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Original poster

Is higher English necessary for University entrance ( Scotland)

30 replies

atthestrokeoftwelve · 06/01/2014 18:33

As it says- my son hates English and doesn't want to take it after National 5 ( 4th year). Would dropping it hamper university entrance?

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Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 09/01/2014 17:27

Thanks! And to you!

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Passmethecrisps · 09/01/2014 17:22

I agree - not a nice situation to be in. However, the universities have committed to working with schools to ensure that no child is disadvantaged by the change.

Best of luck!

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 09/01/2014 17:20

Some good points- I don't think the school knows themselves yet what 5th yr CofE choices will be.
Doesn't inspire me with confidence and slightly scary having a child in the trailblaising year!!

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Preferthedogtothekids · 09/01/2014 17:02

My Ds is in 5th year, and my Dd in 4th year. My Ds (under SG system) had to take H English, and my Dd (under CforE) reckons it's still going to be compulsory for her in 5th year, but maths isn't.

If he took it in 6th year it wouldn't be a crash H would it? it would just be a delayed H. I believe a crash H is when you haven't done the SG/Nat 5 first?

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 08/01/2014 16:55

Thaanks for the Planitplus info-

prettybird i'm afraid it's partly the teacher. Although he has had straight As for English throughout secondary school he doesn't like the teacher.
He has had the same teacher for two years now and doen't really want to commit to Higher English if he gets the same guy again.

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prettybird · 08/01/2014 16:15

Is it the subject or the teacher he doesn't like? Would a different teacher (or even tutor Shock) get him enthused about English?

My mum was a great Wink English teacher and used to tutor some friends' kids (for example, one who Bearsden Academy was going to refuse to let sit English Higher as they thought she'd fail). It was lovely to overhear her and them as they began to find pleasure in the subject. She Her tutees never had a result lower than B! Grin

ALMOSTMRSG · 07/01/2014 20:42

OP - try Planitplus web site. It tells you entrance requirements for all college and university courses in Scotland.

offblackeggshell · 07/01/2014 11:18

DB studied biochemisty at (Scottish) uni without Higher English (well a D but don't think anyone would count that as a pass). He didn't get much choice of uni though, and that was 20 years ago. I imagine it's more competitive now.

starving · 06/01/2014 23:28

It really does depend on the chosen course & uni. Check ucas & uni websites. My dds chosen course only asks for English (& Maths) at standard grade credit or Int 2. Which is all she has and she is not doing Higher English - prefering to do subjects more relevant to her chosen course. She has recently received an offer from one of her choices.

Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 20:05

Okay should be most in my last post

weebarra · 06/01/2014 19:58

He could have a chat with his school careers adviser, if he doesn't want/need a full guidance interview, they usually run a clinic at lunchtime. Agree the need for English depends on the subject but it's a good H to take if keeping options open.

Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 19:56

Hmm. Must be arranged different to us.

The problem is that okay university courses now are selective and the goal posts can be changed at any time.

It may be that your school has a head of year or a guidance teacher whose specific remit is HE. Worth a call to check.

At the end of the day though if he hates the subject then he should steer clear but accept the consequences

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 06/01/2014 19:45

I will try the guidance staff although the times I have spoken to them before they haven't been very clued up- concerning themselves mostly with behavioural problems.

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Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 19:41

Guidance staff? I am a guidance teacher and it would be me who would be doing the advising coupled with feedback from staff.

Heathcliff27 · 06/01/2014 19:40

No he doesnt, my son studying at Aberdeen, different courses have different requirements. His was Maths, Physics, Chemistry plus any other Higher at B grade so he dropped English after Standard Grades.

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 06/01/2014 19:37

I guess he could do a crash english in s6- it's so difficult to get advice from the shool- each subject teacher values their own above all the others!!

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HamletsSister · 06/01/2014 19:36

It used to be a requirement. My school strongly recommend English as it ensures the widest possible choices. However, plenty of courses so not require it. Some choices might be closed to him after university (teaching, for example ) without Higher English.

Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 19:33

Ok. See, the other thing I was going to suggest was a language as he would make himself extremely saleable with a higher modern language. Whether it be law or physics.

It sounds like he is very bright - could he crash something?

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 06/01/2014 19:33

Call me old fashioned, but I'd prefer my doctors and lawyers to have a proven ability at critical thinking, extrapolation and grammar.

But I'm not sure that Higher english teaches these any more than something like RMPS- which does cover critical thinking, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference.

No grammar is taught at Higher level- it's mostly literary criticism.

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Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 19:32

Quite agent but a higher in English doesn't necessarily prove this above all other highers. I would be very surprised to see someone applying for law without English and my guidance to them would be to ensure they had it before beginning their course. As you say, focus on the strongest subjects in s5 to ensure the highest grades then spend S6 working on the weaker or less interesting (to the student) subjects

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 06/01/2014 19:30

passmethecrisps- the english/RMPS is simply because those are subjects he is studying atm. He's sitting 7 nat 5s, then will drop tow subjects going into 5th year. He's dropping French which he hates even more than English, so that just leaves one more to drop.
The other subjects he's pretty definite on and really enjoys.

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AgentProvocateur · 06/01/2014 19:29

I think - I HOPE! - that you'd need English for Law. But then I was shocked to discover that you don't need it for medicine. Our school's advice was to do the five Highers that would give you the best chance of As for medicine. Call me old fashioned, but I'd prefer my doctors and lawyers to have a proven ability at critical thinking, extrapolation and grammar.

Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 19:26

If he is thinking law I would suggest he does English in the strongest possible terms. However, he can do it in S6 once he has his 5 As or close under his belt in s5.

Original poster
atthestrokeoftwelve · 06/01/2014 19:24

He really doesn't have a clue- he's a bit of a polymath- won year prize for physics & history and has an amazing command of language- lots of essays written in history and RMPS- he is also a member of the school debating society and has been chosen to represent his shool at the upcoming model UN confererence.
ATM he thinks perhaps law or physics at Uni.
He still hates English though!

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Passmethecrisps · 06/01/2014 19:22

It would completely depend on what subject he wants to study. The subjects he is opting for seem quite science based so it would seem he might be lucky. Also, it is worth checking if some universities would accept RMPS as a suitable replacement for English.

Why English or RMPS? Is there anything else?

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