Child's right to education

shjo558

I know this is really the correct board but it was the closest I could find!

I'm wondering if any MSE'rs could help me with an issue I have with my son's school.

My son has just completed 4th year at school and sat his standard grade exams (in Scotland). He is 15 which made him one of the younger ones in the class. Quite a few of his school friends were able to make the choice between leaving school or staying on as they had turned 16 but my son has to stay on as he isn't 16 until Christmas.

So, he made his choices for doing highers in June although this was conditional based on the exam results that was achieved in the standard grade.

So, he decided to take Higher Chemistry in 5th year and started the classes. Moving on to exam result day he 'only' achieved a grade 3 which wasn't enough. He had to get a grade 2 to continue.

Basically he has been removed from the class and the school won't let him take another subject as he never did the Standard Grade in the of other subjects for that column. That now means he has 2 columns of study time as he already picked a study option in a different column.

So, I am annoyed to say the least. He's 15 so surely by law they have to teach him something? In addition, there were 3 parts to the exam and he got a 1,2,4 making an average result of grade 3. If you divide it up it comes to 2.3 so surely that's nearer a grade 2 than 3?

Any MSE'rs been through similar circumstances?

(Sorry for going on, just trying to explain the whole thing and I am doing my protective mother bit!)

4743hudsonj

Im not really clued up on the scottish education system but tell me if im reading this correctly?

Because of his age, he "has" to stay on to 5th year. However, because of his grades, he cant get onto his desired course, but also, hasnt got enough of one subject area to do another, so at the same time as having to do it, hes also forbidden due to his grades?

Does scotland have independent colleges? (what your describing sounds the equivalent of sixth form here except that isnt mandatory no matter what age) If so can he go there?

Can he retake?


All i can suggest, sorry i cant help more. I would get on to CAB if scotland has it?) they should offer great advice.

AfterDark

Has he been to college to try and arrange a course ? I know you can leave school after your exams at 15 as long as YOU have arranged your college course ect. Think it's might be been left to late as all the college course's will have started by now. Phone the college and ask them if he still has time to enroll ect.

xocbc

Speak to your local Council's Education Department.

Most Council's in Scotland will allow pupils in this position to go to the local college at the age of 15 to do highers etc, which are paid for by the Education Department until the child turns 16, at which point the College bursary system takes over.

Normally, the Council will also provide a bus pass etc until the 16th birthday too.

unholyangel

If his work throughout the school year was consistently at credit level, he should be able to appeal the 3 in favour of a 2.

Alternatively, if the school schedule allows it, he could downgrade to a Int 2 course in chem which is harder than standard grade but just below higher level.

TBH it sounds like the school isnt doing whats best for your son and is instead making their decisions based on end of year figures (ie pass rates).

Chimpofdoom

unholyangel wrote: »

If his work throughout the school year was consistently at credit level, he should be able to appeal the 3 in favour of a 2.

Alternatively, if the school schedule allows it, he could downgrade to a Int 2 course in chem which is harder than standard grade but just below higher level.

TBH it sounds like the school isnt doing whats best for your son and is instead making their decisions based on end of year figures (ie pass rates).

Also depending on his ability, the teacher should be able to advise if he can or cannot do the class.

As for how the grades are calculated, it's a bit different than working out a mean average.

Some sections in papers are worth more, in history for example. There's 2 sections, one bog standard questions and the other you had to break down the facts and essentially write a report.

If you got a 2 in section one and a 3 in section 2.. you got a 3.
If you got a 3 in section one and a 2 in section 2, you got a 2.

The best route now is to see what he got in his prelims, if he got a 2 there's probably a stronger case for it. If he got a 3, then they won't do anything. But speaking from experience, the teacher won't push for the appeal! I suffered a similar fate with my french paper, teacher wouldn't appeal and I brought in the headmaster to sort it out.

As unholy says, there's always intermediate 2.

*edit*

As for leaving school at 16. Most guys in my year who wanted to leave.. went to school whenever they wanted, sometimes once a week! Although bearing in mind, this was in the middle of the highlands with 150 pupils in the whole school (primary and secondary together!)