The parents and carers' guide to option choices
Is your child choosing their school subjects soon? We'll show you how to help them make good decisions about their future.
An introduction to option choices
Option Choices is probably the first big decision your child will make in school.
As a parent, you’re a key influencer. This means you can have a big impact on the subjects your young person chooses. And we’re here to support you both! We’ll explain how option choices work and introduce you to our online Option Choices tool.
Plus, did you know that every state school in Scotland has access to a careers adviser? Alongside your child, you can chat to a careers adviser about their option choices.
How option choices work in schools – an overview
Each school does option choices in their own way, and they all offer different subjects. Before your child makes their option choices, the school will provide support for parents.
This could be an information booklet, online content or in-person sessions at the school. If you need more advice around timeframes or specific subjects (especially ones you haven’t heard of), it’s best to check the school’s website or speak to a careers adviser.
Your child will likely choose subjects from ‘columns’. These columns are designed to make sure young people study a broad range of topics. Basically, it’s unlikely that your child will go wrong! Some schools offer a 'free choice' model. This means young people can choose any range of available subjects and the school will do its best to accommodate them.
Option choices in S1 and S2
In S1 or S2, young people choose the subjects they’ll study at National 4 and 5 level. They’ll study these subjects until the end of S4. National 5 courses usually have an exam at the end of S4, but National 4 subjects are assessed in class.
At National 4 and 5 level, young people usually study between seven and nine subjects, including maths, English, a language, science and social subject. Some schools also offer Skills for Work at this stage – courses which focus on employability skills.
Option choices in S4 and S5
In S5, most young people study five subjects – Highers, more Nationals or a combination of both. S6 works similarly but some schools offer Advanced Highers in addition to Highers and Nationals.
Young people can also choose a Foundation Apprenticeship instead of a Higher in S5 or S6. Find out about the different levels of Scottish qualifications on the SCQF website.
Our Option Choices tool can help
Option Choices is easy and quick to use. Your child can enter the subjects they plan to choose or a career they'd love to work in.
Then, our tool will either suggest careers which may be a good fit based on those subjects, or subjects which will help them get into that career.
Learn how to discuss option choices with your child
The Big Five is a group of key questions young people should consider before making their option choices. As a parent, the Big Five is a handy discussion guide when talking about option choices with your child.
Want to learn more about the Big Five? Our option choices checklist goes into each question in a little more detail.
