English mum in Scotland! - highers

[clpsmum]

Hi can anyone help. My son is chowing his highers at the money for next year. Are highers the equivalent of A levels? He's chosen three highers and two Nat 5's does that seem enough??

Sorry, I meant that teachers see a fuller breakdown.

The certificate the kids get used to always have a banding. I don't know why they changed it! UCAS use the bandings, so it's imperative that kids know what they got. I think they still have bandings in Nat 5 certificates- I might be wrong since it's years some there were any normal exams!!!

Don't listen to babdoc, she likes to make things up to bash Scotland.

What have the school said?

@kmblark

Don't listen to babdoc, she likes to make things up to bash Scotland.

What have the school said?

Good to know!

@kmblark

Don't listen to babdoc, she likes to make things up to bash Scotland.

What have the school said?

Interesting pastime

There are other options: my DS1 did not do well in S4 and left halfway through s5 (undiagnosed ADHD). He eventually went to college (now on meds) to do an access course followed by a National Certificate (equivalent to Highers) and is starting a degree after the summer.
School is a better option for making social connections but that might just be DS1 not making the most of college, he's a bit anti social.

@Wbeezer

There are other options: my DS1 did not do well in S4 and left halfway through s5 (undiagnosed ADHD). He eventually went to college (now on meds) to do an access course followed by a National Certificate (equivalent to Highers) and is starting a degree after the summer. School is a better option for making social connections but that might just be DS1 not making the most of college, he's a bit anti social.

Wonderful to hear. There's so many options and ways into further and higher education. Good for him.

Wbeezer
Dd finished S6 but ASD/being my carer/being in care/mental health issues meant that she just wasn't ready for Uni, she's starting this Aurtumn after doing three years of college.

@clpsmum

Hi can anyone help. My son is chowing his highers at the money for next year. Are highers the equivalent of A levels? He's chosen three highers and two Nat 5's does that seem enough??

No. If you want to get an Unconditional offer for your Scottish University place, ideally you would have 5 Highers in hand by the end of S5. National 5s are the equivalent of GCSEs and are also taken at 16 (end of S4); Highers are taken at the end of S5 (the lower sixth); Advanced Highers are taken at the end of S6 (the upper Sixth). You apply in say October/November of S6 for your University places and Scottish Universities make their offers on the basis of the Highers you have in hand. They may take into account the subjects you are still doing such as Advanced Highers but for most subjects conditions are not set on these results. It means 2 years of exams (S4 and S5) but it means S6 can be a more relaxed year so long as you are not trying for Medicine etc where the Advanced Higher results do still matter. Places at English/Welsh Universities may be conditional on Advanced Higher results. Obviously it is quite flexible and there are other ways through the system but the easiest way to get an unconditional University place is to have 5 Highers in hand when you apply in S6. Hope this helps. When you apply you would also state your Nat 5 results so your DS would put his GCSEs instead.