St Aidan’s High School CfE Information Event Monday 27 th February 2012 Welcome : Mr Rooney HT and Mrs Hamilton-Smith DHT

Curriculum for Excellence Presentation made recently to Parent Council Presentation made recently to Parent Council We want to actively engage with parents We want to actively engage with parents Parent Council welcomed the presentation and Parent Council welcomed the presentation and suggested the time was right to speak to the wider parent body Open event’ held for parents in November ‘11

Curriculum for Excellence Curriculum for Excellence is a Curriculum 3 – 18 Curriculum for Excellence is a Curriculum 3 – 18 It is possible for the primary schools to implement this initiative whole-scale It is possible for the primary schools to implement this initiative whole-scale It is not possible for secondary schools to do It is not possible for secondary schools to do likewise since we need to plan the link to the National Qualifications National advice is to develop a broad general education developing the capacities until the end of S3 National advice is to develop a broad general education developing the capacities until the end of S3

Curriculum for Excellence The development work of the school has been led by the CRG – The Curriculum Review group - chaired by Mrs Hamilton-Smith The development work of the school has been led by the CRG – The Curriculum Review group - chaired by Mrs Hamilton-Smith All subjects and all PTs are involved All subjects and all PTs are involved

Curriculum for Excellence This year’s S2 was the first cohort to start the Curriculum for Excellence - culminating in the upper school with new national qualifications This year’s S2 was the first cohort to start the Curriculum for Excellence - culminating in the upper school with new national qualifications A Curriculum that is broad and general in S1 – S3, with a number A Curriculum that is broad and general in S1 – S3, with a number of ‘entitlements’ (see handout) Familiar concepts ? Familiar concepts ? Successful Learners Successful Learners Confident Individuals Effective Contributors Responsible Citizens All pupils should experience and achieve the following : All pupils should experience and achieve the following : Success / Confidence / Personal Effectiveness and a Sense of Responsibility

Curriculum for Excellence What has the school achieved so far ? Curriculum audits across subjects have been conducted Curriculum audits across subjects have been conducted Curriculum structures - discussed with our Board of Studies and Parent Council Curriculum structures - discussed with our Board of Studies and Parent Council Greater emphasis placed on Active Learning /AiFL Greater emphasis placed on Active Learning /AiFL Less emphasis on WHAT, more emphasis on HOW to learn (ref. to TLC) Clear links about learning across subject areas Clear links about learning across subject areas Inter-disciplinary learning Pupils becoming more ‘skilled’ and able to use skills elsewhere Pupils becoming more ‘skilled’ and able to use skills elsewhere Core areas such Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing are the responsibility of all staff Core areas such Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing are the responsibility of all staff

Curriculum for Excellence What has the school achieved so far? There is much more ‘active learning’ going on in the classrooms There is much more ‘active learning’ going on in the classrooms GLOW initiatives have been developed GLOW initiatives have been developed We are exploring the concepts of Pupil Profiles and e-portfolios We are exploring the concepts of Pupil Profiles and e-portfolios Planners have been amended Planners have been amended Entitlement to Personal Support and mentoring through Tutor Time re. Health, Development and Progress Entitlement to Personal Support and mentoring through Tutor Time re. Health, Development and Progress

Curriculum for Excellence We are soon arriving at a crucial point in the development : National Qualifications for S4 - S5 are being developed National Qualifications for S4 - S5 are being developed We need to ensure that our courses meet the requirements of the new qualifications We need to ensure that our courses meet the requirements of the new qualifications Some draft course descriptors are now available Some draft course descriptors are now available Exemplars of new examinations will be available – April 2012 Exemplars of new examinations will be available – April 2012 We are working on the basic premise : standards under CfE must not be anything less than what we achieve for pupils already – in fact it should improve further We are working on the basic premise : standards under CfE must not be anything less than what we achieve for pupils already – in fact it should improve further

Curriculum for Excellence S1 – S3 : Key Planning Questions We are delivering broad general education in S1 and S2 (continuing into S3). What is the purpose of S3 within a broad general education ? What will the framework for S4-S6 look like ? How many qualification subjects do we offer in S4 ? There are decisions to be made about qualification frameworks ? To answer these questions we need to consider how the broad general education articulates with the senior phase

Curriculum for Excellence New National Courses: Design principles agreed for National Courses from Access to Advanced Higher National 4 – replaces Standard Grade (General) and Intermediate 1 National 5 – replaces Standard Grade (Credit) and Intermediate 2 Highers remain as Highers Courses will be notional 160 hours (as at present)

Current National Qualifications National Qualifications from 2014

Timelines 2010 – new curriculum introduced 2012 – publication of new qualifications levels 1 to – last Standard Grades + current Access 1, 2 & 3; publication of new qualifications 2014 – first new qualifications at levels 1 to 5 (Access and National 4 and 5); dual run with existing National Courses 2015 – first new qualifications at level 6 (Higher); ‘dual run’ with existing National Courses 2016 – first new qualifications at level 7 (Advanced Higher) This is the timeline for your son /daughter

Curriculum for Excellence What does this mean for the structures ? Tonight’s big question (asked in Nov. 2011) If we waited until the end of S3 there would only be time to deliver 5 courses of notionally 160 hours i.e. 5 subjects to start S4 (S4 leavers leaving with only 5 subjects) Implications of this would be there would be no margin for error in course choice and students studying a narrower curriculum in S4 leading to 5 NQs Alternatives ? Continue with the broad general education, but deepening the learning to cover CfE Fourth Level and thus start some of the work of National 4 and 5s earlier to allowthe hours to be overtaken, and thus allow broader choice into S4 of 8 subjects, narrowing to 5 in S5 as at present..... Rationale ? It offers greater challenge to S3, keeps breadth, leads to 8 NQs What is the school’s view at present, given what we know v. 8 ?

Recent media focus There has been a great deal of recent media speculation. The school’s view is that in S3 we go with the 8 subjects, reflecting CfE curriculum organisers This was endorsed in November by the Parent Council and parents * subjects is perfectly acceptable : “.....while S1 – S3 will be designed to provide a broad general education, there will be scope for increasing depth and specialisation.... AND “Although formal qualifications will not begin before S4, learning which takes place in the broad general education can and should contribute to the learning for qualifications.”

Curriculum for Excellence What does this mean in terms of subjects ? (see curriculum map) S1- A broad selection of subjects / supported by modern learning and teaching strategies English / Maths / Science Social Subjects / French Art / Music / PE ICT / Home Economics / Tech RE S2- Mainly as above in the future, but with increased personalisation and choice, reducing number of subjects slightly S3- Focus on 8 subject areas but still acknowledging the 8 broad curricular areas of CfE curricular areas of CfE S4- Using S3 as the basis / a foundation, move to new national qualifications - National 4 / National 5 and then Highers Information evening for parents of current S1 and S2

Curriculum for Excellence Features S1 – S3  Clear focus on transition from Primary to Secondary, within and between stages to support coherence for learners  Broad general education covering experiences and outcomes within all eight areas specified in BtC3 p13  Preparation for the depth and choice of the senior phase which continues to develop the four capacities  Many opportunities for developing transferable skills to fit learners for life and for work  Challenging and supportive courses and choices which help learners to achieve the highest levels possible for each individual  A clear strategy for effective personal support through tutor time, AiFL and action planning within classes  Health and wellbeing outcomes delivered across the curriculum and during tutor time  Literacy and numeracy delivered across the whole curriculum  Interdisciplinary learning which is both planned and dynamic to suit the needs of cohorts, classes and individuals

Curriculum for Excellence Features S4 – S6  Clear focus on transition within and between stages to support coherence for learners  Transition from broad general education experiences is smooth and progressive  The depth and choice of the senior phase continues to develop the four capacities  Many opportunities for developing transferable skills to fit learners for life and for work, including the partnership elective  Financial Education course for S5/6 builds on learning in S1-S3 and helps prepare for life beyond school  Challenging and supportive courses and choices which help individual learners achieve the highest levels possible  A clear strategy for effective personal support through tutor time, AiFL and action planning within classes  Partnership working to help ensure support as students move to destinations beyond school  Health and wellbeing focus remains within the curriculum and during tutor time  Continued focus on literacy and numeracy within the senior phase  Interdisciplinary learning which is both planned and dynamic to suit the needs of cohorts, classes and individuals

Curriculum for Excellence CfE enquiries (has been open since Nov ‘11): CfE enquiries (has been open since Nov