To be slightly outraged that they don't include Scottish qualifications on the census form?

[hockeyforjockeys]

OK I'm quite sad and love a good form to fill (especially if it has lots of lovely tick boxes), so I was quite excited to receive my census form today. But when I looked at the qualifications section there was no mention of Scottish qualifications (e.g. Standard Grades and Highers) in the list of possible options, when they explicity say UK qualifications at the top of the form. Even though I live in England I have Scottish qualifications, and find it enough of a bloody nightmare at the lack of recognition of them (particularly when I was applying for uni), but I would of thought a national body like the National Statistics Office might have an idea that things are a bit different up there? Is it a different form in Scotland, otherwise I can imagine a united chorus of 5 million of 'bloddy English'.

Just checked ours - it seems to list every English/Welsh qualificaiton of the last 50 years (GCSEs, CSEs, Os, As, Highers), but says at the top that if your UK qualificaiton isn't listed to tick the nearest equivalent. So those living cross-border between England/Wales and Scotland will have that option both sides I guess? Considering the number of us who migrate up and down (and back again in my case) it's a bit silly.

I have my form too, it arrived today.
I have the english form but I assumed the 'higher diploma' in the section 5+ O'levels was the scottish higher... Is it not then? tries not to sound like she has no idea

Oops, I seem to have a consistent typing error for 'qualification'!

Gilly - my mum refers to her exams taken at 18 years of age as Highers, and she was in Yorkshire in 1970. So it may be the same one, or may be different with the same name, not sure.

The Scottish form has Scottish quals on it (so I'm told) and also has a question about the use of Gaelic.

You can also get a Gaelic version of the form online if you want.

there are quite a few Scots living in England I believe - it's a shame that UK still always seems to be shorthand for England (and vice versa)

Also tricky because Scottish highers aren't exactly equivalent to A-levels

No a Higher Diploma is a vocational based qualification you can do currently instead of A Levels

And why does the Scottish one include English qualifications, but not vice versa?

Presumably because there are some schools up here that do GCSEs and A Levels (mostly private, I think). I doubt there are many (if any) schools in England that do Standard Grades/Highers?

Highers are more equivalent to AS levels, with Sixth Year Studies being A2. But then it's not directly equivalent as you would then go on to a 4 year honours degree in Scotland, but only a 3 year one in England. So does that make A2 equivalent to first year of a Scottish degree? Do you match across from primary, or match back from university?

I'd say Advanced Highers are equivalent to A Level.

I think the Scottish one includes English qualifications because it recognises that they are still 'uk qualifications' and many uk citizens will have them. It's a shame the English form couldn't do the same thing.

Yes , I thought that too - I just ticked the A-level one (for my Highers)

I was wondering exactly the same thing. Was going to tick 0-levels for o-grades and A levels for Highers.

oh god yes - have just opened mine - am English, living in England - but did my secondary education in Scotland so have Standard Grades, Highers and CSYS's........

But if I tick A Levels I'm going to look like I'm some bloody brain box with all these A levels all at A's and B's (think there's 7 in total!).

relieved to hear that many people in Scotland haven't received their forms yet. thought it was just us.

oh just looked closer - it doesn't ask for number that you've got - still bloody shit though - I don't have ANY of those school qualifications

My mum is delivering the census (NE Scotland) and won't be getting her bundle till Wednesday night. She's slightly panicking about having to get them all out in 2 weeks and 2 days!
I don't see how you could tick A levels for Highers - they're not the same. I'm old enough to have done a CSYS - that would probably fry their computer system

Ooh Prickly, your mum will be delivering mine then

I have CSYS too... feels old

God does having done CSYS's make me old - fuck I know I'm 32 very very soon - but really - I'm not old

Yeah, this pissed me off too (Scot living in England)

I have CSYS....shit I'm old too....eeep

Oh get a grip.

Scots get free prescriptions, better helath care, access to drugs the English are denied, free care for the elderly and NO tuition fees.

But my god, you've been totally fucked over and treated appallingly because a form that is filled in once every ten years doesn't have your qualifications on it.

You've really been given a raw deal.

Ooooh jealous 1980? We've got those things cause we voted for them! And, yes (yawn) we do more than pay our way.
Jog on.....