Mearns Castle High School Striving for Excellence S2/S3 Options - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mearns Castle High School Striving for Excellence S2/S3 Options Presentation February 2014

Helping You to Make Your Mind Up • Careers Fair (24th Oct 2013) • Personal & Social Education • Careers Library – www.planitplus.net ‐ www.myworldofwork.co.uk • “Which Course?” Booklets • S2 Reports (19th Feb) • Options Information Evening Meeting Monday 24 th • Parents’ February

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose What are “National Qualifications”? • There are 5 possible levels in each subject – National 3 – National 4 – National 5 – Higher – Advanced Higher

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose What are “National Qualifications”? • They provide 3 main pathways through a subject over S3 to S6. S3/S4 S5 S6 National 5 Higher Adv Higher National 4 National 5 Higher National 3 National 4 National 5

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose What are “National Qualifications”? • In most subjects, all pupils work on a common course initially and decisions about N3,N4 or N5 levels will be made later in S3 or possibly into S4. • In other subjects such as Maths and English, pupils may be assigned to a level at the start of the course based on their prior attainment.

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose National 4 Qualifications • Each course is made up from some units, usually three. • The units are studied either all together or one after another. • There is internal assessment for each unit – PASS / FAIL.

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose National 4 Qualifications • Added Value Unit – Students will demonstrate skills which underpin key aspects of course work. • You must pass the Added Value Unit and all the Unit Assessments to get an overall award. • There is no external exam at the end of the course. The award is pass/fail.

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose National 5 Qualifications • Most courses are made up from some units, usually three. • The units are studied either all together or one after another. • Each Unit has internal assessment which will result in – PASS / FAIL. • You must pass all the Unit Assessments to get an overall award.

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Before You Choose National 5 Qualifications • In most subjects the Course Grade is derived from the final examination and the internal coursework (performance, evaluations, portfolios, research tasks) • Grades available: – A, B, C, D, No Award • http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/59033.html

The Options Process • Structure • Choices within columns • Core subjects • Period allocation • Timelines

NAME S2 MEARNS CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL OPTION SHEET – S2 to S3 – SESSION 2013-2014 B C D E F G H A ENGLISH MATHS MODERN SOCIAL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES EXPRESSIVE OPTION LANGUAGES SUBJECTS ARTS ENGLISH MATHS GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY BUSINESS ART & DESIGN ART & DESIGN FRENCH MANAGEMENT HISTORY CHEMISTRY DRAMA ADMINISTRAT- COMPUTING ION MODERN PHYSICS SCIENCE MUSIC STUDIES CHEMISTRY GRAPHIC PE STUDIES COMMUNICAT- DRAMA ION PRACTICAL WOODWORKING SPANISH HOSPITALITY SKILLS Choose one subject in each column. Personal Development Write the name of the subject in the box. COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E COLUMN F COLUMN G COLUM ENGLISH MATHS FRENCH N H

• English • Maths How many • French subjects will I take in S3?

How many Sciences subjects will I take Physics Chemistry in S3? You must choose 1 science

How many History subjects will I take in S3? Social Subjects You must choose 1 Modern Social Subject Studies

How many Computing subjects You must choose a Science will I take Technology in S3? subject Hospitality Technologies Graphics Business Management

How many How many subjects subjects will I take will I take Expressive Arts in S3? in S3? • Art & Design Expressive Arts • Drama You must • Music choose a subject from • PE Studies Expressive Arts • Practical Woodworking Skills

One column has a free choice: 2nd Expressive Art 2nd Language - Spanish Option Administration 2 nd Science - Chemistry

How many 1 period RMPS subjects will I take 1 period PSE in S3? 3 periods Core PE 1 period Citizenship

Period Allocation S3 S4 – Mathematics 5 – Mathematics 4 – English 4 – English 5 – All other subjects 3 – All other subjects 3 – Core – Core • P.E. 3 • P.E. 3 • P.S.E. 1 • P.S.E. 1 • RMPS 1 • RMPS 1 • Citizenship 1 • Citizenship 1

S3/4 Curriculum • Assessment – Regular testing (Unit assessment, progress checks) – S3 Exam diet – Late April 2015 – S4 Prelims – December 2015 – S4 Main Exam diet – April ‐ May 2016

Reasons for You’re good at it choosing subjects. It sounds You enjoy it interesting You need it for a career It would be useful for a career

Wrong reasons for choosing a subject? • Like/ Don’t like the teacher • Think you don’t get homework • It’s a new subject and you know nothing about it • Friend is choosing it

Who will help? • Subject teachers give advice • Options presentation • Appointment Cards – returned Wednesday 19 th Feb • S2 Reports 19 th February • Options Presentation to Parents – Thursday 20th Feb • Parents Meeting – Monday 24 th February

NAME S2 MEARNS CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL OPTION SHEET – S2 to S3 – SESSION 2013-2014 B C D E F G H A ENGLISH MATHS MODERN SOCIAL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES EXPRESSIVE OPTION LANGUAGES SUBJECTS ARTS ENGLISH MATHS GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY BUSINESS ART & DESIGN ART & DESIGN FRENCH MANAGEMENT HISTORY CHEMISTRY DRAMA ADMINISTRAT- COMPUTING ION MODERN PHYSICS SCIENCE MUSIC STUDIES CHEMISTRY GRAPHIC PE STUDIES COMMUNICAT- DRAMA ION PRACTICAL WOODWORKING SPANISH HOSPITALITY SKILLS Choose one subject in each column. Personal Development Write the name of the subject in the box. COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E COLUMN F COLUMN G COLUM ENGLISH MATHS FRENCH N H

“Make Your Mind Up” Time Option Form Structure • All the subjects in each group (or “column” in the Option Form) will be timetabled at the same periods in the week. • This means: – You must pick one subject from each group (column) – You cannot pick more than one subject from the same group (column)

NAME S2 MEARNS CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL OPTION SHEET – S2 to S3 – SESSION 2013-2014 B C D E F G H A ENGLISH MATHS MODERN SOCIAL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES EXPRESSIVE OPTION LANGUAGES SUBJECTS ARTS ENGLISH MATHS GEOGRAPHY BIOLOGY BUSINESS ART & DESIGN ART & DESIGN FRENCH MANAGEMENT HISTORY CHEMISTRY DRAMA ADMINISTRAT- COMPUTING ION MODERN PHYSICS SCIENCE MUSIC Option forms should be returned STUDIES CHEMISTRY GRAPHIC PE STUDIES by Friday 7 th March to your Pupil COMMUNICAT- DRAMA ION PRACTICAL WOODWORKING SPANISH Support Teacher. HOSPITALITY SKILLS Choose one subject in each column. Personal Development Write the name of the subject in the box. COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E COLUMN F COLUMN G COLUM ENGLISH MATHS FRENCH N H

Helping You to Make Your Mind Up • S2 Parents’ Meeting (24 th Feb.) • Interview with PT Pastoral Support (24 th Feb – 28 th Feb) • Completed Option Forms returned by Friday 7th March at the latest • Preparation for S3 timetable (third term)

“ Make Your Mind Up ” Time Any Questions?