Any high school teachers and college tutors about?

[PotatoesDoNotTakeBaths]

I appreciate this may be a bit of a silly question.

My DD is in S4 just now. She's quite an anxious girl, she likes to know what all her options are in advance.

She's doing well in some subjects but struggling in others. She definitely has the ability to pass highers if she puts the work in, which she does do.

She was asking me -

What happens if she fails any NAT 5s (I know the exams not going ahead, but I mean fails on whatever they are being graded on), will she still get to go on to S5? Do they do nat 5s in S5?

She wants to stay in S6 to get as many highers or advanced highers as she can, even if she manages in S5 to pass the 4 highers at BBBB she needs for uni. Would she be allowed to do this even if she already had the required highers for her chosen uni?

Lastly, even though she wants to do social sciences related degree, she is also interested in hairdressing and says she may end up changing her mind, even after S6, to pursue this. I'm guessing it would be an NC level college course, but would the college let her in to the course if she already had highers?

Thanks anyone who knows any of this.

I'm trying to discuss with her and reassure her but I've no idea how any of this works.

She could resit any Nat5s she fails. She can do a mix of highers and Nat5s in S5. In S6 she could do a mix of highers, advanced highers,etc
My dd is in S6 currently doing 2 advanced highers and 1 higher

What happens if she fails any NAT 5s (I know the exams not going ahead, but I mean fails on whatever they are being graded on), will she still get to go on to S5? Do they do nat 5s in S5? - They really can't get rid of pupils unless it's for disciplinary reasons so she shouldn't worry. They do Nat 5s in any year including S6, some people do extra Nat5s in S6 for enrichment.

She wants to stay in S6 to get as many highers or advanced highers as she can, even if she manages in S5 to pass the 4 highers at BBBB she needs for uni. Would she be allowed to do this even if she already had the required highers for her chosen uni? It doesn't matter if she already has what she needs, she can stay for S6 and do more highers or advanced highers or some Nat 5s, schools vary in how full a timetable they expect them to have, she may also have the opportunity to do some college classes during s5 and S6 or things such as coaching qualifications or volunteering etc

Lastly, even though she wants to do social sciences related degree, she is also interested in hairdressing and says she may end up changing her mind, even after S6, to pursue this. I'm guessing it would be an NC level college course, but would the college let her in to the course if she already had highers? I would think the easiest route is to start an apprenticeship via a hairdresser and college is part of that. Not absolutely sure which order is goes in re college/employer, entrance will be based more on commitment and enthusiasm rather than qualifications but they certainly should not discriminate and colleges generally interview for spaces

Check with the school what N5 subjects they currently offer post S4. Sadly, despite the ethos of the senior phase being a 3 year journey, some of the more academically focussed schools don't offer very many. Smaller schools can often suffer too. I have found it frustrating as a professional and parent as a progression route should be available for all.

It will be driven by staffing and pupil uptake.

Thank you all very much. I've explained all this to her, it's helped a lot. I had no idea about any of this.

Glad it's helped, sometimes too much choice is as bad as none :)

School will no doubt start talking to them soon about choices for next year and what process they will use.