Glasgow v East Renfrewshire subject choices

[TinTinBanana]

Hello,

The other threads about types of qualifications and choices made me realise I should be thinking about this for ds. He is still in primary but I do have concerns about how he will cope at secondary school.

What are the differences between Glasgow schools and East Renfrewshire schools when it comes to subject choices for people who might not be able to cope with traditional exams. I see there is a list of vocational courses that pupils in East Renfrewshire schools can do. Is that open to all pupils? Do Glasgow schools also have this choice?

What should I be looking for when choosing the best school for ds? He enjoys school, always tries his best but does struggle with the work for various reasons.

Don't know about East Ren, but within Glasgow, because the council gives the individual secondaries full discretion, you'd be best talking to the local catchment secondary (and neighboroughing ones, if they aren't full, so can take placing requests) to find out what they offer. They'll all be different.

Thank you PrettyBird that is very helpful. I have been focussing on lots of other things but realised today I really need to look into what choices there will be for him to get useful qualifications. I should be having a transition meeting with catchment school soon do I will ask. Will look at other schools.

Ds was academic (so was comfortable with 8 Nat 5s and 5 Highers and going on to his AHs)so I never really considered other options, but I do know that his school promotes other routes for those who wouldn't cope. There is a strong emphasis on apprentices and vocational qualifications at the careers night and one of the deputes has specific responsibility for mainitain the links with the vocational providers.

It also brings in various vocational trainers during the period when those doing enough exams get study leave, for those who are still in school.

That sounds exactly like the things that would be good for my ds. I think it would be good if he could go on to do some sort of apprenticeship. I think I will make some enquiries. He is able to learn and very motivated and of average intelligence. He struggles with written work and will need alot of support . Thank you

Thought I should add: a friend's ds went to the Toryglen Autism Unit for his last few years at primary (the school he was at pushed for him to go without even consulting her and before she even had a diagnosis - but when she asked for advice on here, she was advised to bite their hand off and be grateful that she hadn't had to fight for the support especially as the existing primary school was failing to deal with his needs ) and thrived (high functioning ASD).

She didn't want her ds to go to the autism unit at Govan as she felt they wouldn't push him to do exams (as he's clever) and she wanted him to go to Kingspark (or is it Hill Park? - I'm always getting the two confused ) which has the "High functioning autism unit" (for want of a better expression).

He's done well there - I think he is in S5 now and did well in his Nat 5s.

If he hadn't got into there, she was going to consider sending him to Holyrood or Shawlands, as although they don't have specialist autism units, are big enough that they have plenty of experience of kids with ASD. I know (via the rugby club) of a number of ASD kids who thrived at both schools.

(At that time, Shawlands was able to accept placing requests ds was one himself as he should have gone to Bellahouston , but it is now getting close to, or at, capacity)

That's good to know, PrettyBird do you know of your friends ds had trouble with written work -dyslexia/dysgraphia? I have been thinking that the larger high schools with more experience of supporting kids like my ds could be good for him. Our catchment high school is the one your friends ds is at. Ds' primary school is having a transition meeting with them soon. But I am getting a bit nervous about him going there. Hopefully I will feel better once I have met with them and ds has visited.

I have had a tour of the school and came away feeling positive about it.

Sorry, I don't know. It's Hillpark he's at (told you I always got them mixed up ).

Hi how is Carlibar primary school in east renfrewshire? For kids with spectrum? Does Glasgow has better support unit for kids with on spectrum or east renfrewshire? Please help Thanks.

Hi, will your dc get a place in the support unit or will they be in the mainstream school. I have heard a few parents say positive things about the support unit in Carlibar, though I don't know anything about it myself. I also know one parent who moved their child who has autism from mainstream Carlibar primary to a mainstream Glasgow primary and was much happier.