Nat5 or 2 year higher?

[Groovee]

Dd's school only allow 6 Nat5's and today have sent home a letter telling me they feel they need to recourse her for Modern Studies as a 2 year higher!

I have to return the letter tomorrow morning. But am worried about her only getting 5 Nat5's instead of 6!

Wish the school had given us more time. Am so undecided.

What if she only wanted Modern Studies at Nat 5 and wasn't intending it as one of her 5 highers (if that was what she wanted to take)? So basically they have used up one of next years slots arbitrarily. Did they give her any other options such as swapping it for a different nat 5? Is this the whole class or just her? Does she want to do it?

So many questions :o sorry!

As far as only having 5 nat5s is concerned, it really depends on what she wants to do. If she is staying on and doing highers etc then it probably doesn't matter what Nat 5s she has or how many though a wider spread can show depth if she specialises a lot for her highers. What it does is maybe narrows her options for highers unless they are happy for her to take highers that she hasn't done Nat 5 for. e.g. because of the way timetabling was, my son wasn't able to do Graph Comm and had to choose Geography instead. he still wants to do Graph Comm so they've said that he should be capable of doing it as a higher next year if he wants.

Is your DD just beginning S5? If so I'd push to wait for her Nat 5 results prior to a firm decision. My DD is in a similar position with a couple of her Higher subjects, she's beginning 4 Highers and 1 Nat 5 soon pending her results. Remember a D at Nat 5 is technically a pass (not that I'd recommend a one year Higher to a pupil with a D) . If her school are starting new timetable shortly she has nothing to lose by beginning one year Higher now easier to drop back than catch up. What does she hope to do post school?

Why wouldn't they submit her for the nat 5 at the end of year one? Is this viewed as an easier or harder option?

lidl, I think from the description that the OPs daughter is starting S4 and should be doing 6 Nat 5s but they've asked her to do a 2 year higher for one of the subjects instead, so effectively meaning she is only doing 5 Nat 5s. I presume can only do a further 4 highers (in addition to the 2 year one they want her to start now) which really cuts down her options in terms of Higher choices.

I would argue with them. They are preventing her from sitting as many subjects which while it may NOT disadvantage her, it may well. Doing 6 is what most schools offer so one fewer might bring problems.

Bad enough that some schools do 8 and others can't / don't.

I think the Highers are proving tricky and it would be better to have a Nat 5 in the bag before she sits the Higher. I say this a Mum of two who have sat 8 Highers between them this year.

I think there has been too many choosing modern studies and they've chosen the more able ones to do the higher over Nat5.

She starts S4 on Monday hence the short notice.

She wants to do primary teaching. As we're still getting our heads round the new system as I was a standard grade pupil and dh was Ograde, so very little understanding fully.

There was issues with regards geography last year, this year it's modern studies. I have 3 hours left before that form needs to have a decision on it.

She wants to do the higher but 3 friends who are high school teachers have said they wouldn't offer this as an option.

I agree with your teacher friends - the questions I'd put to the school (and LA) if not satisfied are; if they have adequate staffing to run a class why not make it Nat 5? Why are they reducing the number of SQF pointed qualifications available to your DD and potentially disadvantaging her later? Nat 5 can be a challenging course even for able pupils- why do they think pupils can cope with jumping from studying a subject at BGE level straight to the complexity of Higher? What if she gets to Xmas and hates it (just transferring to the Nat 5 class might not be possible as there are a raft of internal units and a large assessment all to be undertaken prior to SQA exams).
Primary Teaching courses look for candidates with a wide range of knowledge and skills, your DD is being forced to narrow hers too early. for you and DD as this a time that should be exciting for her, not worrying.

Yes, why can't they offer 2 classes of Nat 5 and the normal 1 year higher next year? Same amount of teaching resource I would think? I think the "more able pupils" is a red herring. Why would more able pupils do a higher over 2 years instead of Nat 5 in one and Higher in the next? It makes no sense and it's unfair of them to put you under so much time pressure. How long ago did the put their options in?

DS 1 has been in 4th year for a month already doing 7 Nat 5s. They've known since February what they have been able to timetable.

Mine didnt do the nats dd2 is the last year of sg anyway Dd1 did Modern studies over 5th and 6th year if school is offering it I would take it then she wont struggle and stress although some universities dont accept highers over 2 years do they ?

I got confused sorry they want her to take modern studies in 5th yr not 4th ?

Options were done in February. Probably why I am so annoyed at the lack of notice.

When I was at school the 2 year higher was for the less able pupils.

The deadline - make an appointment to see her guidance teacher saying you have concerns. The deadline belongs to the school, it's not an sqa one or anything. I have students switching classes even in August, some need to change due to exam results for example, others just want to. You need a proper meeting to hear exactly what this is about. I'm still unclear why all the two year higher people can't just sit the nat 5 assessments as they go through the year.

Yy

I agree, contact them and say that you are not prepared to be rushed into a decision without all the facts. Their lack of planning doesn't constitute an emergency for you. I'd go armed with the questions from here and the advice from your teacher friends.