Higher English

[Chinnn]

My daughter is academically capable, S4 and looking at engineering or chemistry at good Scottish unis in the future. Picking highers I assumed she’d do English, maths and sciences. She doesn’t need to do higher English apparently. Would not taking higher English restrict access to any science courses in the future? Anyone know? I think having higher English is important, but it’s not definitely an A for him at higher, whereas other subjects I’d be more confident of.

I'm not sure I know the answer about the science courses.

However, a good friend, who is now a lecturer, ended up changing her mind on her course after she started and wanted to get into something else. This was very unexpected for her - she always assumed she would do and enjoy plan A.

So her advice is not to be so narrow on your choices that would leave you struggling if you wanted or needed to change.

It would make me want my DC to consider English, more for the future than anything else. Could some grad schemes mandate Maths and English, for example?

Sorry I don't know if this helps. Just my 2p worth.

My DS2 didn't do H English (replacing it by a social science higher). Went on to do a science degree and only regretted it when he was looking for jobs. A few jobs he was interested in specified H English (teaching, project management) so it cut the number of things he could apply for. Worked out okay as he got a graduate scheme. However I suspect with hindsight he would pick H English.

I'm in construction consultancy, so similar line to her engineering suggestion (which I would encourage), Higher English would definitely be one I would recommend. We are involved with a lot of formal contracts, and legal documents, and we need our staff to be able to respond in similar terms.

Thanks for your views. Much appreciated

I’m a guidance teacher and would strongly advise they opt for Higher English if capable. So many courses for UCAS have it as a requirement as it proves they can successfully essay write and have optimum literacy skills . It would be worthwhile looking up the courses your child is interested in at the relevant universities and checking their entrance requirements in terms of specific subjects, levels and grades. That should help you both make a decision.

I just can’t imagine ever being in a position where I’d advise a young person against H English or H Maths if I know they can do it!

ds is in 1st year at Strathclyde doing MEng in Mechanical Engineering.

With his strengths being in maths and sciences he hated NAT5 English because he just couldn't understand the answers they were looking for. When he read the marking instructions or example answers it made sense, but he just had some sort of block and couldn't work it out by himself how to revise it and improve the skills needed. He scraped a teacher assessed A that he doesn't think he would have got in true exam conditions. I don't think he actually had the option to drop English (either because the school wasn't keen or column didn't work out), but after going through NAT5 he understood more of what was expected. He had a more logical approach to revision and didn't leave it until the last minute, he knew this time around what he had to do to prepare for the exam, put the hours in and did really well in his Higher.

I would tend to agree with others, while it will be hard work (ds put a ridiculous amount of hours into it to ensure his A), Higher English will continue to develop skills she will find useful in the future and will keep some doors open if she changes direction.

What unis/engineering courses is she looking at?

I'm an English teacher, where I teach lots of pupils are chasing places in competitive courses so need to max out their 5As at Higher. That may mean that they step away from English in S5 to pick it back up in S6.

Medicine applicants often stick with us so that they haven't had a break away from language work prior to UCAT.

It depends on the individual some pupils can pick English up no bother after a year away, others (especially reluctant readers) can struggle.

Most degrees feature lit reviews (even STEM) so English will be useful even if they never look at fiction again. It may just a case of being strategic and self aware for your DC.