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Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

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Original poster

any of your DCs starting S1 this august?

298 replies

strangerthongs · 16/02/2019 19:52

I thought I'd start our own thread seeing as there's threads for S5/6, exams, uni etc.

V nervous about DD starting S1. High school's a whole other ball game isn't it? I remember being badly bullied and feeling overwhelmed in the first few weeks.

Does anyone know what books they tend to read in English in S1 nowadays, and what they study in History in S1 - my two favourite subjects when I was at schools so I'm curious.

In my DD's high school, they will be choosing subjects midway through S1 which seems awfy early (it was S2 when I was at school).

I wonder what the most popular subjects are...there seems to be some really cool options nowadays although I would hope DD will choose subjects that she is likely to actually use/need in her future career and not because all her friends are doing it.

Anyone else have a DC starting high school?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

dementedpixie · 17/02/2019 19:15

The schools in my area all have blazers. (North Lanarkshire)

WaxOnFeckOff · 17/02/2019 19:22

Not enough lockers for all and also charged for at DSs school (think it was a refundable deposit though). They never bothered as they got a lift to and from school (not catchment) as there is no public transport. It also depends on how organised they are. Both mine had large bags which were pretty much packed. In DS2s case, he was still carrying round books from years before - now being assessed for Dyspraxia. It was also full of rotten oranges....

Original poster

strangerthongs · 17/02/2019 21:32

I dont think my DD will need a locker but will most likely want one.

I heard that S1s are not allowed to leave the school at lunch, at least for the first few months, anyone heard of this in their schools?

And the schools' FB page shows proper dissection of frogs in science. Nice....! DD is rather squeamish

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WaxOnFeckOff · 17/02/2019 22:06

Ours weren't stopped from leaving but then there is feck all place for them to go! At a push they can make it to Tesco and back in their 40 mins as long as they get served straight away and then get indigestion walking back up the hill!

Friends DSs school in Glasgow doesn't allow 1st years out - no idea for how long so definitely not unknown.

prettybird · 17/02/2019 22:09

At ds' old school, S1s are definitely not allowed out at lunch time. Not just the first few months, but the whole year.

They'd love to have the same rule for S2s but they simply don't have enough room in the social area/Fuel Zone (canteen/eating area) to accommodate all of them.

YouBumder · 17/02/2019 22:23

Ours are allowed out. It’s a very big school and there’s not really enough provision for them to all stay in for lunch. He only went out once though by the time he went to the shops, queued and bought something lunch break was over as they only get 45 mins. He takes a packed lunch or buys a school dinner and they have clubs and stuff at lunch too

dementedpixie · 17/02/2019 22:34

Don't think ours are allowed out yet but shops are not very close so you'd be pushing it to get back on time. Mine take a packed lunch. Young Scot card is linked to the canteen system and can be topped up online but mine don't use it

prettybird · 17/02/2019 23:09

Shops are quite close to ds' school (so even though they only get 45 minutes, are accessible) but it's a busy shopping area and a number of the teachers have to do patrols to ensure no mischief is done, either by or to the pupils.

BrokenWing · 17/02/2019 23:10

I heard that S1s are not allowed to leave the school at lunch, at least for the first few months, anyone heard of this in their schools?

Yes, our school had that "rule" too which was ignored by most after a couple of weeks, and I hate to say it, but the reason was to keep the children closer so they could keep an eye on them. The first year at secondary had fights at lunchtime off the school premises at least once a week and the teachers preferred it if they were close by either to deter or intervene.

It was usually always one of a handful of children involved marking their territory. It thankfully settled down in 2nd year and tall ds was only involved once when one of them tried to pick a fight with his much smaller friend and he stood up to them and they backed down (brave and stupid).

prettybird · 17/02/2019 23:16

It's a big school too (about 1200) - which is why ds used to take a packed lunch most days as the queues were so long in the Fuel Zone.

I also introduced an incentive scheme for him: he got the money for school lunches but I also got in part baked rolls and fillings (salami, cheese, tomatoes, green/red peppers, cucumber, lettuce - although he developed a liking for chili or meatballs in tomato sauce, if we had any left over from the night before) and he could make up his own "Subway" to take in and could keep the lunch money as extra pocket money. He had to clear up after himself though

YouBumder · 17/02/2019 23:17

I would be happy for s1 to have to stay in - it’s possibly quite a lot of freedom all at once after the constraints of primary! There are loads of places serving junk food with only a few mins walk of the school sadly so I’m happy if he stays in school. The amount of crap I’ve seen children buying and eating for lunch over the years is staggering.

WaxOnFeckOff · 17/02/2019 23:32

This brings back memories of DS2s induction days. There was really only one guy who thought he was tough, they were doing a PE lesson and this guy thought it would be good to assert his dominance by pushing a few folk about. Ds was slouching about and he is normally a bit of a soft touch. However he was very tall and well built (he was about 5'8 when he was 12) and also went to a primary which is known for being in a rough area. The guy came up towards him, DS raised one eyebrow and said "really?" and at the same time the guy clocked the name of the school on his sweatshirt. he never had a problem with anyone after that. To be honest, I think the rougher element do tend to just fight amongst themselves for top dog and those who aren't interested don't tend to get any bother.

Sturmundcalm · 18/02/2019 06:43

S1s kept in all year at ours. Think it is pretty much adhered to as well...

Original poster

strangerthongs · 18/02/2019 07:28

DM lives nearby so DD might go there at lunch (and bring all her friends lol)

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Groovee · 18/02/2019 07:44

Think they had to stay in until the September weekend. S6's usually spend time in the social area building friendships between those who are on their own and introducing new friends. Dd rarely left school while Ds rarely stays in. If he spies I have soup in the slow cooker at breakfast, he usually appears home at lunch 😂. We live minutes away from the school though.

Original poster

strangerthongs · 19/02/2019 21:10

I was just thinking....do they still do exams in S3? I remember doing exams in S3, then the prelim and finals in S4.

I'm trying to get my head around this new curriculum, especially as every school seems to do it differently

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dementedpixie · 19/02/2019 21:15

Ours does testing to check progress in most years. Ds (S1) had maths tests last week and has a history one tomorrow. Dd (S4) did her prelims just before Christmas.

prettybird · 19/02/2019 21:19

Because every school does it differently, we can't tell you

First formal exams, Nat 5s, are in S4 (unless they choose to present early for a subject in S3 - but that's rare).

Some schools will do exams every year from S1, some schools start in S3 to get practice in and most will do Prelims either before or after Christmas of the S4 year.

Original poster

strangerthongs · 19/02/2019 22:15

its all blooming complicated.

And no N4 grades. Just a pass. No idea if its a high pass, or a low pass. Not that it particularly matters as most universities/colleges/apprenticeships as for N5 anyway.

I liked the standard grades. And the 8 subjects to choose.

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dementedpixie · 19/02/2019 22:29

I'm even older and did O Grades. My sister did standard grades. I ended up with 10 O Grades as maths, arithmetic and statistics were all separate exams plus I sat a self study exam called Anatomy, physiology and Health (APH)

Lidlfix · 19/02/2019 22:37

SNSAs are in S3 but so low key that the pupils barely know they've happened.

If you sat Standard Grades you might have been presented early for Maths and English in S3.

There's never really been consistency it's not new with the Nationals.

dementedpixie · 19/02/2019 22:39

What are SNSA's? Dd did sit some exams in S3 so that they would have experience of exam conditions so it wasn't such a big shock in S4

BrokenWing · 19/02/2019 22:57

Ds did what his school call S3 exams in December, basically assessments of work covered so far in S3 and used, with previous topic tests to decide if they would be sitting Nat4 or Nat5, or maybe suggested to drop a specific subject in S4 which they are choosing now .

Original poster

strangerthongs · 20/02/2019 06:55

how much homework do they get in S1 on average?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 20/02/2019 07:21

Depends on the school. Ds gets sporadic homework so sometimes has none but other times has 2 or 3 pieces at the same time.

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