Saint Peter the Apostle High School

1. Saint Peter the Apostle High School S5/S6 Parent Information Evening Thursday 5th September 2013

2. We come to you Lord To be built into a spiritual house Founded on the rock of St Peter’s faith. May we prepare our minds for action, And carefully examine The life and teachings of Jesus your Son, So that our community may proclaim His mighty acts And love each other with all our hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen. St Peter the Apostle. Pray for us.

3. Outline of Evening • Welcome & Expectations • New Configuration of School Week • S5/S6 Curriculum 2013-2014 • Qualifications / Key Dates / NABs • School Support • Partnership with Parents • What Can Your Child Do? • EMA • S6 Enrichment

4. Senior Leadership Team Mr. M Vassie - Head Teacher Mrs. Gallagher - Depute Head (S1) Mr. P. Darroch - Depute Head (S2) Mr. M. Rainey - Depute Head (S3) Mrs. J Morrison - Depute Head (S4) Mrs. Booth - Depute Head (S5) Mr. M. Rainey - Depute Head (S6)

5. Why Return for S5/S6? Your child should have valid reasons for returning • Build upon qualifications from S4/S5 • Apply to UCAS for entry to university • Experience community work placements • Participate in vocational college course • Rectify previous mistakes?

6. Our expectations of your childin S5/S6 • To be the best they can be! • Uniform • Attendance • Punctuality • Behaviour • Effort • Homework • Contribution to our Community • To more fully develop the 4 capacities of Curriculum for Excellence

7. Personal Development & Achievement • Participation in the life of our school • Clubs and Activities • School Excursions • Social Events • Contributing to our school community • Celebrations of our faith • Charity work • Voluntary work • Pupil Forum and Pupil Council

8. Skills for Scotland – A Lifelong Skills Strategy ...plan and organise ...work with others ...solve problems The ability to ...think critically & creatively ...use initiative ..to learn ...lead ..take risks The Scottish Government, Edinburgh 2007

9. Configuration of School Week

10. Configuration of School Week

12. S5 Students- Some Possible Pathways

13. Qualifications Standard Grade National Qualifications

14. S5/S6 Key Dates • Target One – aspirational - (September 2013) • Supported Study Programme – Phase One (October-December 2013) • S5/S6 Early Warnings (September / October 2013) • On- Track Target Two (November 2013) • S5/S6 Parents’ Evening – Tuesday 3rd December 2013 • Supported Study Programme – Phase Two (January - April 2013) • S4/S5/S6 Prelim Examinations (Monday 3rd February – Friday 14th February) • S5/S6 Subject Reports (March 2014) • Easter Revision School (April 2014) • SQA Exams (Begin 29th April 2014)

15. NABs/Course Work • Information Booklet / Departmental Website • Unit Assessments – SQA qualifications • Usually 3 or 4 NABs for a full course • Must pass all the NABs for the course in order to sit the SQA exam • Allowed 1 resit for each NAB • Equivalent to a C pass in the course • Homework Planner

17. What Can the School Do?

18. Pupil Support System Each pupil has a Pupil Support Teacher Focus on:- Attendance Punctuality Uniform Effort Behaviour Homework Supporting / Advising role Contact with Parents / Partnership Role of Mrs. Reilly (PT Raising Attainment) HELPING YOUR CHILD TO BE THE VERY BEST THAT THEY CAN BE!

19. REACH Programme • Led by Mr. Dolan (Chemistry Department) • Support for accessing most demanding university programmes:- • Medicine / Law / Vetinary Medicine /Dentistry • Two / three year support programme • Visiting lecturers / summer school / entry requirements • Current academic potential critical for entry

20. Supported Study Phase 1 - 8 week programme (October – December 2013) Follows options structure – something on offer for all pupils Focus on areas for improvement (e.g. extended writing in PE / close reading in English / challenging topics in maths) Targeted supported study – “by invitation” Saturday morning revision Phase 2 – 8 week programme (January – March 2014) Easter Revision

21. What Can Parents Do?

22. Partnership with Parents • Regular Tracking Reports • Early Warning Information • Supported Study Programme • S5/S6 Parents’ Evening (3rd December 2013) • S5/S6 Prelim Examinations • S5/S6 Subject Reports (March 2014) • Easter Revision School • Liaison with Pupil Support Team – just pick up the phone!

23. Supporting Your Child Be positive Provide a quiet, calm environment for study Encourage “buy in” to extra support Encourage relaxation time Reward effort and success Talk ... and listen...

24. Further Information Keep up-to-date via the school website! www.scottishschools.info/stpetertheapostle

27. S5/S6 Careers Information and Advice Reminder that very useful advice for pupils is available at My World of Work • http://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/

28. Parents

29. What Can Your Child Do?

30. Expectations for S5/S6 High standard of uniform Excellent attendance Excellent punctuality Excellent behaviour Full commitment and effort Quality homework on time

31. Attendance/Punctuality Purpose of Registration Attendance at school – and each class on the timetable – will be checked daily All pupils must arrive for class on time – electronic registration allows your Pupil Support Teacher to know if a pupil is late! Vital information shared at registration time –avoids interruptions to lessons!

32. Sample Study Timetable

33. Study Tips for Pupils Notice that similar subjects are not studied straight after one another. Past Papers, reading/summarizing notes and homework all count as study Have a day off completely. (It may be a Saturday/Sunday) Try not to study for anymore than 1 hour at a time. Try to find a quiet place to study. No TV or other distractions to keep you off your work. Take a 5 minute break between each study session. Walk the dog, have a cup of tea, anything that clears your mind for the next study session. Don’t use MSN/TV as you’ll never get up!

34. Study Tips for Pupils Try not to study late at night as you go to bed dreaming about your work. Take a complete break before you go to bed. Its easy to sit with a book open for 2 hours and pretend you’ve been studying (there should always be evidence of studying) Don’t fall into this trap. Its important to have something to take your mind of studying. A game of football, cinema etc. Relaxing is important when studying. The closer you get to an exam the more you should study for it. But don’t neglect your other subjects. You are more likely to stick to a timetable if you make it yourself. It’s never too early to start your revision programme!

35. Pupils

36. Education Maintenance Allowance • An Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a government initiative aimed at helping your child stay on in education. Your child may be eligible for an EMA if you are aged 16-19 and attend a West Dunbartonshire school. • An EMA entitles you to up to £30 a week.  The amount depends on parental income. • To apply for an EMA you must: • submit the form before 30 September if you are 16 before this date • apply by 29 February if you are 16 after 30 September West Dunbartonshire Council will post EMA forms to your home!

37. S5 2012 5 A’s – 2 Pupils 5 Highers – (7%) - 21 pupils 3+ Highers – (17%) - 49 pupils S5 2013 5 A’s – 4 Pupils 5 Highers – (8%) - 23 pupils 3+ Highers – (24%) - 72 pupils S5 Results

38. Sixth Year Opportunities • Duke of Edinburgh • Year of Faith events • Leadership • Enterprise • Caritas • Sports Leaders • Buddying (S1 Support Programme) • UCAS Support Programme • Top-up - University Access Programme • Work Experience • Retreats