Changing schools between S3 and S4 in Scotland. Nightmare, please help!

[McCat23]

Please help! I think we will be moving (with Scotland) for work reasons next summer (2014). 14yr old son has just started S3 and I'm worried how the new CfE course will be tackled in a different school. I've been picking up rumours that different schools are likely to do it very differently and wondered of anyone out there can comment?
I plan to meet with the school pretty soon (so I can hopefully stop losing so much sleep over it!) as well as start looking at schools that he might move to.
Son in question is obviously resistant to a move but I need to know that his education will not be compromised by this move!

[Preferthedogtothekids]

My DD has just started S4 in Fife, she will sitting 8 Nat 5s next May. She only has a CfE book for one subject so far (computing) and I'm not sure when they will get others. I do know that year below her, your son's year are only being allowed to sit 7 Nat exams. I also know that kids from some other areas are doing as low as 6 options. I suppose it depends what your expectations are? I don't think 7 subjects is too bad, it's the same amount we used to do O grades in.

What areas are you moving between? it might be worth getting in touch with the Education Departments in those areas and finding out what their plan is.

[S4Worries]

All you can do is speak to the schools for clarification.

This was always going to be an issue when each school is allowed to choose it's own way of approaching senior phase. If you have the time (unlikely I realise given your circumstances!) complain to your MSP. They should be informed of the practical ramifications of their decisions.

[McCat23]

Thanks folks. We are moving from Stirling to Dundee. At the mo he's scheduled to do 8 Nat exams! I'll get on the phone on Monday and start the process (glad I've got a year to sort this out - they might have the exams books out by then!).

[S4Worries]

I think he's not in a bad position if he's going into S3 doing 8 subjects.

Our local school has opted for not specialising too much in S3 so they still do many (not sure if it was 12?) subjects for not many periods. Then they opt for 6 in S4. Now a pupil from there moving to your son's school would not have done enough hours per subject in S3. Someone moving in the opposite direction would be well-placed for S4, having done the hours in S3!