Highers problem - advice please!

[Higherproblem]

I've nc for this.
At my DC's school children were asked to choose their 5 Highers. We were specifically told that it was extremely unlikely that they would not get the 5 Highers they asked for. But just in case, they were asked to put down 2 reserve choices. We were again specifically told that in the very unlikely event that the school was not able to agree to all 5 Higher choices, they would contact us to discuss what to do, before allocating one of the reserve options.
They sent out the list of Highers allocated to all the children, having already finalised the timetable. My DC was allocated 4 of his choices, but was not given a 5th higher. The one left out was the one that he is most keen to do, and has based his university and career plans around. They did not contact us to discuss, and have not allocated him a 5th higher from one of his reserve choices (or at all).
When DC wrote to the school to point out the mistake, they told him that they could not re-arrange the timetable.
DC is strong academically, but as far as the school is concerned he will now be taking 4 Highers only. And not the subject that he wants to study at university and that he will need for his planned career. He had already told the school that he wanted to study that subject for Advanced Highers. He doesn't want to do the Higher in S6, as he plans to do it at Advanced Higher level and may possibly want to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, which would in any event require an Advanced Higher in the subject.
I have written a letter to the school, asking them to come up with a solution. Any advice would be welcome. I think it unlikely that any other accessible school would be able to accommodate DC's choices at this stage, and of course he would be very unwilling to move school (he is doing very well at the current school and is settled there) and a move would probably mean serious transport, time and expenses issues.

There is usually a fair amount of movement in Higher classes after exam results so it might not be so bad as you think. DD moved school for S5 and initially only got 4 of her 5 choices. However after exams she got a spot in her 5th. The subject she didn't get was her strongest but also more skills based (english) so easiest to pick up. She made sure head of department kept her up to date what was covered in June (even letting her do the speaking unit assessment). She had chosen another similar subject (a language) just in case so she'd have 5 highers and even looked at doing subject outside school - some colleges do the subject on Saturdays but didn't need to go down that route.

Can you say what subject? Some people at DDs crash AH in subjects without the higher but it does depend on the subject.

They've only offered her 4 highers. The higher she needs to do is a language. And she really needs to do 5 highers.

They offer 2 languages at Highers, and have already told us that the timetable won't allow her to do the 2nd language either. She wants to do languages at university.

Is the course running and there’s no place in the class? Or is it not running at all?

Something doesn't stack up here, I'd definitely be going back to ask more questions. Presumably if she wants to study languages at uni she's doing English too, what are the other 3 subjects? Surely one is in the same column as her preferred language and could be swapped out?

If they still offering two languages then could she change other subjects she's less bothered about (my DC have switched social subjects from national 5 to higher with success). A bit odd for a school not to offer 5Hs for able pupils.

Was just coming back in to say the same as Clerk - can't see why the school would be restricting your DC to 4 Highers if they're capable of 5. Can you email their guidance teacher?

DDs school advise against 2 languages in S5 just in case you change your mind about language study. However it's only advice and many ignore it. Others do a crash higher (or even crash AH) in S6 for one language.

If that's all that staffing allows for I'd be annoyed and asking the school if there was anyway around this. If it is a policy as in PP's school I might be inclined to challenge the fairness if 2 Sciences, 2 Social Subjects, 2 from Arts are permitted. If they are against overspecialising then that should apply across the subjects. You can almost guarantee it won't as 2 if not 3 needed for Medicine.

Are they counting English as a language?

They didn't use a column system. They just told everyone to list the 5 highers they wanted, and then 2 additional highers that could be used in the highly unlikely (they said) situation where one of their highers wasn't possible due to timetabling issues. They said they'd discuss with the parents if they couldn't offer the 5 chosen highers (before offering one of the reserves). They didn't do any of that with us. She was just notified of her highers (and only 4 of them, no suggestion of offering one of the reserve subjects in place of her favourite subject).
So obviously a complete mess-up. There are no limitations on the subjects that the child can choose.

To clarify, she only applied to do one language. But they have said that the language she applied for is not possible, and she can't replace it with the other language the school offers, due to timetabling.

Bother, blown my boy/girl cover. I don't want to embarrass the school!

Can she go to another local school to do it
This is sometime offered in within our council area

The chance of a local school offering the subject in such a way that it fits her timetable, including the considerable travel time that would be involved is probably non-existent.
If the school doesn't come up with a reasonable solution, we could look at her changing schools, but that would be very problematic. I think I'd rather look at her doing the subject at home via online tutoring. A major pain in the neck, especially as she needs to do well in it.

Ah but now lots of learning is happening at home, could you ask the school to offer remote learning from a teacher in another school? It happens in some local authorities already so it's not impossible!

Sorry that possibly didn't make sense. What I mean is, if your child's school can't offer the subject (and why did it offer it, if it can't?!), can they find a school nearby where it's being offered, and use technology to make teaching a possibility for your DC? I wouldn't let them just dismiss your child's messed up timetable, it's really unfair.

Something is definitely not right there and I think you’ll probably have to now step in as a parent to ask their internal process to review/appeal their decision.

The school has to allow your child to take 5 highers at one sitting as that is the minimum for some courses and they also have to allow your child to take a foreign language along with English as two of those subjects. Your child may have to be flexible on her other subjects if there are timetabling issues.

They've sent a holding letter. I'll wait till they get back with something concrete and then consider options. DC put so much thought into the Highers choice, and will be gutted to lose any of them due to what is clearly a mistake. I may need to look at the appeals process or bringing a complaint.

At my DCs (state) school, there were a couple of high achieving students studying language Highers outside school, but taking the exam in the school with their cohort.

My own son studied Nat 5 French outside school (I used to be a French teacher so I could help him) and took the exam in school.

Incidentally, Oxford does interview workshops (for state schoolers) and subject specific open days where they may help with transport costs and provide free accommodation. It's worth keeping your eye out for these as they are not widely advertised in Scotland.

I hope everything works out for you both.

Thanks Aurea. I'll consider tutoring, but the cost would be a big issue. I don't speak the language myself.

I was sent by taxi to another school for one of my science subjects and another girl in my year was for a MFL.
Schools around here certainly wouldn’t tell a child targeting an oxbridge degree in physics or Spanish that they couldn’t do it at higher in s5. They’d find a way.

We're pretty shocked, to be honest.

I would definitely go back to the school on this and insist that they take a further look at it. As a teacher, we encourage anyone capable of 5 Highers to do the 5 so it does seem strange that they are putting a blocker on this. We also look at potential future uni and career aspirations and would prioritise those who wish to do subjects relevant to their chosen future career. Although you say they don’t do columns when looking at options that will be how it is timetabled so ask to see what subjects are running at each time as with a bit of jiggling about a better timetable may be possible. If the pupils is not involved then it is often not easy to see as you don’t always know their priorities. As a parent I wouldn’t accept this for an S5 pupil who is considering oxbridge as she will need 5 Highers to be in with a chance. The school should be helping you find a solution.

Good news. I went to the next person up, explaining how serious it was for DC, and after some correspondence they have now managed to find a solution. Not sure how they did it. It wasn't easy, and I'm now definitely seen as "that parent"! I wish I hadn't had to complain (informally), but it was too important not to. Thanks to all for the advice.

Sometimes you do have to be the one to make a stand for you children. Good news, I am glad you manage to get a solution.