener, Environmental Studies claims to be equivalent to three A levels. No idea how it compares or combines with e.g. single subject Maths +Stats or Chemistry. Might have thought that, considering her interest in international film, Pip would have Media Studies as her discard AS subject. Don't have a problem with Alice and Engineering - everything is done by laptop these days, testosterone has had its day. -
Message 11
Posted by Tayler Cresswell - Host (U14232848) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
Hi Arosebyanyothername
I've emailed the archivist for details of Pip's studies. I'll post them here when I get a reply.
Tayler -
Message 12
Posted by bob larkin (U2297537) on Sunday, 18th April 2010
I don't think so Reggie. I wouldn't dare.
I have worked with lady engineers of all shapes and sizes.
It's just that I don't really see Alice in that role.
bob -
Message 13
Posted by Lindfield (U11070610) on Monday, 19th April 2010
I'm not in Britain but i have to agree with Petal Jam that music isn't a soft option.
In Australia all subjects are ranked and weighted differently - recognising that all subjects are not equal- but music ranks well and all three boys who took it in my sons year ended up on the honours roll (the list of the overall top performing students in the state)
My son did music for HSC last year and it took over our lives for 2 full years. As a singer and a trumpeter he was involved in 6 different bands and choirs and had at least one rehearsal every day. We were always at the school for concerts and trailing across the city for events and competitions.
Even assuming that all this occurs for Pip in the 23 hours and 45 minutes she's not on air, i find it hard to believe it's never been mentioned.
The stonkingly good grades Pip achieved last year create the impression to this expat that A levels must have been incredibly dumbed down since my day. Those of you living in GB with teens will probably feel differently so why does TA continue to feed us this line?
AFAICS Pip isn't particularly bright, doesn't do much work and hasn't been near a musical instrument in years so this SL is a bit of an insult to all the kids out there working their socks off. -
Message 14
Posted by conductor (U2040502) on Monday, 19th April 2010
I don't understand why we never hear her playing or practising. Or why WR and Dayveed aren't aren't always on at her to do her practice.
In the (very) old days you used to be able to get as far as a doctorate in music without being examined in performance - they used to say you could get a degree in music without actually being able to play anything. That's not been true for decades of course, if it ever was, but since the mid-1980s you haven't been able to get GCSE, A level or a degree WITHOUT being able to perform.
Also, if she LIKES music, she ought to play occasionally if only for the fun of it - bashing out a few pop songs on the piano, singing to herself as she bumbles around on her bike. Maybe even listening to music on her iPod while she does her bio-diversity project. She never even mentions music that she likes/hates. Mystifying.
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Message 15
Posted by taddydogman (U13374770) on Monday, 19th April 2010
And if Pip really does have musical talent I'd have thought it would have been highly appropriate for her to have sung or played at her granddad's funeral.
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Message 16
Posted by petal jam (U1466691) on Monday, 19th April 2010
Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:10 GMT, in reply to Compassrose
Indeed. Off topic but an incongruous thought when so many aspired to a piano in the parlour and the wherewithal for the girls to have lessons.
In my dark days we did the O level harmony paper. Not only were we not required to sing or perform but about six months into the course, our teacher realised that we simply obeyed The Rules and never played, sang or 'heard' what we were writing. Come to think of it we could have been Pip. -
Message 17
Posted by LJG (U14428911) on Monday, 19th April 2010
She may have been too distressed to play or sing solo, or David who was organising it may have expected her to be too distressed.
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Message 18
Posted by Tayler Cresswell - Host (U14232848) on Monday, 19th April 2010
Can someone from the prod team clarify what AS levels Pip is doing? There are several threads about this in DTA and we are all very confused!
Ìý
Pip is taking four subjects at AS level with the intention of dropping one of the subjects after AS (next year): Biology, Chemistry, Business Studies and Music plus a diploma (based on EDEXCEL's Level 3 Progression Diploma in Environmental and Land Based Studies) over two years (all coursework).
It was mentioned on air that Pip had done very well in her GCSEs. We didn't specify all her results but we did mention her A in Biology. Pip has played and studied music all her life: she plays the piano and clarinet, was in the school choir, enjoyed playing with her grandfather and when she was with Jonathan they wrote and performed a song or two together.
Sadly for Pip, her diploma is not equivalent to three A levels.
I hope that clarifies the matter!
Tayler -
Message 19
Posted by very_vague (U9649391) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
This strikes me as a very full timetable. Having a bit of time on my hands I've just looked up the guidelines from EDEXCEL which state that:
The Progression Diploma, which comprises the Principal Learning and Generic Learning element of the Advanced Diploma, does not require the Additional and Specialist Learning component. The Progression Diploma is equivalent to 2.5 A levels.Ìý
According to their guidlines it also requires 720 hours contact time, which I work out as roughly 9 hour per week. As I understand it, each AS level also requires around 5 contact hours plus roughly another 5 hours homework per week - so around 50 hours per week plus music practice. It's a wonder she has any time for a boyfriend!
(Disclaimer: It has been quite a while since I was in the classroom so I could be wrong in my calculations. Also I do know it's only a radio show really.) -
Message 20
Posted by mike (U14258103) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:02 GMT, in reply to very_vague in message 19
You were doing fine before you put that! -
Message 21
Posted by Spartacus (U38364) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:13 GMT, in reply to petal jam in message 16
Come to think of it we could have been Pip.Ìý
Ooooooh Noooooo! -
Message 22
Posted by conductor (U2040502) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
she plays the piano and clarinetÌý
Thank you Tayler for those comprehensive details.
Thanks for jogging my memory about the songs she wrote with Jonathan.
Where does she play the clarinet, I wonder? Is she in some sort of orchestra or band at college? Again, we never hear about her going to any rehearsals.
Also, Linda is never on at her to take part in things - surely she would have been trying to persuade her to give us a spot of Brahms for the talent contest? Come on Linda, get on her case! -
Message 23
Posted by mankberri (U14406433) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
who gives her clarinet lessons.
andhere does she go for lessons -
Message 24
Posted by Graham 42 (U6041479) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
#5.
because she'd never shown any interest in engineering before saying she was going to take engineering perhaps? no mechano, radio set building, stripping down engines, that sort of thing.
and no, i do not think we do know what type of engineering degree it is, our speculation was in vain.
i hope she's taking Nuclear Engineering or something really fun like that. Actually as it's soton it might be Naval Engineering. -
Message 25
Posted by Dragonfly (U2223700) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
She took Design and Technology GCSE and A level. Isn't that a good sign in someone who wants to do engineering?
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Message 26
Posted by annehurd1990 (U14419570) on Tuesday, 20th April 2010
Some sort of genetic or biomedical engineering might be of more use to Helen.
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Message 27
Posted by sheena (U1646662) on Wednesday, 21st April 2010
Alice was also the winner or maybe runner up in a "build a go-kart" or similar competition some years ago ... vying for first place with Christopher ... so that does sound to me like longterm consistent plotting ?
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Message 28
Posted by mike (U14258103) on Wednesday, 21st April 2010
Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:09 GMT, in reply to sheena in message 27
Yes, Alice's interests, choice of A levels and university course were all consistently and realistically scripted. (They only fell down once when they had her writing an essay at university.)
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