Mearns Academy

1. Mearns Academy Curriculum for Excellence – Consultation with Parents Dec 2012

2. Curriculum for Excellence Purpose of this meeting: • To confirm overall Curriculum for Excellence picture • To explain planned pattern of delivery in Mearns Academy • To show changes / similarities with previous models • To allow parents to ask questions and provide feedback

3. Curriculum for Excellence: • What is it? • The national programme for curriculum delivery in Scotland for young people aged 3 – 18 • Principles • Challenge and enjoyment • Progression • Coherence and relevance • Depth • Personalisation and choice • Breadth

4. Curriculum for Excellence: Seeks to develop 4 capacities: • confident individuals • successful learners • effective contributors • responsible citizens

5. Curriculum for Excellence: Key Aspects of Delivery (1): • 8 CurricularAreas - Expressive Arts Health and Well-being Languages Mathematics Religious and Moral Education Sciences Social Studies Technologies

6. Curriculum for Excellence: Levels and Stages: New Qualifications – range of new qualifications planned by SQA (see booklet) Cross Cutting Themes: Literacy Numeracy Health and Well-being

7. Mearns Academy and Curriculum for Excellence • Progress and Improvements • Improving teaching and learning • Increased liaison with Primary schools re transition • Building on high quality primary experience • Revised S1/S2 curriculum structure, revised faculty structure • Less teachers seen by pupils in S1 • Widespread focus re literacy, numeracy (and health and well-being) across the curriculum • Reflective period – supports / forces reflection on learning • Refreshed and imaginative contexts for assessment • Wide range of cross-sector and inter-disciplinary experiences (e.g. local study, John Muir Trust, P6 Science, SfL and RME, RME and English, Home Econ. and PE, etc.)

8. Aberdeenshire Council Position (March 2012): S1 – S3 Broad General Education S4 – S6 Senior Phase (to include certification) Most schools: full adoption of this 2013-14 Mearns Academy: full adoption of this 2014 – 15 onwards

9. Scottish Government Position As per Aberdeenshire council S3 study of broad, general education S3 profile to be produced little definition re model of delivery no qualifications to be taken in S3

10. Mearns Academy – Interim Year 2012 - 13 S1 - BGE – common course S2 - BGE – common course S3 - Eight subjects selected across curricular areas (it is anticipated these will continue into S4 following production of S3 profile) S4 - Last year of Standard Grades S5/6 - As per previous Personalisation in the classroom/setting

11. Mearns Academy – Interim Year 2013 - 14 S1 - BGE – common course S2 - BGE – common course S3 - BGE – limited personalisation, coverage in all curricular areas, some setting, some rotas S4 - Completion of current S3 courses to N3, 4 or 5 S5/6 - As per previous Personalisation in the classroom/setting

12. Mearns Academy – 2014 - 15 S1 - BGE – common course S2 - BGE – common course S3 - BGE – limited personalisation, coverage in all curricular areas, some setting, some rotas S4 – S6 - Senior phase: Personalisation in the classroom/setting S4 up to 6 subjects (Eng & Maths compulsory) S5/6 up to 5 subjects Extraction group in S4 N3, 4, 5, H, AH qualifications (new and old?) Some bi-level classes

13. Mearns Academy Proposed Curriculum for Excellence Structure December 2012

14. Assessment and Certification N3 and N4 - internally assessed (units and value-added) - pass or fail N5 / H / AH - units assessed internally under controlled conditions - value added assessed in most cases by exam - graded A – D (banded within that 1 – 9) Fallback - near miss at N5 can result in award on N4 - no such facility for H to N5

15. Next Steps • Confirm steps to deliver revised curriculum structure in Senior Phase • Review / extend challenge in S1 / S2 • Review / amend delivery and procedures re current S2 into S3 • Review / amend S3 courses for future model – extend challenge • Prepare for current S3 sitting N3 / N4 / N5 in May 2014 • Keeping pupil’s learning at the heart of things – classroom practice will always be the key to success in any model.

16. Mearns Academy and Curriculum for Excellence: • Issues and Challenges: • Giving widest possible range of personalisation in S4-S6 • Ensuring pace and challenge in S1-3 • Resourcing / staff development – a lot happening! • Assessment and reporting – clarity and consistency • Ensuring parents, partners and employers are aware of revised structure / qualifications

17. Parents and Curriculum for Excellence: • Expressed concerns have included: • Schools not ready to deliver new qualifications in 2014 • Reduction of S4 qualifications will compromise students • Too narrow a curriculum in S4 • Some students in S3 will be under-challenged

18. Mearns Academy and Curriculum for Excellence: Some re-assurance for parents: The national backdrop and coverage in the press has provoked understandable concerns. But - we will keep you informed about this development - it is a national development - all Aberdeenshire schools (and Angus, Aberdeen, Dundee, Moray) are following this proposed model - our first priority has always been not to disadvantage any year group or individual learners Further information available via: www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone www.sqa.org.uk