Curriculum for Excellenceand S2 to S3 Course Choice

Evening

4 February 2013

What is the Curriculum?The Four Contexts

The curriculum is more than curriculum areas and subjects. The curriculum is the totality of experiences which are planned for children and young people through their education

Ethos & life of the school as a communityPositive ethos, shared values, participation in decision-making, contribute as leaders & role models

Curriculum areas and subjectsIn drawing up Es & Os, learning in each curricular area reviewed to emphasise contribution to developing 4 capacities

Interdisciplinary learningMake connections. Provide relevant, challenging & enjoyable learning experiences. Different perspectives deepen understanding & provides coherence

Opportunities for personal achievementProvides a sense of satisfaction & builds motivation, resilience & confidence

Key Aim of CfE

Further raise the quality of academic attainment and achievement to enable more of our pupils to achieve sustained positive destinations.

Broad General Education

BGE and Senior Phase

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

S2 Art Drama H Ec PSE RMEIDL/Bus

CDT

S1 Drama Music H Ec PSE RME ICTArt PE EnglishModern

Languages

Mathematics

Mathematics ScienceSocial

Subjects

ScienceSocial

Subjects

CDT

Music PE EnglishModern

Languages

S1 and S2 Timetable & Curriculum

Rota of Business Ed/Enterprise + IDL Electives

Largely maintain ‘core’ time

Necessity for some of level 4 in S2 to ensure pace

Big Developments

• BGE courses structured to deliver Es & Os

• Greater focus on developing skills for life, work & learning

• Greater emphasis on use of formative assessment – including through self, peer, PLPs & profiling

• Responsibility of All – Literacy, Numeracy & HWB

• Greater emphasis on transitions – primary to secondary and 16+ Learning Choices

Greater promotion of:

• Active learning – being actively engaged, whether mentally or physically, using real life and imaginary situations

• Cooperative learning – encouraging thinking and talking together, to discuss ideas and solve problems

• Interdisciplinary learning – using links between different areas of learning to develop, reinforce & deepen understanding

• Using technologies in learning – to find material, communicate, create and present

Language and Literacy Elective

Pupils will choose three short courses that they will study one period per week throughout the course of the session. Titles include:

• Exploring Fairytales• Read All About It!• A World of Stories• Film Trailer Elective• Classical Myths and Legends• The Simpsons

• Greek Myths and Legends• Comic Book Superheroes• Find Out About Film• Visions of the Future• Branding (or how to market a

product nobody wants!)

S2 ElectivesCurricular Area(s) Title

Technologies, Social Studies Business Enterprise (Compulsory)

Sciences, Technologies, Social Studies, HWB, Numeracy

Food & Environment

HWB, Science, Social Studies, Technologies, RME, Literacy, Numeracy

Alcohol Awareness & Heartstart

RME, Expressive Arts, Technologies, HWB, Literacy

Hinduism

Science CSI

RME, Social Studies, HWB, Expressive Arts, Literacy

Global Citizenship

Languages Survival Spanish

Social Studies, Expressive Arts Titanic

Expressive Arts Glee Club

Social Studies, Expressive Arts, Technologies, Literacy

Who do you think you are?

The Timetable for S3 for 2013-14

• English• Mathematics• Health & wellbeing• RME

• Choice x 6

4 periods

4

3 (2 x PE + 1 x PSE)

1

3 x 6 = 18

Timetable structure exactly the same as before.

8 Subjects + ‘core’

Timetable Structure 2013-14

SCQF Level Current Qualifications New Qualifications

5 Standard Grade Credit/ National 5 (A-D) Intermediate 2

4 Standard Grade General/ National 4 (Pass/Fail) Intermediate 1

3 Standard Grade Foundation/ National 3 (Pass/Fail) Access 3

New SQA Qualifications

Fife Council CfE Senior PhasePrinciples Paper June 2011

It also seems likely that the quality of grades will have increasing importance…. This dilemma also provides strong reasons why the status quo model (8 subjects in S4 for almost all pupils) of the Senior Phase could do serious damage to the quality of many pupil qualifications and to the success rate of leavers’ aspiring destinations.

Framework for S4 for 2013-14

• English• Mathematics• Health & wellbeing• RME

• Choice x 4

5 periods

5

3 (2 x PE + 1 x PSE)

1

4 x 4 periods

Framework for Most of S4 for 2013-14

Effectively 1 period more per week per subject in S4

Key Aim of CfE

Further raise the quality of academic attainment and achievement to enable more of our pupils to achieve sustained positive destinations.

Parents/Carers Information Evening

Vision: The vision for Inverkeithing High School is based on our motto – “Grow by Choice”. As a school community, we strive to

motivate each individual to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning and to therefore achieve their full potential.

Respect Commitment Opportunity Success

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013

• 3rd year continues to be about a broad general education – however, there is choice within this for our pupils.

• Now time to start planning ahead and identify the areas that pupils find interesting.

• There are a number of areas to consider.

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013The Curriculum

• Balance

• Breadth

• Depth

• Progression

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013Advice for parents/carers

• Consider the bigger picture – do not look at S3 in isolation.

• From the 8 subjects picked in S3, the pupils will choose to continue with 6 of them in S4.

• Consider progression of the subjects – majority lead onto Higher, but not all do.

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013Advice for parents/carers

Key factors to remember when discussing this will be:

• Enjoyment of subject

• Ability within subject

• Balance – ensuring that pupils do not narrow their choices too early

• Influences

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013Influences

• Previous success

• You have a major influence

• Guidance staff

• Peer group

• Careers

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013

• Sometimes pupils have to make hard choices

• Sometimes the school has to make very difficult decisions

• No course can be guaranteed – it is dependent on the uptake of pupils.

S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013Process

• Tonight• Personal & Social Education class• Course choice booklet – Monday 11 Feb• S2 reports – Friday 8 Feb (possibly 11 Feb)• S2 parents’ evening – Wednesday 20 Feb• Interviews – 25 Feb – 1 March• Options check – Wednesday 13 March

Course Choice Option Sheet

Guidance System Approved Updated

INVERKEITHING HIGH SCHOOL – S3 COURSE CHOICE OPTION SHEET 2013/14 Name Class Guidance Teacher Dear Parent/Carer Please complete this form before your child’s Guidance Interview. All choices will be discussed at the interview and may be changed after this discussion takes place. Any changes will be sent home for you to view and confirm.

Columns A/B/J/K Compulsory Subjects

Column C Column D Column E Column F Column G Column H

English Column A Mathematics Column B PSE/RMPS Column J

Core PE Column K

Biology Chemistry Physics (make a 2nd choice)

Geography History Modern Studies (make a 2nd choice)

Art & Design Drama French German Graphic Communication Physical Education

Business French German Graphic Communication Home Economics Physical Education

Administration & IT Art & Design Design & Manufacture Drama Geography Music Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies Spanish (2nd language only)

Administration & IT Biology Business Chemistry Computing (& Information Science) Design & Manufacture Home Economics Music

Write your choice in the spaces to the right of this box. There should be one

subject written in each except column C & D

We have discussed the options and have agreed on the above subjects. Pupil Signature: Parent/Carer Signature: Date: Where there have been changes made: Parents/Carers please sign if you agree with the changes: Date: NB 1. This school will make every effort to provide desired courses. 2. Provision of all the chosen courses cannot be GUARANTEED at this time. Some courses will only run if there is sufficient pupil uptake and appropriate staffing is available. The school will contact you in due course to confirm choices or suggest alternatives.