Currie Community High

SchoolSenior Phase Parents Information Evening

January 2016

Welcome Doreen MacKinnon, Head Teacher Clive Walton, Depute Head Teacher (S4 Year

Head) Alan McKinney, Depute Head Teacher (S3

Year Head) Hazel Moar, Pupil Support Leader

Aims of the Evening Course Choice process and support available Subjects and courses Progression routes from S4 – S6 Support available during the process Expectations of high standards and commitment

from senior students The Education Maintenance Allowance Alternatives to returning to school

The Senior Phase S4 – S6

The Senior Phase offers our students the opportunity to expend and deepen their learning as they begin to build their portfolio of qualifications.

These qualifications will be a combination of academic qualifications as well as a range of qualifications which recognise wider achievements. These may include the SQA Employability Award; SQA Leadership Award; Saltire Award for volunteering; and/or the John Muir Award.

Reasons for returning Higher Education Further Education Christmas Leavers – applies to S4 and S5 only

- (d.o.b. 1 October – 28 February) Can’t/Won’t get a job Parents want them to

Progression Routes CfE Level 3C or 3S in S3 can lead to National

4 or possibly National 5 in the Senior Phase CfE Level 4C or 4S in S3 can lead to National

5 in the Senior Phase National 4 may lead to National 5 or to

another National 4 in another subject National 5 can lead to Higher Higher can lead to Advanced Higher

Pathways in the Senior Phase

All S3, S4 and S5 students will have a choice of 2 pathways to take them through the remainder of their school career and beyond. Students may move from one Pathway to another at transition points (S4-S5; S5-S6).

Pathway 1  Students may choose to follow between 6 and 8 National

Qualifications and will be timetabled 3 periods a week for each NQ. Those choosing to follow 6 or 7 NQs will choose one or two Wider Achievement courses or Private Study and will be timetabled for each 3 periods a week.  

Please note: to ensure success in National 5 courses in this model, students should continue with a subject which they have studied up to CfE Level 4. 

All students must study English and Maths in this pathway. Students cannot study at Higher or Advanced Higher level in this pathway.

Pathway 2 

Students may choose to follow 5 National Qualifications and will be timetabled 5 periods a week for each NQ. The following conditions apply in this pathway: 

S4 students must study English and Maths. One Wider Achievement option is permitted in this

pathway. Students in S6 may study 4 Highers or 3 Advanced

Highers and have 1 or 2 columns for private study. S4 and S5 students are not permitted Private Study in this

pathway.

Which level? Highers are hard work for even the most able

pupils National 5 is demanding and more

challenging than the credit course Take advice and make an informed choice

using:• Entry requirements• Reports• Pupil Support Leaders• Subject leaders

Unit and Course assessments

National 3 and National 4 will be marked and assessed by the school

National 4 Courses will be made up of Units, including an Added Value Unit. In order to achieve a Course at National 4, learners will need to pass all Units plus an Added Value Unit assessment

National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Courses will also include Units that are assessed and marked by the school. In order to achieve a Course at National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher, learners must pass all Units plus a Course assessment.

  Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E

 AdvancedHigher *

 

Bus. Mgmt. Home Ec: H&FT  History  

Art & Design Biology German Graph. Comm. Modern Studies RMPS

Art & Design Geography Physics

English Maths

Chemistry Computing Science Drama French  Music

 Higher

 

Bus. Mgmt. Design & Man. English Home Ec: L&CS History Media Studies

Art & Design Biology German Graph. Comm. Modern Studies Physics RMPS

Art & Design Chemistry Geography History Modern Studies P.E. Physics Music Tech.

English Maths P.E. 

Accounting Biology Chemistry Comp. Science Drama French Maths Music Sociology

 National 5

 

Bus. Mgmt. Design & Man. English Hospitality:(Practical Cookery)  

Art & Design German Graph. Comm. Hospitality: (Cake Making) Laboratory Skills Physics RMPS

Art & Design Chemistry Geography History Modern Studies Music Tech. P.E. NPA*** Web Design Fundamentals

Creative Ind. English Hospitality (Practical Cookery) Maths P.E. Practical Woodworking Retailing Spanish College**

Accounting Biology Comp. Science Drama French Lifeskills Maths Maths Music

 National 4

 

Bus. Mgmt. Design & Man. English  

Art & Design  Graph. Comm. RMPS Physics 

Art & Design Geography History Modern Studies Music Tech. P.E. Chemistry

P.E. Practical Woodworking  

Comp. Science Drama Lifeskills Maths Music Biology

Sample pathway 2 Course Choice

The Learning Agreement

Outlines the expectations of the school in terms of commitment, behaviour, attendance and punctuality

Is signed by all of our senior students and is a contract between the students and the school

Is essential for all students applying for an Educational maintenance allowance –EMA

Students who fail to meet these expectations can be asked to leave.

Education Maintenance Allowance - EMA

This is a means tested weekly allowance for students aged 16 – 19

Payment is made directly to the students’s bank account

Payment is based on attendance and effort and can be withheld if targets are not met

Expectations of S4, S5 and S6

Positive attitude and commitment

Positive contribution to the life of the school

All students will go into positive destinations, employment, training, Further or Higher Education

All students will achieve their potential

Timelines 12 January Senior Phase Parents’ Information Evening 29 February S4 Tracking Reports issued 4 March S3 Reviews of Learning and Profiles

completed 8 March S4 Parents Consultation 18 March S5/6 Tracking Reports issued 21 March S5/6 Parents’ Consultation 25 March S3/4/5 Course Choice completed and S5/6

Tracking Reports completed