Course Choices…

1. Course Choices… …making sense of it all

2. Options S4 and beyond • The Options Process is the process by which students choose subjects that they wish to take further in senior school.

3. The Options Process • Mock Options Assembly 2 - Friday 21st January • Mock Options Assembly 1 – Friday 7th January • Mock Options Forms returned – Friday 14th January

6. The Options Process continued February • “Options Beyond 16” booklet issued to students at Options Launch Assembly. • Each student will receive a recommendation for each subject by 11th March. • Course Options application forms submitted one week after Options launch on 18th March. • Guidance staff with the support of Depute Rector allocate students to courses.

7. Recommendations • Recommendations are when staff assign a particular level of course, for example Higher or Intermediate 2 to each student based on prior attainment. Entry requirements… • are set by the Scottish Qualifications Authority about the minimum prior qualifications to achieve entry onto a course.

8. Higher - To gain entry a student needs to have achieved Entry Requirements • Credit 1 or 2 pass at Standard Grade or • A or B pass at Intermediate 2 Intermediate 2 – To gain entry a student needs to have achieved • General 3 or 4 preferably 3 at Standard Grade • A or B pass at Intermediate 1 Intermediate 1 – To gain entry a student needs to have achieved • General 4 or 5 at Standard Grade • Pass at Access 3 level

9. Health Warning! • Places on courses are limited. • There is strong competition to get onto courses. • Performance in S4 is vital!

10. All students who have a subject recommendation from their class teacher, who are already in class by June and who have met the course entry requirements are first to receive confirmation of their place. Options Criteria • Students who do not meet entry requirements can only access a course if there is space and Principal Teachers agree and a contract outlining short term targets is signed. • Students who do not meet entry requirements but are waiting on an appeal, based on strong evidence, must be considered a place. If an appeal fails then a contract outlining short term targets would apply. • Criteria 2 above can only be applied if the student needs a subject because of a realistic career aspiration or to gain access to a specific university course.

11. Case Study – Accessing Higher Physics • Johnny and Sarah come from a poor background and could, potentially, be the first people in their families to go to university. • David, Jack and Melissa claim they need Physics to go on to study medicine. David and Jack’s parents threaten to get a lawyer if they do not get onto the course. • Bill needs Physics to get onto his Engineering course at university. • Janet wants to get onto the course because she loves Physics.

12. Considering each person from the case study on the previous slide look at the results above, including the SQA estimates and identify the students who would not be able to access Higher Physics and give reasons for your decision. Don’t forget the maximum number for a practical class is 20. Best of luck!