St Peter the Apostle High School Parent Council Meeting Curriculum for Excellence Tuesday 19 th February 2013

What is Curriculum for Excellence? *A fresh approach to what, how and where young people learn - fit for the 21 st century *A fresh approach to what, how and where young people learn - fit for the 21 st century *Aims to raise standards, improve knowledge and develop skills by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from 3 to 18 *Develop “four capacities” in young people which are: successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors & responsible citizens.

Broad General Education S1 – S3 Pupils must experience Experiences & Outcomes up to third level Pupils must experience Experiences & Outcomes up to third level Choice in S2 & S3 is possible / desirable Choice in S2 & S3 is possible / desirable Early presentation for examinations is not an option except in very exceptional individual circumstances Early presentation for examinations is not an option except in very exceptional individual circumstances Pupils cannot embark on SQA courses in S3 Pupils cannot embark on SQA courses in S3 Develops skills for learning, life & work Develops skills for learning, life & work Develops the 4 capacities Develops the 4 capacities Four contexts for learning (life of the school, subjects, IDL and achievement) Four contexts for learning (life of the school, subjects, IDL and achievement)

The Senior Phase S4 – S6 Provides specialisation, depth & rigour Provides specialisation, depth & rigour Prepares young people for qualifications at highest level of which they are capable Prepares young people for qualifications at highest level of which they are capable Develops skills for learning, life & work Develops skills for learning, life & work Continues to develop the 4 capacities Continues to develop the 4 capacities Supports the achievement of a positive & sustained destination. Supports the achievement of a positive & sustained destination.

Delivering the Entitlement Opportunity for academic achievement Opportunity for academic achievement Vocational education/employability skills Vocational education/employability skills Enterprise activities Enterprise activities Financial education Financial education Study/research/ICT skills Study/research/ICT skills Literacy, Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing Literacy, Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing Personal achievement Personal achievement Volunteering/charity work/citizenship Volunteering/charity work/citizenship New SQA awards to support Achievement New SQA awards to support Achievement

What’s Changing at SQA? *The fresh approach to learning under Curriculum for Excellence requires new assessment methods and qualifications. *The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is developing the new qualifications which will have equal status and credibility to those currently available and will support the new curriculum. *SQA is working with parents, teachers, colleges, universities, employers and the Scottish Government to make sure national standards are maintained. *The new qualifications will help pupils reach their full potential as they progress from their broad, general education through to college, university, other learning and employment.

New Qualifications Current Qualifications REPLACED BY New National Qualifications Access 1 and Access 2 > Access 1 and Access 2 (revised) Access 3 Standard Grade > Access 3 (revised) (Foundation) Standard Grade (General) > National 4 Intermediate 1 Standard Grade (Credit) > National 5 Intermediate 2 Higher > Higher (Revised) Advanced Higher > Advanced Higher (Revised)

When is it Changing? Current S3 S3 will be the first cohort of pupils in Saint Peter the Apostle High School to sit the new qualifications in May 2014 S3 will be the first cohort of pupils in Saint Peter the Apostle High School to sit the new qualifications in May 2014 Extensive options programme underway which will help pupils decide how to specialise within the qualifications framework Extensive options programme underway which will help pupils decide how to specialise within the qualifications framework Each National Qualification allocated a notional 160 hours of learning time Each National Qualification allocated a notional 160 hours of learning time S4 pupils will undertake six national 4 / national 5 qualifications over 1 year S4 pupils will undertake six national 4 / national 5 qualifications over 1 year Future exploration of by-passing lower level qualifications (in future S4 pupils could embark on up to 6 higher courses at the start of S4) Future exploration of by-passing lower level qualifications (in future S4 pupils could embark on up to 6 higher courses at the start of S4) Partnership with Parents – inform & involve Partnership with Parents – inform & involve A curriculum which is fit for purpose – meeting individual need (Please refer to curriculum pathways paper) A curriculum which is fit for purpose – meeting individual need (Please refer to curriculum pathways paper)

Consultation Considerations Introduction of 32 period week from August 2013 in all WDC secondary schools Introduction of 32 period week from August 2013 in all WDC secondary schools Allocation of teaching and learning time from S1 – S6 within the new structure Allocation of teaching and learning time from S1 – S6 within the new structure Ensuring the delivery of the national entitlements to all learners Ensuring the delivery of the national entitlements to all learners Five key consultation questions Five key consultation questions Consultation period from 19 th February – 12 th March 2013 Consultation period from 19 th February – 12 th March 2013

Consultation Proposals Proposal 1. It is proposed that in light of the WDC move to a 32 period week from August 2013 that social subjects, art, music, business studies and computing return to their original time allocation in S1 and S2. The two periods of timetabled IDL will be accommodated by the additional two periods in the school week. (Please see curriculum plan table).

Consultation Proposals Proposal 2. Currently pupils in S3 have 1 period of HWB and 1 period of PE. The current S3 have no timetabled IDL. It is proposed that from August 2013, the additional 2 periods in the school week are used to secure 2 periods of PE for all S3 pupils and 1 period of timetabled IDL. (Please see curriculum plan table).

Consultation Proposals Proposal 3. Acknowledging that learning undertaken in S3 will contribute to learning in the senior phase, it is proposed that each of the six columns in the S4 options structure options will be allocated at least four periods for National 4 and 5 courses. It is proposed that national 4 and 5 courses in English and Maths will be allocated five periods. (Please see curriculum plan table).

Consultation Proposals Proposal 4. It is proposed that all pupils in S4 will experience 2 periods of PE, 1 period of HWB and 1 period of IDL. (Please see curriculum plan table).

Consultation Proposals Proposal 5. In S5/S6 pupils will undertake up to 6 National 4 / National 5 / National 6 / National 7 Qualifications. All National 6 courses will be allocated a minimum of 5 periods. (H English and H Maths will have 6 periods). It is proposed that for most young people the 6th column will be enriched with opportunities for young people to access PE, HWB and skills for learning, life and work. (Please see curriculum plan table).

Consultation Papers 1. Powerpoint presentation (19 th February 2013) 2. Parent Consultation Document including:- 1. Rationale for Change 2. Consultation Questions 3. Tabulated Time Allocation Proposal 4. Response Pro-Forma 3. Senior Phase Implementation Summary 4. Tabulated time allocation proposal with prose commentary 5. Audit of proposals against 6 national entitlements and 7 principles of curriculum design 6. Tabulated Learners’ Journeys 7. Prose Learners’ Journeys

Consultation Process 1. Staff consultation including working groups, middle manager forums and departmental discussion. 2. Pupil consultation via elected Pupil Council – representation from every year group. Three meetings to formulate response to key questions posed. 3. Parental Consultation including:- 1. Text message 2. Letter 3. Website Information and electronic access to consultation papers 4. Access to consultation papers via school office 4. Consultation period 19 th February – 12 th March PLEASE MAKE RETURNS TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE