Parental Information Session

The video above is a recording of the parental coursing information session, held on the 3rd March 2026. This video outlines the coursing process.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Coursing Questions

Can the school provide support for pupils applying for college?

The pupil support leaders have been working with SDS to provide support with applications, both for school-college partnership courses and full time courses. For more information pupils should speak with Mrs Thomson. Any additional information the college require to aid with the application (such as health information) will then be included in the application.,

Can pupils who are already fluent in a language take an additional qualification in that language?

Our Modern Languages Department can support with additional qualifications for pupils who are fluent in French, Spanish or Italian. To discuss further please email Mrs Ashforth (megan.ashforth@portobello.edin.sch.uk). For pupils going into S5 who are fluent in Polish, Urdu, Russian, Arabic or Cantonese there is the opportunity for an additional qualification to be sat in these languages through a program run by City of Edinburgh.

A subject which we know has previously been offered is not on the course choice form.

Every year we need to make decisions about which courses we can offer and which courses can run. This is dependant on likely uptake and available staffing. Sometimes that means courses which we have previously offered are no longer available.

If a pupil misses the coursing day due to illness can it be rearranged?

Yes. Pupil support leaders will catch up with any pupils who are unable to complete their coursing on the coursing day.

For the school college partnership, are all courses available at Milton Road?

Edinburgh College spread all of their courses across all four of their campuses to maximise their use of resources. The campus used for each course is available on the Edinburgh College website: For School Pupils | Edinburgh College

For consortia courses how do we know which school delivers the course?

On the consortia page of this site the school is listed for each course. Edinburgh Consortia Courses — Porty Pathways

Is transport provided to help pupils travel to college or consotia courses?

This is dependant on finances however pupils will always be released from classes early to allow for travel time. Period times are broadly aligned across the city to reduce the impact of pupils travelling for college or consortia courses.

My child does not know what they want to do when they leave school.

That is common to many pupils. Subjects should be chosen in line with strengths and interests and it is best to have a range of different subjects to keep options open.

If a pupil has to study a reserve course when are they told?

We attempt to match reserves as closely to the unavailable subject as possible. For over-subscribed courses pupil’s priorities are used to identify which pupils are able to get places on the courses. We aim to tell pupils prior to study leave where possible but we try to avoid telling pupils in the midst of their exam leave. In these cases pupils will be told at the start of June.

Are all subjects available in S3 or S4 available at Higher?

All National 5 subjects have progression to Higher where a Higher is available. There are some subjects, such as Practical Woodwork and Electronics, where no Higher is available. Courses which are NPAs in S4 are designed to have progression to similar courses but these may be level 6 NPAs or Foundation Apprenticeships. Screen and Film progresses to a Screen and Film Foundation Apprenticeship.

Where do I find out information about university entry requirements?

As each university has different entry requirements there is no one stop shop for these however each university has clear information on their own website. Pupil Support Leaders can help steer pupils toward the universities that are appropriate for their intended area of study.

Pupils moving into S3

My child has a strong interest in one curricular area (arts, sciences, humanities, languages etc). Can they choose 3 or 4 subjects from that area?

This is possible but we would advise leaving options open by making sure that there is balance in the rest of their curriculum.

Can a pupil study Italian as their only language?

We recommend pupils studying Italian alongside French or Spanish as they will have been taught French and Spanish in S1 and S2. The exception to this is pupils who have studied the school of Italian in S1 or S2. These pupils can choose Italian as their only language.

I am interested in my child fast tracking to National 5.

We can fast track pupils to National 5 in S3 in a few subject areas, including PE, Music, French and Spanish. This happens on a small number of occasions where there is enough skill development taking place out with normal class lessons through sporting activities or external music lessons to allow a pupil to achieve early. For languages this will be where a pupil is already fluent in a language. Class teachers will identify suitable pupils from class lists however if this is something you would like your child to pursue please discuss with the relevant curricular leader.

Pupils moving into S4

My child is sitting National 5 early in S3. What would be their progression into S4?

Pupils can either carry on to Higher in that subject in S4 or bank that national 5 and study 7 other subjects. Pupils opting to study Higher in S4 following early presentation should write Higher beside the subject on their form.

Can pupils pick up a subject in S4 not chosen in S3?

Some courses, shown in blue on the form, are completely new offers for S4 so can be picked. For other subject the pupil should have a conversation with the curricular leader prior to selecting the course.

Pupils moving into S5 or S6

My child is interested in applying for a Foundation Apprenticeship. How many other courses would he take alongside this?

Foundation apprenticeships are either one year or two year courses., For 2 year courses pupils should choose 4 other courses; for 1 year courses pupils should choose 4 other courses.

Can a pupil do crash higher- study higher without doing the subject at National 5?

This is possible but we would look at the pupil’s attainment in other subjects, particularly in subjects with related knowledge or skills. Evidence from previous year groups demonstrates that pupils have a better chance of crashing a higher successfully in S6 rather than S5.

What is LEAPS?

LEAPS is a widening access to university initiative. LEAPS run an online course for eligible pupils to prepare them for applying and for starting university, For more information visit LEAPS Transitions Course | LeapsOnline.

Can a pupil studying Higher Human Biology progress to Advanced Higher Biology

Yes. The Advanced Higher Biology course has been designed to allow progression in an equitable way for pupils who have been studying Higher Biology or Higher Human Biology.

Can a pupil do crash higher- study higher without doing the subject at National 5?

This is possible but we would look at the pupil’s attainment in other subjects, particularly in subjects with related knowledge or skills. Evidence from previous year groups demonstrates that pupils have a better chance of crashing a higher successfully in S6 rather than S5.

Can a pupil pick up a course later in S5 or S6 at National 5 level if they don’t take it in S4?

Yes. Prior learning from S3 would make the studying of a National 5 in S5/6 easier but is not essential.

Would a pupil studying a National 5 course in S5/6 be in a class with S4 pupils?

In most subjects National 5 pupils from across S4-6 will be timetabled together. This allows a wider range of N5 courses to be offered to pupils in S5/6. For Maths, Applications of Maths and English the N5 classes are exclusively for pupils in S5/6.

Is it possible for pupils to drop subjects?

We discourage this. We ask that pupils commit to a full timetable in S5 and maintaining their agreed timetable through S6. Where there are particular issues these should be discussed with Mrs Thomson (S5) or Mr McAllister (S6).

Is it possible for pupils in S6 to study only three subjects?

Pupils with less subjects have, over the years, made poor use of their additional time. To make the most of S6 we encourage a timetable of at least 4 courses. There are some wider experience courses, such as Water Ambassadors, and some interdisciplinary baccalaureates to help with this. The exception to this is pupils sitting three AH courses as these carry significant additional independent workload.