help - scottish mumsnetters - only 6 Nationals

The only possible way for them to do more than 6 is to start earlier and this really makes a bit of a mockery of the BGE. DS tells me that they will still be doing PE and RME when he moves to new timetable - don't have any objection to PE but thinking of opting him out of RME and he can use the time for something useful - will need to wait until we get the whole story before deciding. I think he said fr Maths they have already been put into classes of those cabable of Nat 5 and those for Nat 4 though I think 5 out of 6 classes have been ut as Nat 5 with one of those being a class for those that might need to move to nat 4.

From what I remember of the choice booklet from a year or two ago that I found on school website, it did give an indication of what subjects would be okay going straight to higher in and what ones needed nat 5 in order to do Hogher, so I am thinking that if there is a decision to be made on some options, that might be the deciding criteria in order to keep options open as possible for Highers.

My DD did 6 Nat5s last year. That was all that could be fitted into the timetable with a June timetable start - no-one could do more. I was really worried when other schools were offering 7 or 8, however, with the time available 6 was plenty. All subjects were scrambling to finish the course in time. With it being the first year, some guidelines changed during the year etc.. The biggest problem with 6 is that it cuts down your choice for Highers especially if you decide you don't want to carry on with more than one of your Nat5 subjects. DD's school wasn't insisting on Nat5 before Higher in everything, but she probably (wrongly?) carried on with one subject since she knew what it would be like rather than having to branch out into the unknown.

I think most pupils started on the Nat5 course and the school decided after the Prelims in January who should sit Nat4 instead.

I will add that out of a year group of 300 there were only about 12 pupils in the 7xA group and many others who felt like they had underperformed.

My DD is doing prelims this week for her 8 x Nat 5 at an Edinburgh state school, their year started the course in S3 and those struggling by the start of S4 were allowed to drop to 7 subjects and/or take national 4 level instead. In the final reckoning only about the top 30 out of the year group of 120 will be taking the full 8 at Nat 5 level. For the year coming up behind them they have resrticted the choices to 7 subjects only with the hope that more pupils see them through to the higher national 5 level.

My DD did the first batch of Nat5 last year and her school let them do 8 subjects. She is naturally bright but she didn't do as well as hoped, although she passed them all (4xA, 2xB, 2xC). I suspect it was partly because they didn't get to spend enough time on the subjects, only 3 periods per week on each subject. They are tougher than credit SGs, my son did 8 credits the year before and achieved higher grades with less work.

I think it's better to study 6 and aim for secure understanding than rush through 8 without the depth that's required. Seven sounds like a decent amount, but 6 is more likely to be successful.

The school recently called in all the pupils who had 7xAs to talk about Oxbridge admissions, so that would seem to be the 'gold standard' of achievement at Nat 5.

actually have they only just told you this and you are choosing now? or is that advance warning for next year?

We have 7 but only because they are squeezing in some extra weeks by moving into 4th year at the beginning of May. We get the options forms on Thursday but think we are going to struggle too as DS seems to be capable in all his subjects and doesn't know what to pick

This happened to my child. It was due to the time needed to cover the N5 courses adequately in the one year allocated. I don't know about the wider achievement courses.

It was ok as my child was glad to give up languages. I can see for those with a wide spread of interests and strengths it's problematic.