Urgent Advice re Scottish Exam system please?

[52andblue]

Moved back from England (kids did Primary in Scotland)
in summer after Ds sat GCSE's. He got 7, mostly grade B's.
He is sitting Highers in 3 subjects, 1 Higher equiv at college, 1 Nat 5.
He's really struggling in all 3 Highers. There's no 'lead on' from GCSE.
School are willing to let him drop 1 Higher. It may not be enough.
If he doesn't do well enough by Jan they will not put him forward.
I'm worried he'll waste a year. He is already quite stressed too.
He can do college course but needs 2 Highers so if he doesnt' get them then what? Plus school say to check Uni requirements as 'all different and some won't accept his College course as a Higher'.
They were making noises about it 'not being worth him staying S6'.

I feel like I've really let him down by moving him at this stage.
It is not school's job to fix it but they want a decision about dropping 1 x HIgher by Monday (meeting was Friday). I've not had much internet this weekend so am about to research as best I can but thought I'd put this post up too to see if anyone has any general advice please?

His 'best chance' route is via an HNC / HND to Abertay probably.

Does anyone have any info on this particular route please?

Hnc/hnd articulation route to uni is a good option. What does he want to study, what highers is he taking? Could he drop the college course and concentrate on the highers in school? Plus he will also have 6th year to get some highers

Also where are you, this page from Abertay is really useful:

www.abertay.ac.uk/study-apply/how-to-apply/entry-from-college/

OK..Firstly don't panic its week 3

Kids up here can pick up a higher in s5 in a subject that they have never studied ..they call it a crash higher so if kids can do that your son can cope with higher having done gcse

Its a big jump from.nat 5 to highers and he won't be the only one struggling at this stage..January is a while away

Also remember the school can't refuse to let him sit the exam...they can advise but at the end of the day they can't say no..legally
The only reason they do this is to protect their league tables ..don't listen.
Worst case he fails ..he is no worse off than if he drops it..and he may do well..

As for uni..I have advised my s5..look.at where.you want to end up ultimately and try for the grades for that, if you don't get the grades then we will.look at other routes to the same destination

I did standard grades and still found the jump to highers quite significant. I was academically pretty easy (all A's, also did a crash higher in Spanish in s6) and it was still a tough transition from S4 to S5. I think after the Oct hols I got used to it and it was fine. Are you sure your DS is actually struggling more than most others?

Deep breath.
It's early days yet!
It's really common by me for kids with 2 highers to go to college to do hnc/hnd and then do direct entry into 2nd yr at university.

I would suggest your DS carries on with subjects he's doing up until prelims in January.
Then he can make decision whether he needs to drop a subject to concentrate on the others.

It will be fine, he'll get there. There's plenty of routes to university

Thanks everyone for replying.

Yes, he really IS struggling.
He has ASD and Dyslexia so he has to work 3 times as hard as most.

He is doing Physics, Engineering, Biology, NPA in Computing at College (this leads onto the HNC / HND route next year).
Plus Nat5 electronics. Enjoying College & electronics. Finding the Physics tough (unfortunate teacher too) & ditto the Engineering (a totally diff type to the kind he did in England, a BTech grade B).

The suggestion is for him to drop Biology. Then he'd have the 2 Highers (which is plenty, academically) the College course which is supposed to be Higher equivalent but School say 'ask college' and college won't speak to me as he is over 16, and he isn't sure (argh!).

This School is well known for being VERY persuasive re not staying for S6. Both his Year Head and his Guidance teacher suggested it at the meeting last week. If he went to college next year full time for the HNC, then did the HND year after that, then went into 2nd yr Uni will he get funding for all that? (he is 17 this Sept)

Just let him drop biology... don't stress it. Important he has energy to make some friends also xx

You get funding for 5 years so if he did the hnd then into 2nd year at uni it would be funded.

Quote OP: 'School say 'ask college' and college won't speak to me as he is over 16, and he isn't sure (argh!).'
This is ridiculous especially if he has special needs. Get him to make an appointment to discuss and you go along as well.
Also you are only after factual information re what is technically possible so perhaps you could draft an email for him.
If he knows which course at Abertay he wants, then ask them. They will likely be extremely helpful as they want students.
I think Heriot Watt also have an HNC route into first or second year at University as a friend's son did similar.

Open Days happening soon:www.hw.ac.uk/uk/visit/edinburgh-campus-open-day.htm?gclid=CjwKCAjw49qKBhAoEiwAHQVTo6xNsFV4bMbNAs0US_PJsTQcbcPj0SGDGOhlwEZ7B7ZZ_wQqsnLfvBoCQKIQAvD_BwE

Don't forget that the easiest route to an unconditional offer at University in Scotland in S6 is to have 5 Highers/equivalent from S5. But it is not the only way.