1. Hillhead High School Senior Phase Pathways Information Evening September 2017

2. Programme for this evening
Purpose of tonight
Information on Hillhead High’s curriculum structure – K. McAlaney
The options process and support available – J. Meechan
S6 and beyond – P. Murray & S.Neil

3. Purpose of this Information Evening
Share information on our curricular model
Introduce you to many of the key people / partners
Answer any questions
Time to discuss

4. Old Curriculum Model – before CfE
Employment / Training
College
S5 – Highers and Intermediates
S6- Advanced Highers, Highers and Intermediates
University
S3 & S4
Standard Grades
S1 & S2
Common Course
Pupils made main choices during S2
A number of pupils left at the end of S4
Those who stayed on often left at the end of S5
Concern of the “two term dash” for Higher in S5

5. CfE: Key changes
More pupils staying on at school longer and approaches to the senior phase changing as a result:
The common course of S1-S2 replaced with a Broad General Education that lasts until the end of S3
More focus on wider achievement
More focus on qualifications at exit level
More opportunities for pupils at all levels / more flexible curriculum
Schools can design a curriculum to fit needs of their pupils

6. The Broad General Education (BGE)
Expressive Arts
Health and Wellbeing
Languages (including English)
Mathematics
Religious and Moral Education
Sciences
Social Studies
Technologies
The BGE lasts until the end of third year (S3)

7. CfE – typical approach
S1 –S3
Broad General Education S4
1 year Nat 4 or Nat 5 course x 7 or 8 subjects
S5 – 1 year courses in Nat 5 or Higher x 5 subjects
S6 – 1 year courses in Nat 5 or Higher or Advanced Higher
Impact on delivering true BGE
Assessment burden in S4
Still “two-term dash” in S5
Duplication of work
Less room for wider achievement

8. Broad General Education
Our Approach
S4 & S5 Two Year Pathway
(Higher, Nat 5 or Nat 4) – 6 subjects and one Wider Achievement option OR
S4 One Year Pathway
S6 – one year Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers, college courses, mentoring, Open University courses, volunteering etc
S1 – S3
Broad General Education
Minor personalisation and choice in S3 of the BGE within the curricular areas
Senior phase begins at start of S4
More time for learning and teaching
Space for wider achievement

9. What about those who wish to leave at the end of S4 or during S5?
National 4 Employability pathways is on offer – to date, no uptake
Risk Matrix used to identify those in danger of leaving early
Support put in place to “bank” as many National 4s as possible

10. What has been the impact of this approach?
More pupils leaving school with Highers and Advanced Highers – better quality of passes also
Fewer children leaving with results at National 4 level
At Hillhead around 98% of pupils stay on to the end of S5 and 86% of S4 pupils stayed on to the end of S6.
Pupils go on to positive destinations

11. Evaluation of our approach
Education Scotland visits over the last few years
Support of local authority
May visit of Bill Maxwell (former CEO of Education Scotland) and Paul Johnston (Director-General Learning and Justice)
June publication of Senior Phase Pathways in three secondary schools

12. Pupil Voice – Two Year Pathway
lots of time to prepare in class before exams
More time for learning and practice (e.g. two prelims)
Moving levels can be easier earlier on in certain courses but in others it can be decided very late which gives you more time to progress
Wider achievement - wide range of choices, good experience, develops key skills, most lead to an award, enjoyable, something to look forward to

13. Transition Points

14. Personalisation and Choice in S3
Pupils make choices half-way through S2 for the final year of the BGE.
Pupils continue with English, mathematics and their chosen modern language, RE, PE and PSE.
Pupils make 6 other choices within the curricular areas – e.g. a pupil may opt for chemistry and/or biology in science.
Pupils continue to work through BGE courses – usually at third or fourth level.
Senior phase options process begins half-way through S3.

15. Preparing for the Senior Phase
In February of 2018 young people will be given the opportunity to review their subject choices their Pastoral Care teachers will help them decide which subjects and qualifications they want to study in fourth year and beyond
What subjects do I like?
What I am going to do when I leave school?
What subjects will I need to take into the senior phase?

16. Support Available Options Booklets PSE lessons
Subject reports and Parents’ Evenings
Pastoral Care teachers
Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
Principal Teachers of Raising Attainment
Pupils complete 2 drafts of the form – pupil voice is at the heart of process

17. X
Pupil comment - I would like N5 Modern studies in column E

18. S4 Wider Achievement

19. SCQF
Level
School Qualifications
College Qualifications
University Qualifications
Apprenticeship Qualifications 10
Honours Degree
Graduate Apprenticeship
SVQ Level 6 9
Bachelors Degree
SVQ Level 5 8
Higher National Diploma (HND)
Year 2
Higher Apprenticeship
SVQ Level 4 7
Advanced Higher
Higher National Certificate (HNC)
Year 1
Modern Apprenticeship
SVQ Level 3 6
Higher
Skills for Work Level 6
NPA Level 6
National Certificate (NC)
Level 6
SVQ Level 2 5
National 5
Skills for Work Level 5
NPA Level 5
Level 5
SVQ Level 1 4
National 4
Skills for Work Level 4
NPA Level 4

20. Our Vision for S6 Leadership and responsibility S6 Induction Week
Partnerships