FAQ'S

What information have we had so far?

Current S4 have had support through PSHE, 1-1 discussions and several formal presentations about the pathways on offer, delivered by Mrs Urquhart and Mrs Chisholm. The most recent presentations can be found below. 

Current S5 SQA pupils will be attending a presentation with Mr Forrest and Mrs McKenzie about their options in S6 and will have a follow up 1-1 meeting about the best combination of subjects to choose for their own individual pathway. All current S5 pupils will attend a Preparing for UCAS presentation in June when they officially move into S6.

How do I choose my subjects?

S4 will make their initial choices on a Google Form before Christmas. Please note that this is just to give us a flavour of your thoughts at this stage - there will be follow up pupil and parent meetings. 

Pupils are asked to select their choice of programme first, either: SQA, IBDP or IBCP. Please ensure that as a family you have read the information on this site about each pathway - there are a great many resources on here to help you decide which is the right one for your child. Family meetings with Mrs Urquhart and Mrs Chisholm are offered to all pupils who would like further discussion. Again ,these will take place before Christmas.

Pupils will then be asked to select the subjects they would like to take and include comments about the combinations they prefer on a Google Form. There will be the chance to add in comments about the direction you might like to take beyond school; if there is a particular subject that you would really like to take which isn't featured on the list; or if you have any questions you would like to meet to discuss. The pastoral team will then be in touch after the Prelim exams in January for a follow up discussion, should it be required.

What is the timeframe?

Forms are usually due for return from S4 before Christmas and in later February for S5. There will then be a period during which the team will collate and review the whole year group's choices and make a decision about which courses will run. The subjects will then be sorted into columns depending on the choices of the majority, and this will be used as the basis for writing the timetable. S4 pupils will move into S5 and into their new courses after the SQA examination diet is over, which will give them an invaluable start to S5.

We will contact parents and pupils before the start of the Easter break to confirm choices or to offer re-coursing advice should a certain subject or combination of subjects be unavailable or ill-advised.

How will I know if my preferred choices can be accommodated?

Remember that all subjects run subject to timetabling constraints. This means that if there are not enough pupils to fill a course, or if a department does not have the available staffing, then it will not run. This has always been the case at Lomond - and indeed at any school. We will be in touch as soon as we can to let you know if there is a clash of subjects or if a course isn't available. Unfortunately, as hard as we try, this does happen from time to time and every year there are a few instances where pupils need to rethink their choices. It seems very upsetting at the time, of course, but things generally have a way of working out for the best. Our advice would be to trust in the teachers who know you well to set you on the right path, and focus on the quality of the qualification rather than the individual subjects. Universities and colleges are less picky about the subjects  than you might think - they are interested in the grades you achieve.

Can I change my mind?

Yes - but only up to a point. The timetable will be written based on your initial choices so it is important to ensure these are as accurate as possible. Once the timetable structure is in place, it is not possible to move subjects into different columns if you change your mind. This is because the S5 layer of the timetable is only a small piece of the whole school timetable - a very large jigsaw indeed!

Within IB we allow you to shuffle subjects and between HL and SL levels until around October half term. 

Within SQA though, the courses move so quickly that, from August, it would really have to be an exceptional set of circumstances to permit any changes to subjects. 

Therefore it is crucial to take advice from your class teachers - and also Mrs McKenzie -  as soon as possible about the pathway and subjects that are right for you. 

What programme is better for University?

The research is very clear on this. The IB is preferred by Universities because of the rigour of the courses, and because IB demands that pupils work in a University style whilst still at school. This is because the IBDP incorporates: individual research, academic writing, academic honesty, inquiry, a broad range of subjects, independent learning, collaboration and of course the Core - an element of immeasurable added value. Recent feedback from an Admissions Officer at a highly prestigious Scottish University is that they can recognise an IB graduate within around 15 minutes of meeting them in their tutorial session, just by watching and listening how they approach their learning. 

HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Agency) ranks IB top, SQA second and A-levels third in terms of the knowledge, skills and personal qualities of applicants. Less than 50% of SQA Higher pupils will go on to achieve a 2:1 degree at University; however with IBDP pupils this rises to over 80%. IB is incredibly well researched - you will see from this site alone the vast resources available, which unfortunately we could not find SQA equivalents for as they simply don't make them available. Other interesting statistics are that : IB pupils are more likely to go to UK’s leading universities, are twice as likely to study medicine and dentistry, are more likely to go on to further study and more likely to earn more as graduates.

What top tips can you offer about making choices?

From previous experience, we can share the following advice. Obviously there are exceptions, but in the main:

• Choose your programme first, subjects second.

• Take advice from as many qualified people as possible, and listen carefully to it all.

• Don't live out the dreams of your parents or siblings or try to follow the same pathway they did if it doesn't suit you - this is your life, not theirs, and the world is a very different place now. It will be an even more different place when you finish school/university

• Do not pay attention to what your friends are doing!

• Do not choose (or rule out choosing!) subjects because of a teacher. Teachers move on!

• If you have a University, College, or career pathway in mind, look at the entry requirements in terms of both grades/points and subjects required. Ask Mrs. McKenzie for advice - she is the school UCAS advisor and is a font of knowledge and wisdom, and will help you to make the right subject choices to maximise your chances. A common urban myth, for instance,  is that you 'need' all three Sciences for acceptance to Medical degrees. You do not - only three of Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are required.

• Conversion rates from N5 to Higher are an important fact to consider. For example, across Scotland, pre-pandemic, only 5% of pupils with a B in N5 Maths converted this into an A grade at Higher. Highers are extremely fast-paced and have a completely different course structure to N5, which you have studied over two years. Consider if you are ready for the pressure of four or five Highers in less than a year. Our current Higher pupils will tell you what an incredible jump it is and in fact this is one of the main reasons we have introduced two year courses. So unless there is a very specific reason why, do not consider a Higher unless you are already achieving high Bs / As at National 5.

• Do not plan to 'crash' new subjects in S5 - we will probably not permit you to do that. Statistics are not in favour as many pupils struggle badly and have to withdraw. Why would you take on a brand new subject and try to cover it in less than a year? If you are choosing a Higher pathway, it is much more sensible to choose subjects you have already studied in S4 and where you have grounding. Then you have fresh Higher options in S6, by which time you have experience of them and how best to manage the workload. 

• Plan a two year pathway - regardless of your choice of progamme. It is very difficult to move to University straight after S5, and even more of a challenge to be successful if you get there. Completing  S6 makes you more well rounded for your next step, and leaves you room to gain more qualifications and experience to ensure you are ready for the workplace or University. University is very different to school, and has changed so much in recent years in terms of competition for places, increased expectations and the degree of independent thought and study required.