Senior Course Choice Information Evening Wednesday 4 March

National Qualifications Rationale Continuity same subjects available Coherence builds on previous content and skills Progression increasing level of difficulty S4 Course Choice2

National Qualifications Levels of Course in S5/6 National 4 National 5 Higher Advanced Higher S4 Course Choice3

National Qualifications Progression S4 Course Choice4 National 5 S4S5S6 Pass Higher Pass Advanced Higher National 4 Pass National 5 Pass Higher National 3 Pass National 4 Pass National 5

Key Questions for Pupils to Address Do I know what each subject involves? Am I willing to commit myself to this? Do my choices match my ability? Are my aspirations realistic? Which subjects / pass levels do I need? How many Highers should I attempt in Fifth Year? 5

Most Common Questions 1. How are pupils placed into courses at the correct level? 2. What is a “crash” course? 3. Can pupils change courses? 4. What if a course is oversubscribed? 5. What if (s)he chooses a course that doesn’t run? 6. Why can’t you just add another class? 7. How many Unit Assessments are there and when are they sat? 8. What happens if a pupils fails a Unit Assessment? 9. When can pupils “drop” a course? 10. Can pupils “drop” core subjects? 11. What support can we as parents offer? 12. How many Advanced Highers can you attempt in Sixth Year? 6

Career Academies For pupils currently in S4 planning to stay on for 2 years Starting from August 2015 Programme last for 2 years Bridging from school into the world of work Mentoring with a member of the business community Paid 4 week internship 7

Hilton Dunkeld House

Senior School Agreement and Course Choice Process 9

The Real Experts 10