Port Glasgow High School. Curriculum Pathways. Advice for Parents of Learners in S2

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1 Curriculum Pathways Advice for Parents of Learners in S2

2 Port Glasgow Community Campus Kilmacolm Road PORT GLASGOW PA14 6PR Tel: Fax: Director of Education & Communities Head Teacher : Mr Alan Dick Mrs Patricia Cassidy April 2014 Dear Parent/Guardian, As you will be aware from previous school correspondence, school meetings and the general media; Scottish Education has undergone a number of changes. Our new curriculum (Curriculum for Excellence) is driven by the aims of improving pupil attainment and ensuring pupils are better equipped for life in the 21st Century. As a result of Curriculum for Excellence our school s curriculum structure and methods of delivery have changed in a number of ways. Pupils will no longer select subjects for qualifications at the end of S2. To highlight these changes and the benefits to pupils, I would like to invite you to attend an informal meeting on Thursday 1st May 2014 ( pm) in Port Glasgow High School. In the meantime, I hope you find this booklet helpful, and additional information can be found at the following websites; Scottish Parent Teacher Council Regards Scottish Qualifications Authority Fiona Craig Depute Headteacher

3 Curriculum for Excellence In Scotland we plan the learning of young people through the Curriculum for Excellence. This national advice ensures that all young people learn through experiences which are planned from age 3 until they are 18. Through these experiences we expect all young people to develop as: Successful Learners Confident Individuals Responsible Citizens Effective Contributors The Curriculum is described through Experiences and Outcomes at five Levels Level Experiences and outcomes for most children or young people: early in pre-school and in primary 1 first second third fourth senior by end of P4, but earlier for some by end of P7, but earlier for some in S1 S3, but earlier for some fourth level broadly equates to SCQF level 4 (see next page) in S4 S6, but earlier for some In S1-3 we plan a broad general education for young people following on from Primary School. Learning is at Level 3, and through S1 and 2 young people progress through this level and in some cases on to Level 4. Every young person is different and the pace of progress can be different. We do not rush through levels, we work to ensure that each learner grows in the skills and confidence to become secure in their learning before moving to a more advanced level. S4-6 is known as the Senior Phase and it is during this time that young people will develop their learning to be able to achieve National Qualifications. During S3, learners continue to work on their broad general education whilst preparing to enter the Senior Phase. This means learners are given the opportunity to make a choice in some curricular areas, hence reducing the broad range of subjects to allow for personalisation through deeper, more challenging learning. Making these choices puts young people on subject pathways that will lead to National Qualifications at the correct level by the time they leave school.

4 National Qualifications In the previous table, Curriculum for Excellence Level 4 is described as being equivalent to SCQF Level 4. SCQF stands for the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework which allocates a level of difficulty to each type of National Qualification. New qualifications are being introduced to make bring assessment up to date and the system more streamlined. The SCQF ensures that New Qualifications are of the same standard as the previous ones. SCQF Level New Qualifications 12 Doctorate 11 Masters Degree 10 Honours Degree 9 Ordinary Degree 8 Higher National Diploma (HND) 7 Advanced Higher 6 Higher 5 National 5 4 National 4 3 National 3 2 National 2 1 National 1 Old Qualifications Advanced Higher Higher SG Credit / Intermediate 2 SG General/ Intermediate 1 SG Credit / Access 3 Access 2 Access 1 Young people will now be presented for New Qualifications from 2014 onwards. One main change is that Standard Grades and Intermediate Qualifications have been replaced by a single Qualification. This will be available at levels 4 and 5 and will be known as National 4 and National 5. Qualifications at Higher will remain and National 3 Qualifications replace Standard Grade Foundation awards. The other main change is that National 4 courses will be assessed completely by the school. The course grade will not be assessed by an examination but by a unit of work like a project or a folio.

5 Pathways In preparation for the transition to qualifications in the Senior Phase of school, pupils in S3 have the opportunity to personalise their curriculum with a small element of choice, hence starting the reduction of subjects which they will follow through to presentation of National Qualifications in S4. Progress in each subject will be carefully assessed and monitored so pupils can make informed decisions on which 6 subjects to follow in S4. At the end of S4 decisions will be taken about which 5 subjects should be studied in even more depth in S5. Below are three typical pathways, illustrating routes for pupils of different abilities: Secure Level 3 S3 Level 4 Preparation for National 5 S4 National 5 S5 Higher S1 - S2 Level 3 Consolidating Level 3 S3 Level 3/4 Preparation for National 4 S4 National 4 S5 National 5 Developing Level 3 S3 Level 3 Preparation for National 3/4 S4 National 3/4 S5 National 4/5 A young person on this Pathway would typically leave school at the end of S4 Note: 1. These pathways are typical routes followed by young people. The pathway may be different in different subjects and the qualifications obtained will depend on progress made along the way. 2. National Qualification courses are based on a programme of study lasting around 160 hrs.

6 Broad General Education During S1 to S3, all pupils will continue with the broad general phase of their education, before moving into the senior phase (qualifications) in fourth year and beyond. The overview of pupils curriculum pathway is illustrated below. First Year subjects Note: Numeracy & Mathematics Social Subjects Religious & Moral Ed Science English Maths Geography RE Science Technologies Design & Technology Expressive Arts French History ICT Drama Modern Studies Delivered in rotation Art Music Health & Well Being Learn to Learn Home Economics PE Second Year subjects Note: Numeracy & Mathematics Social Subjects Religious & Moral Ed Science English Maths Geography RE Science Technologies Design & Technology Expressive Arts Art Health & Well Being Home Economics French History ICT Drama PE Modern Studies Delivered in rotation Music

7 Broad General Education : Personalisation & Specialisation (2014/15) Name : House Group/Class : During third year, pupils have the opportunity to personalise some aspects of their curriculum, by focusing their studies in some curricular areas, hence allowing greater specialism and depth in learning in preparation for future studying. In order for the school to accommodate pupil choice as much as possible, pupils are asked to rank the subjects in the Technologies column (1 to 4) and the Expressive Arts column (1 to 3). Number 1 would indicate that this is the favoured subject down to 3/4 which is the least favoured subject. Third Year subjects Note: Numeracy & Mathematics Social Subjects Religious & Moral Ed Science Technologies Expressive Arts Health & Well Being English Maths Geography RE Biology Business Art PE French History Chemistry Modern Studies Delivered in rotation Physics Delivered in rotation Computing Science Food & Textiles Craft, Design, Engineering & Graphics Pupils will study two out of four Drama Music Pupils will study two out of three

8 Senior Phase In considering the future learning opportunities for pupils when they move into the senior phase (S4 S6), our curriculum is planned around the following structure. In S4, pupils will make some choices regarding which 6 subjects they wish to follow through to qualifications (National 3 / 4 / 5). All pupils will continue with Maths and English, and four other subjects. The overview of pupils curriculum pathway is illustrated below. Compulsory Compulsory Choice 1 Choice 2 Choice 3 Choice 4 Compulsory Numeracy & Mathematics Fourth Year subjects English Maths 4 subjects from; Social Subjects, Expressive Arts, Science, Technologies and Modern s. Subjects will be spread over 4 columns and pupils will pick one from each column Subjects will include; Art Drama Modern Studies Biology French Music Business Geography Physics Chemistry History Physical Education Computing Science Hospitality Spanish Design & Manufacture Practical Craft Skills In S5/6, pupils will choose which 5 subjects they wish to continue studying in greater depth (National 3/4/5/6). The overview of pupils curriculum pathway is illustrated below. Religious & Moral Ed Health & Well Being RE Core PE S5/6 subjects Compulsory Choice 1 Choice 2 Choice 3 Choice 4 Compulsory English 4 subjects from; Maths / Numeracy, Social Subjects, Expressive Arts, Science, Technologies and Modern s. Subjects will be spread over 4 columns and pupils will pick one from each column Health & Well Being Core PE (Or community service in S6)