Personalisation through Choice - S2 Pupils

1. Personalisation through Choice - S2 Pupils Presentation to parents February 2012 Mr R. Summers, Mr MacKinnon, Mrs Booker, Mr Fruish

2. Introduction • Recap on S1 and S2 • Making logical and appropriate choices • Why pupils should be aiming as high as possible • Broad General Education S1-3 • S4 and thinking beyond S4 • Procedures for making choices (S Booker) • Course choices and Timetabling (G. Fruish/ S MacKinnon) • General questions

3. Recap on S1 and S2 • Common course in S1 and S2, with everyone taking the same subjects • Setting in English and Maths in S1 • Setting in English, Maths, Science, French and CDT in S2 • By now, clearer idea of subjects you are best at, subjects you like and (for some) subjects you need for career • Informing the change for CFE – staff, pupils, Parent Council

4. Basic principles underpinning personalisation and choice • All pupils can progress in S3 then S4 • From 15 or so subjects in S2 to 8 choices in S3 • Keeping it broad - must do English, must do Mathematics, then choosing five subjects plus enhancement plus automatic PE, RME and PSE • Complete your studies using CFE outcomes and experiences at Level 3 and Level 4 in S3 • S3 report and S3 profile • Enabling presentation in many SQA subjects in S4

5. Making logical and appropriate choices • English and Mathematics compulsory • French recommended for most by Scottish Executive, by HMIe and by us • Balance of subjects across curriculum areas – Social Subjects, Language,Science, Arts, Technologies • Enhancement column - new • Lifelong Learning and a portfolio of careers

6. Making logical and appropriate choices(2) • Do not choose subjects because your best friend is doing it , because you like the teacher, or because you have heard that it is an “easy” subject! • What are my best subjects just now? • Are there any new subjects I would like to try? • What subjects do I enjoy? • What subjects do I need for a career? • Can CAT predictions help? • Keep options open!

7. Enhancement column • To keep balance across curriculum areas for Broad General Education • Arts, Sciences, Language, Social Subjects, Technologies • 2 period course not 3 periods for other choices – for one year only • In S4, the 2 periods are given to English and Mathematics for Literacy and Numeracy

8. Why Aim High? • Better to set a challenging goal and just miss it than set an unambitious one and coast to it • All schools are looking to raise the attainment of their pupils • Global economy and the knowledge economy • Few unskilled jobs • “Soft” skills for employment developed in school – teamwork, initiative, flexibility, communication, IT, leadership • Attendance, engagement and commitment

9. Demands of S3 and S4 • Increased quality and quantity of work expected • Regular homework • Regular topic tests requiring revision • No S3 examinations since pupils have not started a certificate course • S4 preliminary examinations for National 5 • SQA coursework to be submitted in March of S4 • National SQA qualifications in S4

10. Thinking beyond S4 • More and more pupils are returning to S5 – only 26 left in May 2011 • Those who leave in May S4 – two thirds unemployed in September • During S4 start refocusing on possible career – Careers interview, Guidance staff, websites • Work Experience week in S4 may help • College courses and university courses

11. The Mechanics of Choice • The choice form - over to Mrs Booker • THEN • Dealing with choice forms and enquiries – over to Mr Fruish • THEN • Timetabling issues – over to Mr MacKinnon

12. S4 - moving to qualifications • English and Literacy • Mathematics and Numeracy • RME • 5 choices continuing from S3 • Enhancement choice drops at end of S3 • Majority presented at National4 or National 5 • National 4 – internal generation of evidence, external moderation • National 5 – coursework plus external assessment

13. Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

14. Support for making choices • Social Education programme • S3 choice package and SQA Qualifications guide • Guidance interview • Parents’ Evening • Careers advice • Subject teacher information • Careers Computer Programs and Web Sites

15. Social Education programme • Materials from Skills Development Scotland ie Careers Scotland • Youngsters are asked to consider what they like, what they are good at, what their career ideas are and also look at matching up careers with personalities and skills • Introduction to Careers Library • Can ask for a Careers interview, can meet SDS representative at S2 Parents’ Meeting

16. S3 Choice Package • S3 Personalisation through Choice Booklet • S2 report • Choice Sheet with recommendations • Parents’ Meeting Thursday 1st March 5-7pm - appointments sheet • Letter from East Lothian Council

17. Booklet on school website • Interactive on screen – flick to the pages you want – 89 pages long! • In colour • Contents page near start • Print out as required • Pupils have a black and white copy • Subject work in S3 and qualifications details for S4

20. What happens next • Completed choice form is returned by Wednesday 7th March • Each pupil’s choice entered in to computer file based on timetable columns • Best fit achieved – class sets will be close to maximum and we cannot guarantee all requests

21. Questions

22. SQA – their part in CFE • SQA website – for national 4 and 5 • Course and Unit Support Notes • Course Assessment Specifications • Unit specifications for 4,5 and Higher • Course specifications for A2, A3, 4, 5 and Higher • Course rationales and summaries for A2-Higher • Overview of Qualifications Reports • Progress Reports • Design Principles • The final documents for Access-Higher to be published in April 2012

23. Course Specification Mathematics National 4 – course • provides progression from the Numeracy and Mathematics experiences and outcomesto develop an understanding of the concepts, principles and processes of mathematics and apply these in different contexts • provides progression from the Numeracy and Mathematics experiences and outcomes to develop operational, reasoning and numeracy skills • enables learners to select and apply mathematical techniques and solve problems in a variety of mathematical and real-life situations • develops skills in manipulation of abstract terms in order to solve problems and to generalise • follows the design principles agreed by the Curriculum for Excellence

24. Mathematics Nat 4 (2) • will be benchmarked against Standard Grade General/Intermediate 1 • has the same Course structure as National 5 • will assess added value through a test (work is ongoing with stakeholders and key partners to ensure that this approach is appropriate and manageable)