Future Curriculum

Pauline Walker

Rector The Royal High School

Future Curriculum

• Rationale for change

• Proposed Changes

• Exam structure

• Pre-meeting questions

What Opportunities Are Arising?

Curricular

Pathways

Efficiencies

Assessment

Strategies

Learning

&

Teaching

Make best use of

the tools we have in

Curriculum for

Excellence

Rationale for Change

• Curricular pathways should meet the needs of all learners

• Learners should have clear opportunities to personalise their choices

• Strong Broad General Education supporting Senior Phase

• Maximise final results by end of S6

New Exam Structure

Nationals

National 3

National 4

National 5

No

External Exam

External

Exam

In most

cases

Higher/AH

Higher Advanced

Higher

External

Exam

External

Exam

Exam Results 2014

Awards Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

5 or more 96.82% 94.55% 57.73%

6 or more 93.64% 87.27% 48.64%

7 or more 88.18% 79.55% 42.73%

8 or more 66.82% 62.27% 35.00%

S1 & S2

• Breadth

• Balance

• Choice as appropriate

• Ongoing skills development

• Inter-disciplinary Learning(IDL) in its truest form

Broad General – S1 & S2

S3

• Increased personalisation & Choice

• Working within the 7 areas of the curriculum

• Ongoing skills development

• Preparation for Senior Phase BUT is not Senior Phase

• The S3 experience needs to keep options open and avoid reducing young people’s choices.

• It also needs to provide scope for young people to stretch well beyond third level in those areas where they can. In these areas particularly, by planning learning within the context of Es and Os which relates directly to qualifications, staff can pave the way into the qualifications framework.

» CFE Briefing - Progression from the Broad General Education to the Senior Phase

Broad General – S3

Senior Phase

▪ S4-6 should be viewed as a cohort no matter the timetabling▪ Variety of courses and options should be on offer▪ Working collaboratively with partners▪ Pathways through the curriculum should be strong and varied

Pathways to Success = Improved Positive Destinations

Curricular Pathways Example

NAT 5 Units

NAT 4

Course

Award

NAT 5

Consolidation

S4May 14

S4May 15

S5Dec 15

Nat 4 AVU

Higher Course

S6May 17

NAT 5

Consolidation

NAT 5

Course

Award

S5Mar 16

S5May 16

Higher

Award

Appropriate & varied pathways through the curriculum = maximise student success

Maximise aspiration and achievement by capitalising on the varied pathways through

the Nationals

Creating a Curriculum

Proposals for Change

The School Week – 32 blocks per week

Currently 28ppw

• Increase flexibility

• Advantages such as earlier Friday finish to allow pupils and staff to attend Friday sessions

Year Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

S1 English MathsModern

Languages

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Social Subjects

Geo, Hist, Mod StdsScience

Creative &

Aesthetic

Music, Art, Drama

Technologies

HE, CDT, Computing, Bus

Ed

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Enhancement

Block

Core Subjects

PSE, PE, RE, Tutor Time

S1 & S2 Broad General Education

Enhancement

Skills & Wider Achievement

Framework

e.g.

Masterclass in subject, short

courses (3 x 12)

dance, rugby or football sports

courses

JASS, Skill force, IDL options and

lots more

S1 & S2 Broad General Education

Year

Group1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

S3 English Maths

• Core Curriculum based on 7

areas of learning

• 8 Options

• 4 bpw English & Maths

• 3 bpw each for options

• 1 bpw IDL

• Enables 3 Science, 2 Social

Subjects and other

combinations

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Mod Lan

Choice

Social Sub

Choice

Science

Choice

Expressive

Choice

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Technology

Choice

Optional

ChoiceIDL

Core Subjects

PSE, PE, RE, Tutor

Time

S3 Broad General Education

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Core

Choice 1

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 2

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 3

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 4

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 5

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 6

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 7

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Core

Subjects

PSE, PE,

RE, Tutor

Time

• 7 Choices at Nat 3/4/5

• 4bpw

• Progression from Broad General Education

Senior Phase (S4-6)Pathway One

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Core

Choice 1

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 2

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 3

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 4

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 5

Higher/AH

5bpw

5th period

of

Higher/AH

Courses

Wider

Achievement

Or

Study

3 or 4bpw

Core

Subjects

PSE, PE, RE,

Tutor Time

Senior Phase (S4-6)Pathway Two

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Core

Choice 1

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 2

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 3

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 4

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 5

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 6

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Choice 7

Nat3/4/5

4bpw

Core

Subjects

PSE, PE, RE,

Tutor Time

Choice 1

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 2

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 3

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 4

Higher/AH

5bpw

Choice 5

Higher/AH

5bpw

5th period

of

Higher/AH

Courses

Wider

Achievement

Or

Study

3 or 4bpw

Core

Subjects

PSE, PE, RE,

Tutor Time

Senior Phase (S4-6)

Options from each column available for all S4-6

Senior Phase - Pathway Example One

S3

8 Options

Maths

English

French

Biology

History

Computing

Art

PE

S4

7 Options

N4/5 Maths

N4/5 English

N4/5 French

N4/5 Biology

N4/5 History

N4/5 Computing

N5 Photography

S5

5 Options

H Maths

H English

Nat 5 Biology

Nat 5 History

Sports Leaders

S6

5 Options

AH Maths

H Biology

H History

Senior Phase - Pathway Example Two

S3

8 Options

Maths

English

German

Physics

Modern Stds

CDT

Art

PE

S4

7 Options

N4/5 Maths

N4/5 English

N4/5 German

N4/5 Physics

N4/5 Modern Stds

N4/5 CDT

N5 Electronics

S5

5 Options

H Maths

H English

H Physics

H Modern Stds

H German

S6

5 Options

AH Maths

AH Physics

Nat 5 Photography

Sports Leaders

S3

8 Options

MathsEnglishFrench

ChemistryHistory

Business Management

DramaSkillforce

S4

7 Options

Nat 4/5 MathsNat 4/5 English

Nat 4/5 ChemistryNat 4/5 History

JETCollege

S5

S57 Options

Nat 4/5 Cake Decorating

Nat 4/5 MediaNat 5 History

Nat 4/5 ElectronicsSports Leaders

JET+College

S6

5 Options

Careers Academy

&Work Experience

Senior Phase - Pathway Example Three

Future Consideration

2 Year Courses at National 5 and Higher

• National precedent in some schools

• Possibility of 6 Higher courses at end of S5

• No need for additional assessment burden of Nat 5 in S4?

This is under consideration and is a possibility for 2017/18

Are these proposed changes or are they “up for debate”?

These are changes proposed following extensive consultation

and group working by the RHS staff. We have consulted with all

staff, the student body and the Parent Council and have

adapted the proposals as a result. We are now asking for your

thoughts and opinions on our proposals.

You can respond to this consultation via this survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RHSParentCurriculum15

How can you ensure this change to the curriculum will benefit

all pupils in their education?

We are providing a curriculum which gives a robust, skills based

Broad General Education which will give all our students a very

strong basis from which to undertake their Senior Phase. Our

new curriculum takes account of national advice and best

practice to ensure varied pathways through the Senior Phase to

take account of all learners no matter their destination. We

believe this will give every student the very best opportunity to

maximise success and achieve strong positive destinations.

What subject choice restrictions (if any) might there be?

Within S3 students still need to follow a Broad General Education and therefore must follow a set of choices which cover all seven areas of the curriculum We do however already operate this within S3 and our 8th choice column allows flexibility enabling options such as 3 sciences, vocational opportunities, additional subjects in areas of interest.

In the Senior Phase options will be open to all (subject to entry requirements) but based on national advice it is not advisable for S4 students to undertake one year Higher courses.

Is there a subject path description to help pupils make

choices?

Students are given advice and support through PSE, Guidance

interviews and the careers service (Skills Development

Scotland) prior to making any choices. We aim to educate

students in career pathways from S1 and staff also engage with

students regarding careers in their particular subject areas.

How easy is it to change your choices part way through?

In most cases to undertake a National 5 in S4 students will need

to have undertaken this subject in S3. There are exceptions to

this including course options which are only offered in the

Senior Phase.

There are flexible options for students to access “fall-back”

levels in subjects such as Higher/Nat 5 or Nat 4 compensatory

award.

Frequency of parent “meet the teachers” meetings?

All year groups have one parents consultation evening per

session. We will be planning this schedule next session based

around the new course choice procedures and timings. In

general you can expect to see your child’s teacher prior to an

option process.

Please note you will also receive one full report per session and

also regular Tracking Reports.

Will my son still be able to sit 8 level 5 in 4th year?

Not under these proposals. We believe 7 gives better pathways

to success for all students. This is based on experience under

our current structure and also national practice. Undertaking 8

160 hour courses across one academic session is causing

concerns such as assessment burden and ability for subjects to

be taught in depth prior to entry in to Higher level.

If the number of Nat 5 exams is to be reduced to 6 in 4th year,

can the pupils study at home and still be presented in

additional exam subjects (such as Music and French)?

We are proposing reducing to 7.

We would not be able to certificate pupils through additional

home study as the new assessment arrangements require

ongoing in class assessment. Students are required to pass all

internal assessments to be certificated through the final exam.

Restricting choices to 7/6 at Nat 5 is restrictive – required

children to specialise early and is not in keeping with CfE

broad general education.

We are proposing to offer choice at S3 but this is still in line

with the Broad General Education. This phase ends after S3 and

students should continue to personalise their learning through

further choice as well as increasing their depth in their chosen

areas of study during the Senior Phase.

Will the length of the school day change?

The timings of the school day will change under these

proposals but students will still study in school for 1650

minutes per week.

Please can students have the option to drop French and so

retain better choice in other courses which they might have

better aptitude and outcomes and choices.

Following a Modern Language such as French is no longer

compulsory in the Senior Phase and hence this can be dropped

in favour of another option in S4.

Provision for special needs. How does this relate to national

exams?

Our pathways approach will offer a much better provision for

learners requiring a specialised provision. We offer a full range

of National courses including National 3. In addition we will

have much stronger partnership working with other providers

such as college, vocational providers and wider achievement

organisations. This will ensure a very broad range of courses

appropriate to all needs.

What Now?

•Ongoing consultation with staff, parents and student to May 2015

•Changes finalised in June 2015 and planned for August 2016