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Highers in Scotland, can someone explain ?

(78 Posts)
Fleurpepper Fri 06-Jan-23 13:29:24

Thanks- would be interested in getting some info from those who have done Highers more recently, or have GCs who are.

In the Continental system, you would not be allowed to drop your own language/mother-tongue.

volver Fri 06-Jan-23 13:08:41

I did my Highers over 40 years ago, so this might not still be true!

I said on another thread today that I have 6 Highers; two sciences, two languages (one of them is Latin), English and Maths. I always thought that was a good spread of subjects.

My DH has almost the same, except instead of Latin he did History.

I'm not sure they do CSYS any more, which was the exam you took in sixth year. I have 2 sciences and 3 kinds of Maths. The Rector tried very hard to get me to drop one of the Maths subjects and take English. Didn't work!

Fleurpepper Fri 06-Jan-23 13:02:30

No need for detailed information- but how does it work.

The Continental model of 16-19 education are all based on a very wide base, specialising towards humanities/languages or maths/science- but continuing all main subjects to the end. That means, maths, sciences, geo and history, their own language + 1 foreign language, PE and Art.

Whereas the English/Welsh/NI is totally different and VERY narrow, with 4 subjects for AS, and 3 only for A'levels- most of the time either all sciences/maths, or all humanities, or all art/design/IT, etc. Both the above have pros and cons.

A middle way seems to be the way ahead and the Scottish Highers seems to fit that bill.

Can anyone explain in simple terms? Please.