Candidates who have just completed N5 English (academic year 2024/25) can still do ESOL in 2025/26. That is because they are caught in the transition period between the old and new SQA ESOL regulations. However, I would strongly advise against candidates who got a D grade (technically a failing grade) or a No Award to be presented for Higher ESOL as the demands of the course would mean it would be very unlikely they would pass. They could however do N5 ESOL in 2025/26 – but please note the information below.

Going forward there will be no option for candidates who have passed/failed N5 English to do Higher ESOL. If they achieve an A,B (and in some cases C) in N5 English they should be doing Higher English, and if they receive a low C/D or No Award in N5 English they should be presented for Communications or Literacy units the following year. They must not be presented for any level of ESOL. Candidates shouldn’t be put in this position however, as per the recent SQA ESOL guidelines – any doubts about their language skills should be identified before they start their N5s and if they are deemed to need language support, they should be streamed in an N5 ESOL > Higher ESOL route.

That means that new intake N5 candidates this year (2025/26) must only be doing N5 English or N5 ESOL. And that subject is their pathway for next year too – progression to Higher in the same subject, i.e. no crossover at Higher in 2026/27 or beyond. This is irrespective of grade achieved/no award in N5 English in 2025/26 as detailed above.

Creating two distinct pathways at N5/Higher (an English one and an ESOL one) will ensure candidates are taking the correct subject, accessing ESOL lessons if they need them, and will enable ESOL candidates to progress to Higher ESOL and in theory, university courses, in a much fairer and more straightforward way. Should schools not currently offer N5 and Higher ESOL class options, I would advise that they look into doing so asap.