s3 course choice information evening tuesday 3 february 2015 welcome

S3 Course ChoiceInformation Evening

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Welcome

Curriculum for Excellence

• A complete educational experience from age 3 to age 18

• Broad General Education phase lasts until the end of S3

• Senior Phase, with qualifications, runs from S4 until S6

Four Capacities

• successful learners• confident individuals• responsible citizens• effective contributors

(with particular focus on developing attributes and capabilities for each capacity)

Four Contexts for Learning

Planned learning experience from 3 – 18:

• Curriculum areas and subjects • Interdisciplinary learning • Ethos and life of the school • Opportunities for personal achievement

Curriculum Levels

• Early – pre-school to P1• First – P2 until end of P4• Second – P5 until end of P7• Third and Fourth – S1 to S3

(NB Fourth Level aligns with National 4 qualifications)

• Senior Phase – S4 to S6

Curriculum Areas

• language (and literacy)• mathematics (and numeracy)• religious and moral education• health and wellbeing• expressive arts• technologies• sciences• social studies

Progression into S3 in June 2014

• Broad and balanced curriculum, covering all curriculum areas

• Increased personalisation and choice

• Emphasis on level 4 experiences and outcomes

The Senior Phase

• Senior Phase covers S4 to S6

• All pupils will leave with a portfolio of qualifications at their exit point from school, whether that be at the end of S4, S5 or S6

• We aim for all learners to achieve the most they can at the highest level they can, and will provide various pathways to enable them to do so

Senior Phase

S4 S5 S6

National 3 National 4 National 5

National 4 National 5 Higher

National 5 Higher Advanced Higher

Progression into S4 in June 2015• 27-period week (each period lasts one hour)• Pupils will continue to study the core subjects: English – 4 periods

mathematics – 4 periodsPE – 2 periodsRME and PSE – 1 period per week on a rota

• This leaves 16 periods per week for pupils’ other chosen subjects

The remaining sixteen periods• Follow a further 4 subjects for 4 periods per week

each, from any curriculum area

• Courses will be at National 3, National 4 or National 5 level as appropriate

• Allows for the depth of study required – notional 160 hours per course

Progression into S5 in June 2016

• 5 courses, with 5 periods for eachPLUS

• PSE with Guidance Teacher – five morning blocks in terms one and two

• Rota: PE/RME/health promotion/enterprise

Progression into S6 in June 2017• Up to 5 courses – National, Higher or

Advanced Higher• Volunteering in school or community• Supporting younger pupils, e.g. as peer

mentor, paired reader, in-class supporter• Committees • Extra-curricular activities

Progression beyond school

exit point = a positive destination:

• Employment• Apprenticeship• College• University