Course Choice for S4/5 (moving into S5/6) Balfron High School Session 2013/14

Balfron High School – Aims To enable all young people to become: Successful Learners Confident Individuals Responsible Citizens Effective Contributors

Responsibilities Keys to Success: Good attendance & timekeeping Being prepared & organised for class Having the right (working) frame of mind Actively participating whilst behaving well Completing work & reading over lessons Enjoying being part of Balfron High School!

Course Choice for S4/5 (moving into S5/6) Balfron High School Session 2013/14

SQA Exams – Parent Information When? Where? Supporting your child through the exam diet Other information

SQA Examinations – When? All SQA exams take place from Friday 26 th April until Friday June 7 th 2013 Each pupil will receive a confirmation slip, to be checked, signed and returned by the pupil Study Leave for S4 pupils starts on Monday 29 th April, and for S5/6 pupils on Tuesday 7 th May The new timetable will start for the new S5/6 on Thursday June 6 th 2013

Example Confirmation Slip Joe Bloggs 4C1 Address: Somewhere in Balfron, G63 Centre Number: Candidate Number: Date of birth: Sex: F Details on this form will be sent to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). The SQA is registered with the Data Protection Registrar and access to the information held by SQA is strictly controlled but is shared within the education and training community when it is appropriate. Some data is supplied to the Scottish Executive for statistical analysis and for official surveys. You have been entered for the following subjects :- CODEGRADE/LEVELSUBJECT C059Intermediate 2French D339 French: Language D342 French: Extended Reading/Viewing X059 French C060Intermediate 2German D465 German: Language D467 German: Extended Reading/Viewing X060 German 0300General/CreditBiology 0500General/CreditChemistry 1540General/CreditHistory 2500General/CreditMathematics 2660General/CreditMusic Please check above subjects and levels and return with, or without, amendments to Mr Slavin. Please also check address, date of birth and your examination name above. Please sign as received Mrs A Short Depute Headteacher

SQA Examinations – Where? All pupils will be given an individual timetable Exams will be held in the Theatre and in various classrooms around the school. Lists of exam rooms, times and candidates names will be displayed on the SQA Information Notice Board in the Atrium. It is essential that candidates check lists prior to the exam and note their seat number.

Pupil A Example Exam Timetable

SQA Exams - Supporting your child Exam timetables will be issued by 19 th April – times are Balfron High times to dit with the buses Candidates must arrive at the exam room early Be prepared with the correct equipment - pen, pencil, ruler, calculator, rubber School uniform must be worn No mobile phones are allowed in the exam room – even if they are switched off.

SQA Exams - Supporting your child If a candidate is unable to sit an exam due to illness, it is important that parents telephone the school as early in the day as possible (from 8:30am) As soon as possible thereafter, obtain a Doctor’s Certificate which should be handed in or sent to the school The certificate and “absentee evidence” will be sent to SQA who will make an award decision.

SQA Exams – Other Information

Course Choice for S4/5 (moving into S5/6) Balfron High School Session 2013/14

Subject Choice for S5 Subject Name (To be completed by Parent/Pupil) Preferred Level (To be completed by Parent/Pupil) Approved Level (To be completed by Admin/SMT) Subject Choice 1 (Highest Priority) Subject Choice 2 Subject Choice 3 Subject Choice 4 Subject Choice 5 (Lowest Priority) Alternative Subject (to be completed by all students)

Timetable in S5 All students must study five subjects The five subjects should be listed in order of priority At this stage you have a free choice…. BUT……. Timetabling columns must then be constructed Problems can occur – choose a sixth subject

Choosing a Sixth subject The sixth subject will only be considered if it is not possible to fit in the combination of the other five. When this happens discussion will take place between the pupil and the Depute Head.

Subjects offered in S5/6 (2012) AdministrationGeographyMusic Art and DesignGermanPhysical Education BiologyGraphic CommunicationPhysical Education (Performance Units) Business ManagementHistorySports Leadership ChemistryHospitalityPractical Engineering Skills ComputingMathematicsProduct Design EnglishModern StudiesSociology (S6 only) FrenchPhysicsSpanish

Subjects offered in S5/6 (2013) Administration* Accounting* FrenchMusic Art and DesignGeographyPhysics BiologyGerman*Physical Education Business ManagementGraphic CommunicationPractical Engineering Skills ChemistryHistoryProduct Design Computing*MathematicsSpanish EnglishModern StudiesEnterprise & Employability Philosophy** (not on S5 form) RMPS** (not on S5 form)Hospitality* Photography (S6 only)Sociology (S6 only)Sports Leadership (S6 only) *Subject to viability and staffing **Subject to viability and staffing, available to S6 first, and not shown on S5 option form

Levels Pupils are asked to indicate the preferred level of the subject that they would like to take – this is of most significance when pupils plan to ‘resit’ a subject. The final levels will be as recommended by the subject teacher and the Home Area Principal Teacher. The recommendation will be based on the pupil’s grade profile and the performance at S4. The school policy is to encourage pupils to aim high but expectations must be backed up by evidence of attainment. In June, it is common for classes to undertake work at the ‘upper’ level on the basis of a positive SQA certificate in August.

Advice in S5/S6 Subject Handbooks Advice from Subject Teacher / Home Area Principal Teacher, Principal Teacher (L&T) Principal Teacher of Pupil Support/ House Depute, Parents / Aileen Crawford -Careers Advisor Making Choices

Timetable in S6 Majority of pupils return for S6 All S6 students should study at least four full courses. The four subjects should be listed in order of priority with an alternative included. Unless S6 students are studying five subjects, they will be expected to offer a minimum of two periods per week in service to the school community. This will be as peer support in subject classes and as part of a leadership team.

Subject Choice for S6 Subject Name (To be completed by Parent/Pupil) Preferred Level (To be completed by Parent/Pupil) Approved Level (To be completed by Admin/SMT) Subject Choice 1 (Highest Priority) Subject Choice 2 Subject Choice 3 Subject Choice 4 Subject Choice 5 (If you wish to take 5) Alternative Subject (to be completed by all students)

Websites – Publications- University / College prospectus Skills Development Scotland – info on other routes to qualifications and on job vacancies and trends A wide range of people in and out of school Useful sources of information

Important Dates ProcedureDates Course Choice Subject Guides issued 11 th March Course Choice Options Forms issued 12 th March Course Choice Interviews11 th – 19 th March Option Form Return Deadline 21 st March New timetable* begins Monday 10 th June

Course Choice for S4/5 (moving into S5/6) Balfron High School Session 2013/14

University Entry 2012 Edinburgh Highers – 4A & 1B Inc Chemistry and 2 from Biology, Maths, Physics Must have Standard Grades in English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry at 1 or 2

University Entry 2013 Edinburgh Highers – 4A & 1B at 1 st sitting Inc Chemistry and 2 from Biology, Maths, Physics Must have Standard Grades in English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry at 1 or 2

University Entry 2012 Glasgow Highers – 4A & 1B Inc Chemistry and Biology, and either Maths or Physics Must have Standard Grade in English at 1 or 2

University Entry 2013 Glasgow Highers – 4A & 1B at 1 st sitting Inc Chemistry and Biology, and either Maths or Physics Must have Standard Grade in English at 1 or 2 or Int 2

University Entry 2012 Edinburgh Highers – 4A or 4B & 1A Inc Maths at Grade A & Physics Must have Standard Grade in English at 3

University Entry 2013 Edinburgh Highers – 4A at 1 st sitting Inc Maths & Physics Must have Standard Grade in English at 3

University Entry 2012 Strathclyde Highers – 3A & 1B Inc Maths at Grade A & Physics Must have Standard Grade in English at 1 or 2

University Entry 2013 Strathclyde Highers – 3A & 1B at 1 st sitting Inc Maths & Physics at Grade A No specific English requirement but Standard Grade at a reasonable level recommended

University Entry 2012 Edinburgh Highers – 4B Must have Standard Grade in English, Maths at 3 Must have Standard Grade in Modern Foreign Language at 1

University Entry 2013 Edinburgh Highers – 4B inc Maths at 1 st sitting but more realistically 4A Must have Standard Grade in English at 3 or above Must have Standard Grade in Modern Foreign Language at 1

University Entry 2012 Strathclyde Highers – 2A & 2B or 1A & 4B, including English Must have Standard Grade in Maths at 1 or 2

University Entry 2013 Strathclyde Highers –3A & 1B or 2A & 3B, including English Must have Standard Grade Maths at 1 or 2

University Entry 2013 Primary Glasgow Highers – 2A or 1A & 4B, inc English Must have Standard Grade Maths at 1 or 2

University Entry 2013 Primary Stirling Highers –4B, inc English at 1 st sitting Must have Int. 2 Maths at C or better

University Entry 2013 Primary Aberdeen Highers –4B inc English Must have Standard Grade Maths at 1 or 2

Course Choice for S4/5 (moving into S5/6) Balfron High School Session 2013/14

We wish we knew… Research  Admissions Offices  Industry Join in at school  Clubs  Sports Organisations  Music

It is now that matters! Aim high  Ask for help if you need it  Attend Supported Study If unsure…  Talk to others