Has anyone opted out of RMPS in S3 (Scotland?)

[bolshieoldcow]

DD will be going into S3 next year and it appears that a full exam subject's worth of time will be spent in non-certificated "core subjects" of RMPS (2 periods) and PSHE (1 period). Her RMPS so far has been a bit light on content and I'm a bit at her spending time on this when they're only allowed to take one social science, for example.

Anyway, if you did opt out of RMPS, what did your school do or say? Was your child put into a different subject class or did you have to make alternative arrangements?

My DS2 opted out in S1 and S2. However because of timetabling all the school could offer was to repeat a history lesson with the other half of his year or if he was struggling in a particular subject additional work for this subject. He chose the former. The history department were good in that they gave him additional work to do rather than just repeating the same stuff again however in S3 he choose to opt back in to RMPS (first time he has done RE in any form since P2) - the reasons he gave was "it was only one period, they were going on a good trip in S3 and RMPS is a skive - all watching videos and chatting".

The school have been really good about the opting out. It's made clear at the induction for S1 that you can opt-out and there is a section in the school handbook. However since so few children opt-out they couldn't offer much with respect to alternatives (definitely no option to study an additional subject). Like your DD, my DS2 wanted to study 2 social sciences in S3 but since he also wanted to do 3 sciences - it was one or the other not both. Maybe since your DDs school does 2 periods of RMPS then they might allow an additional subject - it would be worth asking - even if your DD couldn't actually sit a national 5 in the subject then she could study it for 2 periods a week which would make it much easier to pick up the 2nd social science later on.

Good luck.

My DS2 opted out in S1 and S2. However because of timetabling all the school could offer was to repeat a history lesson with the other half of his year or if he was struggling in a particular subject additional work for this subject. He chose the former. The history department were good in that they gave him additional work to do rather than just repeating the same stuff again however in S3 he choose to opt back in to RMPS (first time he has done RE in any form since P2) - the reasons he gave was "it was only one period, they were going on a good trip in S3 and RMPS is a skive - all watching videos and chatting".

The school have been really good about the opting out. It's made clear at the induction for S1 that you can opt-out and there is a section in the school handbook. However since so few children opt-out they couldn't offer much with respect to alternatives (definitely no option to study an additional subject). Like your DD, my DS2 wanted to study 2 social sciences in S3 but since he also wanted to do 3 sciences - it was one or the other not both. Maybe since your DDs school does 2 periods of RMPS then they might allow an additional subject - it would be worth asking - even if your DD couldn't actually sit a national 5 in the subject then she could study it for 2 periods a week which would make it much easier to pick up the 2nd social science later on.

Good luck.

Yes, both mine are out. It is only 1 lesson a week and the teaching was so woeful. DD does extra Music or goes to the Library. DS did the same but did an Open and Distance Learning course he fancied. However, the school is tiny so we didn't expect actual work to be set, just that they have the time to do something useful.

That's really helpful, thank you both! Glad to hear it's viable - I think I'll make an appointment with her guidance teacher this week to open negotiations.