Maths

There a r e 4 courses offered in the senior year for Maths. These are Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher. All courses are split into 3 units. Unit assessments are carried out during October, January and March. This year some of our 5th year pupils have been fast tracked and are therefore starting their second year on the Higher or Intermediate 2 courses. The timing of the unit assessments for these pupils will differ. Pupils should ensure that they listen carefully for the dates of these assessments.

Supported study is offered after school for those pupils who are taking Higher, however, pupils on all courses will get additional help where required.

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English

The English course involves the study of Literature (short stories, novels, poems, plays) and Language (developing skills in both reading and writing).

At each level, there will be an external assessment (the SQA examination in May) and internal assessments (held during class time).

The SQA exam has two papers: Close Reading and Critical Essay.

To gain a complete award (graded A, B, C or D), a candidate must have gained an award in the examination and

must also have gained a pass in each of the following three Units:

♦ Language Study (Internal assessment of Close Reading and Writing)

♦ Literary Study (Internal assessment of unseen Textual Analysis – a short piece of prose, poetry or drama with questions)

♦ Personal Study (Internal assessment of a critical essay on a text of your own choosing).

The first Unit Assessment you are likely to complete is Personal Study. You should discuss appropriate texts with your teacher before the summer holiday, so that you can familiarise yourself with the text before school begins again in August.

Kilwinning Academy S5/6 News

Nov 2010

Welcome to our Senior

Curriculum BulletinEach year we publish curriculum

bulletins to give parents more information about how to improve the

education of their youngsters and how to provide more homework support as they students began to prepare for SQA exams. Many students find the step up from S4 into S5/6 quite challenging and we hope

that families with students in the senior phase of their education

will find it helpful and informative.

Religious StudiesReligious, Moral and Philosophical Studies is offered at two levels this session: Intermediate 2 and Higher. Units have been chosen to allow both levels to be taught together which means that it is possible for pupils to move between levels depending on progress and ability. Throughout the course there are assessments (‘NABS’) which require to be passed to permit success in the final exam. During the course we examine a world religion (Christianity), the nature of morality focusing on medical ethics (Euthanasia and Treatment of Embryos), and science and religion focusing on how everything came into being (‘Big Bang’, evolution, 6 day creation). Teaching and learning takes places using a wide variety of techniques including drama, debate, textual analysis, discussion, carouseling, video documentary, as well as reading and writing. Homework is set regularly: long and short essay questions, revision and preparation tasks.

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Geography All senior classes in the Geography department are now well under way with their course work. The Higher and Intermediate classes have already looked at levels of development on a global scale and will move on to diseases of the developing world focusing on Malaria. They will also be studying the physical landscape of the UK and the processes that led to the formation of these landscapes.

The Advanced Higher class are working on the statistical part of their Geographical Methods and Techniques unit as well as undertaking research, before making their final topic choice for the Geographical Issues section of the course.

Pupils are currently studying the first Unit of their courses as detailed below:

Intermediate 2: Living Cells, H i g h e r : C e l l B i o l o g y ,

Advanced Higher: Cell and Molecular Biology

It is a requirement of S5/6 Biology courses at all levels that pupils undertake a practical activity and complete a full experimental write up based on this activity. Pupils must also sit and pass an assessment at the end of each unit of work (the NAB test). Pupils cannot pass the final exam unless they have met both these requirements. Good attendance is particularly important in S5/6 to avoid missing any of these Assessments.

Pupils at all levels can expect to have weekly homework. Homework schedules are issued at the start of each unit so pupils know exactly what homework has to be completed and the dates it is due.

In addition to regular set homework, pupils at senior levels are expected to spend a significant amount of time studying their notes, summary sheets and generally researching course topics. This should be done right from the start of the course and not just prior to the exam!

ChemistryT h e s e n i o r courses have a lot of course c o n t e n t a n d contain practical work that is assessed on a regular basis. Consequent ly, pupils need to develop good study habits right from the start of term and regular attendance is particularly important to avoid missing any of these assessments. They have been shown many revision techniques and should be using a variety of strategies to aid their revision. Past papers are a good source of questions to improve exam technique and are available from good bookshops and online. A number of websites are available for Chemistry revision.

Among the best are BBC Bitesize Revision at www.bbc.co.uk/education/bitesize and Evans2chemweb at www.evans2chemweb.co.uk.

Higher and Advanced Higher pupils will also be issued with passwords for the Scholar program of course materials.

Students studying Advanced Higher Chemistry will start the year studying Electronic structure and the periodic Table and this has now been completed and assessed. Unit 2 will cover the Principles of Chemical Reactions and will be completed and assessed by Christmas. At this time students will undertake a research project of their own choosing which will be submitted to the SQA for marking in March. The final Unit is Organic Chemistry.

Intermediate 2 and Higher Chemistry pupils also follow a 3 unit scheme of work. Deadlines for assessments are the October holiday for Unit 1, Christmas for Unit 2 and Easter for Unit 3. The topics for Higher Chemistry are “Energy Matters” , “The World of Carbon” and “Chemical Reactions”. The topics for Intermediate 2 are “Building Blocks”, “Carbon Compounds” and “Acids, Bases and Metals”.

PhysicsIn Higher Physics we look at three units: Mechanics and properties of matter, electricity and electronics, and radiation and matter. To gain a course award a student must pass 3 unit tests (one per unit), 3 pieces of coursework and a final exam. This may sound daunting but the Unit tests and coursework are hurdles which will be cleared by any student who is working effectively. At Intermediate 2 level there are 4 units: mechanics and heat, electricity and electronics, waves and optics, and radioactivity. The course is assessed by a combination of internal assessment and an external examination, set and marked by the SQA.

SQA Modules in Electronics at Intermediate 1 and 2 involve studying three units: introduction to electronic systems, components & assembly techniques, and combinational logic. The Electronics course is a mix of mainly practical work with some theory and students sit assessments throughout as sections are completed. The course is self paced, so students can negotiate the material at a rate to suit their own learning and experience. As it is modular there is no final exam - all assessments are carried out in class.

T h e Active

Schools Network is

a team of people working

within the school and the wider

c o m m u n i t y i n Scotland. Their goal is to

offer all children and young people the motivation and

opportunities to ‘get active’.In practice, this means that their

job is to increase the number of opportunities for all children to get

engaged in physical activity and sport. They also try to build

bridges with sports clubs and o t h e r c o m m u n i t y

organisations, such as Kilwinning Community

Sports Club, to give pupils a ‘pathway’ to

continue their participation in

sport outside o f t h e

s c h o o l gates.

Currently, A c t i v e

Schools has a n u m b e r o f

opportunities for children to participate

in physical activity. Among the activities on

offer are: dodgeball, gymnastics, cheerleading,

basketball, table-tennis and many more. Activities are normally held

at lunchtime and afterschool and details of what’s on, at what time can

be found on the notice boards in the P.E department.

For further information on what Active Schools is

doing in Kilwinning please contact: Steven

St i r ra t , Act ive S c h o o l s C o -

ordinator Tel: 0 7 7 7 1

5 0 5 0 6 5 .

MusicAll elements of the Higher and Advanced Higher music course are under way, and pupils have a secure understanding of the course requirements. Students at these levels have to perform on two instruments at a demanding level, and pupils are encouraged to take advantage of the music department’s facilities for practice, during and out with school time.The first Listening test on Renaissance music is planned for the third week in September. There follows a Solo assessment on 23/24 September: one piece on each instrument should be played fluently.The first Invention was due for completion on 2 Novmber.The first section of Advanced Higher Investigative Study, complete with musical quotes and bibliography, should be finished by Wednesday, 11 November.Higher and Advanced Higher pupils are reminded that, to the best of their ability, they should have learned their complete recital programmes

for the Prelim examinations, when their playing will be recorded.

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FrenchAt Int 2 and Higher level more

emphasis is placed on the ability to write accurately in the foreign language. Students are expected to pass two units and prepare for the external exam in May, developing new skills such as: spoken presentation, discussion and translation. The themes covered will be: lifestyles, education & work, and the wider world.Assessments take place when the teacher feels the students are ready Reading and Listening NABs must be completed by end April, Oral presentation & discussion and Written CV by March. All assessments take place in class under controlled conditions. Failure to pass the assessments mean no overall award can be given and withdrawal from the May exam. Students will receive a wide variety of homework tasks to do, both as preparation for and follow-up to classroom activities. As part of our Critical Skills/AifL techniques they will also be expected to research a particular grammar point, prepare and deliver a presentation.

HistoryThe topics studied in Higher History are “Britain 1850-79, Russia 1 8 8 1 - 1 9 2 1 , a n d Appeasement and the Road to War”. Pupils will sit Internal Assessments throughout the term. The Extended Essay, which is marked externally, will be completed in March. Regular homework exercises will be given. Some of the notes and homework exercises are available on the school website.

The Intermediate sections will study “From the Cradle to the Grave, Social Welfare in Britain 1890s 1951, the Red Flag: Lenin and the Russian Revolution 1894-1921, and the Road to War 1933-39”. Again Internal Assessments, and homework exercises will be completed throughout the year and an Extended Response is completed in March and marked externally. These topics allow pupils to build on the knowledge and skills learned in Standard Grade History.

Modern StudiesThe Higher Modern Studies course is offered

to give pupils (new voters) an insight into the processes which underpin political and social life.

Topics studied involve Decision Making processes in the Scottish and UK Governments and their Functions, Wealth

and Health Inequalities in the UK, and the international topic is America. Again Internal Assessments will

be completed throughout the year and as well as homework exercises, pupils are

expected to read newspapers and listen to news bulletins as

knowledge of current a f f a i r s i s a n

advantage.

PE STUDIESThe importance of engaging in an active lifestyle has never been of greater importance. The Higher/Intermediate 2 Physical Education curriculum comprises the following activities, which pupils will participate in 6 periods / week: football, hockey, basketball, badminton and theory. S5 & S6 ungraded pupils also attend 6 periods a week and participate in a range of different activities in which they will have a

degree of choice. Pupils are expected to being their own kit, otherwise kit will be provided by P.E. staff. Kit should comprise of a plain t-shirt and either shorts or tracksuit bottoms. Should a pupil be injured, they should still bring kit accompanied with a note from home to explain their reason for not taking part. These pupils will either be asked to assist with scoring, refereeing, timekeeping or complete a written exercise related to the current activity. Pupils should enjoy P.E… remember it’s like all things in life...you only get out what you put in!

Important Dates•Prelims begin January • S5/6 Parents Evening

December • SQA Exams begin April

Contacting schoolKilwinning Academy,

Dalry Road, Kilwinning

KA13 7HD 01294 551316

contactus@kilwinning.n-ayrshire.sch.uk

www.kilwinning-academy.co.uk

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C0mputing and AdministrationThe Higher Administration course consists of 2 units (Administrative Services and Information Technology for Management), one of 40 hours and one for 80 hours. These run in parallel with completion of both units scheduled for the Easter break in 2010. Classes will have a series of small class tests as sections of units are completed but the first large assessment will be the prelim exam in January. Unit assessments will be completed as judged suitable by the class teacher.

The Administration course at Intermediate 2 level consists of 3 x 40 hour units (Administrative Services, Information Technology for Administrators, and Presenting and Communicating Information). Two of the units should be completed prior to Christmas and therefore be included in the January prelim with the third unit being completed after the prelims.

The Business Management course at Intermediate 2 and Higher consists of 3 x 40 hour units (Business Enterprise, Business Decision Areas: Marketing and Operations, and Business Decision Areas: Finance and Human Resource Management) and it is planned to have two of the units complete by Christmas, with the third being completed after the January prelims.

The Computing and Information Systems courses both consist of three units of work which have the same or similar titles at both Higher and Intermediate 2 level. Both of these courses will run the two core units in parallel starting immediately after the summer holidays and hopefully seeing unit assessments completed by the Christmas break. January brings a short period of revision before the prelims in January and the third unit should be complete by the Easter break. A second prelim will be scheduled as part of exam preparation. This structure is summarised below:

Aug - Dec: Computer Systems, Software Development, Database Systems, Using Information. Feb - April: Computer Networking, Information Systems, Applied Multimedia.

Home EconomicsThe aim of the S5/6 curriculum in Hospitality is to build on acquired practical food preparation skills and to improve confidence in the ability of pupils to prepare dishes suitable for sale in the Hospitality industry.

The units are: Practical Cookery, Food Preparation for Healthy Eating, and Foods of the world.

Pupils will be trained to prepare and cook dishes to a standard required by the hospitality industry, while carrying out procedures to the hygienic standard required by industry.

In all areas of practical cookery pupils will be expected to follow the departmental rules of coming prepared with containers and additional ingredients as required.

The course will be delivered at Intermediate 2 level. It may be delivered at Intermediate 1 level to pupils, following consultation to meet the needs of the individual. All three units must be successfully complete prior to 30 April.

The examination will be carried out in class, supervised and marked by the class teacher. An external verifier may

visit the school to observe and mark the examination.

Art

&

DesignThe Ar t and Des ign

department offers senior pupils a range of levels from Intermediate 1

right through to Advanced Higher in sixth year. Our Intermediate and Higher

courses require the students to produce both Expressive and Design units, as well as an Art

and Design Studies unit.Within these units there are a wide range of choices

available, from still life, portraiture, landscape and built environment in the Expressive unit, to graphics, fashion and

textiles, product design and architecture in the Design unit. Students enjoy working with a wide range of media such as

painting, ceramics and pottery, silk painting and printmaking.The Advanced Higher course gives pupils the opportunity to explore

Design or Expressive themes in a deeper and very personal way. This can provide them with the opportunity to find out more about themselves and

provides a bridge to Further or Higher Education. Many pupils have gone on to study subjects such as Architecture, Graphic Design, Illustration, Fashion and even

for those going on to study the sciences or other arts, the visual literacy they acquire can be invaluable.