Senior Options Information Bellshill Academy Senior Options Information 8th March 2016 Raising standards, transforming lives 1

Raising standards, transforming lives Where are we now? A number of unit assessments are now complete Prelims exams completed for N5 & Higher courses The objective was to give pupils a realistic experience of exam procedures Updated tracking reports issued to parents Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives What next? Presentation levels – National 4/5 & Higher will be finalised This will include: Pupils, Parents, Pupil Support Final exam in May for National 5 & higher pupils No formal exam for National 4 pupils All of this information will inform provisional option choices Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives Tutor /Careers Pupils will work alongside Pupil Support staff and Tutor teachers in preparation for the options process - as in previous years. This time, S4 pupils will move from 7 to 5 subjects S5 into S6 pupils select 5 subjects Specific curricular information will be provided by class teachers to inform options This will determine the route each individual pupil takes Raising standards, transforming lives

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Website www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk for advice for parents to help support your child. Skills Development Scotland Officer in School - Caron Smyth Raising standards, transforming lives

Options Programme Timeline Prelims 18th - 29th January Tracking report issued 25th February Consultation evening 8th March Options interviews 15th March SQA exams 4th May Senior Timetable begins 6th June SQA results Early August Options finalised Mid August Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives New Qualifications National 3 National 4 National 5 Higher (CfE) Advanced Higher(CfE) Raising standards, transforming lives

It’s All About Progression Building on prior knowledge and skills gained is vital to pupil progression. --- AND SO --- Narrowing of subjects from 8 in S3 to 7 in S4 to 5 in S5/S6. Picking ‘new’ subjects in S5 is discouraged, although in some cases, a related subject may be acceptable. --- BUT --- Constraints of exam results, career aspirations, class sizes, class viability may have an impact on this. Raising standards, transforming lives

Progression and your child At the end of S4, your son/daughter will have 7 qualifications at Nat 3, Nat 4 or Nat 5 --- Ideally, they should choose 5 of those subjects to progress in S5 Raising standards, transforming lives

New Progression Routes Attained in S4 Progression in S5 National 3 National 4 National 5 OR Nat 4 in related subject Higher OR Nat 5 in related subject Advanced Higher OR Higher in related subject Raising standards, transforming lives

S4/S5 Results are important Will a pupil scraping a ‘C’ pass at Nat 5 in S4 find Higher in S5 too challenging? Pupils in that position will be advised on their most appropriate S5 course by subject specialists S4 exam results will really matter! Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives Options Process Provisional Option Form developed early February Options booklet available on website 22nd February Family discussion taking into account the advice from tracking reports and the Parent Consultation Evening conversations Choose 1 subject in each of Columns A to E Choice ratified/moderated at Options interview 15th March Provisional timetable begins in June SQA results in early August Provisional choice confirmed/amended in light of SQA results/career aspirations/class viability/class size Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives S5/S6 Workload 5 subjects = 15 units all internally assessed + 5 Prelim exams 5 SQA external exams Raising standards, transforming lives 11

Warning for the Future - Obstacles to Progress Insufficient hours dedicated to home study Irregular attendance (90%) / lack of punctuality Reluctance to attend supported study Misjudging the jump from S4 Part time work Time spent on Xbox/Facebook Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives Supporting Learners School supported study at lunchtimes or after school Easter School Subjects and levels to suit pupil needs School website with subject details and revision Resources on GLOW & Scholar Subject specific study packs Study advice evening in September Raising standards, transforming lives

Raising standards, transforming lives Thank you Raising standards, transforming lives