Gerry McCormick Head T eacher Taylor High School Nicola - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Gerry McCormick Head T eacher Taylor High School Nicola Cunningham Depute Head T eacher Taylor High School North Lanarkshire Senior Phase Curriculum Planning ‘Reflecting Back, Moving Forward’ 16 May 2019

Background

• Senior Phase Working Group set up late 2014

From the group a number of recommendations were implemented:

• Authority wide adoption of a standard day pattern in all 23 secondary

schools with common start and finish times

• Authority wide common schematic approach in S5/S6 to facilitate school-

school and school-partner links

Background

• All NLC Secondary schools to operate 33 x 50 minute periods from August

2016

• Adoption of 3 double periods across all S5/6 columns (A-E)
• All NLC secondary schools to participate in formal co-ordinated curriculum

planning organised in 3 geographical areas

Where are we now?

• Unprecedented level of organisation and co-operation among schools
• Excellent joint working among Education and Families senior staff,

secondary Head T eachers, colleagues from Further Education and a growing number of other partners

• Very significant improvements in the organisation and delivery of the

S5/S6 curriculum

• Clear focus on delivering a better learning experience for young people

Area Curriculum Planning

• All NLC secondary schools participate in formal co-ordinated curriculum
• planning. This is organised in 3 geographical areas

North (6 schools) Central (8 schools) South (9 schools)

• Each area has a chair and vice chair (both area HTs)
• NLC area curriculum planning is an “entitlement” model with core

provision for each area while allowing for additional content based on local need

Benefits to date

• Much wider range of both academic and vocational courses accessible to

all students

• ‘Stigma’ attached to inter-school or school-college travel almost

disappeared

• Much wider range of both academic and vocational courses accessible to

young people including the full range of Foundation Apprenticeships

• Much better inter-school liaison at a time of financial stringency

Benefits…

• Very well organised area planning with excellent relationships among

senior colleagues

• Much stronger school-school and school-FE/other partner relationships

with regular meetings taking place for planning purposes

• Knowledge of overall curricular provision across all three planning areas

to ensure that the range and level of courses can be monitored by area chairs and relevant authority personnel

Key Issues

• Significant expansion of student travel has resulted in financial

pressures

• Ensuring that all 3 areas continue to meet the needs of all

students

• Maintain and enhance the number of courses available as

appropriate

Key Issues….

• Ensure that all school staff have knowledge of all courses

available to young people

• Ensure that young people are equipped to access courses
• utwith school and encourage students to undertake

appropriate courses

• Ensuring that parents/carers are informed of/understand

curricular developments e.g. equivalence of Foundation Apprenticeships to Higher Grade qualifications

Next Steps

• Further implementation of Foundation Apprenticeships across the

authority

• Further development of relevant curricular provision at levels 4/5 to meet

the needs of employers and the market place

• Ongoing development of DYW agenda at school and authority level
• Monitoring of effectiveness of implementation across areas/schools
• Consideration of S4 curriculum and possible adoption of common

curriculum structures

Period 1 2 Break 3 4 Lunch 5 6 7

Period Times 08.55–09.45 09.45 -10.35 10.35- 10.50 10.50–11.40 11.40–12.30 12.30- 13.15 13.15-14.05 14.05 -14.55 14.55 -15.45

Monday A A B B X C C Tuesday D D E E X A A Wednesday B B C C E E Thursday D D A A X B B Friday C C D D E E

Timetabling

• 3x 7 period days (Monday, Tuesday & Thursday)
• 2 x 6 period days (Wednesday & Friday)
• 3 x double periods across the week for each of the 5 columns

Timetabling…..

• Built in travelling time
• RE/PSHE/PE on the 3 x X periods (different in each school)
• All schools across NLC operate with the same schematic

S5/6 Options Form

• Schools design own option form
• Different options in each column as necessary
• Area chair ensures that any subject in demand is delivered somewhere in

the area/authority

• Schools in each area share the cost of staff in some curricular areas e.g.

Psychology

Level Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E

Advanced Higher Chemistry Biology Physics Mathematics Foundation Apprenticeships Food & Drink Technologies (S5) IT Hardware & Systems Support (S5) Social Services Healthcare (S5 & S6) Accountancy (S6) Civil Engineering (S5) IT Software Development (S5) Accountancy (S6) Creative & Digital Media (S6) Engineering Technician (S5) Scientific Technologies (S5) Social Services CYP (S6) Business Skills (S6) Financial Services (S5) Food & Drink Technologies (S6) IT Software Development (S5) Social Services CYP (S5) Social Services & Healthcare (S6) S6 Accountancy Placement S6 Business Skills Placement S6 C & D Media Placement S6 F &D Technologies Placement S6 Social Services CYP Placement S6 SS & Healthcare Placement Higher English Chemistry Human Biology NPA in Legal Services Personal Development (S6 Only) Physics Psychology Business Management Chemistry Geography Mathematics RMPS (S6 Only) Art & Design English History Modern Studies Music Physics Psychology Sound Production Art & Design Computing Graphic Communication Mathematics Modern Studies Psychology Spanish Computing Health & Food Technology History Human Biology Music Photography (S6 Only) Physical Education Psychology Spanish National 5 English Biology Sports, Fitness & Wellbeing Units Business Management SfW: Construction SfW: Early Education & Childcare Geography Mathematics Mathematics Application Units Travel & Tourism Art & Design NPA in Cyber Security SfW: Early Education & Childcare English Laboratory Skills Music Physics Practical Skills Wood Sound Production Computing SfW: Construction SfW: Hairdressing Hospitality Graphic Communication Mathematics Modern Studies Spanish Cake Craft Coaching of Sports Unit (S6 Only) Computer Games Design SfW: Football Performance History Music Sports, Fitness & Wellbeing Units National 4 SfW: Engineering Skills English Intro to Motor Vehicle Industry & Tech Make-up Artistry: An Introduction Sports, Fitness & Wellbeing Units Intro to Hospitality Industry Travel & Tourism English Practical Skills Wood Hospitality Make-up Artistry: An Introduction Mathematics Beauty & Creative Skills Computer Games Design Intro to Professional Cookery Sports, Fitness & Wellbeing Units Choice & Level

Examples of vocational options available across option columns:

Level 4 Engineering Automotive Professional Cookery Make up Artistry Hairdressing Level 5 Construction Early Education and Childcare Hairdressing

Examples of vocational options available across option columns:

Skills for Work Health and Social Care Early Education and Child Care An increasing range of Foundation Apprenticeships