1. Course Choice What next? for current S2 pupils and parents
Wednesday 7th February

2. Inspire, endeavour, achieve
What do we stand for?
Inspire, endeavour, achieve
Be all you can be
Navigate to success
Curriculum Rationale
Enabled to be their best
Wide range of opportunities
Progressive, flexible and adaptable
Allow everyone to leave with qualifications, abilities and skills for their future lives
Equip pupils with the skills needed to become effective, valuable, happy members of society

3. National Aims Successful Learners Confident Individuals
Responsible Citizens
Effective Contributors

4. 2 Phases of schooling S1 – S3 - Broad, general education
Try out lots of things
Find out what you are good at
Learn transferable skills
S4 – S6 - Senior Phase
Specialise
Focus towards outcome

5. The BGE Curriculum Aim for S3:
Curriculum Area
Stromness Academy Subjects
Expressive Arts
Art & Design, Music,
Health and Wellbeing
HE, PE
Languages
English, French, German
Mathematics
Religious and Moral Education
RME
Sciences
S1/2 Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Social Studies
Geography, History
Technologies
Computing Science, Admin & IT, Food Technology, Fashion & Textiles, Practical Craft Skills
All curriculum areas (left column) must be studied throughout S1-S3
Aim for S3:
Retain breadth whilst allowing personalisation

6. 1 choice each from remaining curriculum areas
Core
English
Mathematics
Mod. Language PE
RME
Modern Studies
PSE
Breadth
1 choice each from remaining curriculum areas
Personalisation
4 further choices
Covers all the curriculum areas, but allows choice and increased depth in some areas
Breadth: Core, plus one choice from each area in left column means that all curriculum areas are covered
Personalisation: Add depth to some areas by choosing an additional 4 options
There are some new subjects, not already in S2 curriculum:
Modern studies (core) = becoming a responsible citizen, aware of politics and the democratic system
You currently study HE; this is not available as a combined subject in S3, it is split into Food Technology and Fashion & Textile Technology. This mirrors the options available for examination the year after. You can choose neither, one or both if you wish.
Same with Tech in S2, Split into Practical Craft Skills and Design & Technology in S3
Drama is studied within English in S1/2, but is a separate option in S3
Business in S1/2 is split into Business and Admin & IT in S3, you can choose neither, one or both
Everyone continues the one Modern Language they have been learning since S1, but there is the option to add the other language
Reserve subject: IMPORTANT – we give free choice of the 4 Option subjects, we do not fix columns ahead and make pupils fit into them, rather we let pupils choose what they want and try to make the timetable fit the pupils. We do not guarantee to be able to make everything fit, but we do our best, and a reserve subject helps make this possible.

7. The Orkney Offer - an integrated Senior Phase
Courses available across Orkney
Choose the course level appropriate to you,
not your school year
Not always essential to have studied a subject in S3 to be able to study it in Senior Phase
Benefits
What’s coming up next:
Dealing with the reality of a small community whilst trying to give our young people as many opportunities as possible
Key message for S3 choices is that choosing not to take a subject in S3 does not always mean you cannot take that subject in S4, 5 or 6
Increased choice of courses
Less popular subjects more likely to be viable
Mixed-level classes less likely

8. So how do you choose?

9. ? Enjoyment Ability Opportunity So how do you choose?
Basic factors to consider – no point choosing something you don’t enjoy. Senior phase courses require you to put in a lot of work in your own time, and you will find it very hard to be motivated to do this if you don’t enjoy the subject.
Ability – we all have things in life we’d love to do, but have to accept we just don’t have the ability to do. If you saw me trying to hit a ball when we played crash mat rounders for Children in Need, you would recognise that aiming for a career in sport was bound to lead to disappointment. Your reports this term include a “recommended level for progression” which level of course your teacher thinks you would be suited to do next in their subject. Prelim results, and how you get on with class and homework will also help you decide this.
Opportunity – When you choose courses, you are opening doors for your future, and you are also closing doors. Make sure you are happy with the doors you are closing, and if you are very unsure about your future path then try to choose subjects which provide a wide range of transferable skills.

10. How not to choose… My friend’s doing it My mum said she enjoyed it
I’m not good at it, but you have to do it for the job I want
I hate it, but it looks good on your CV
I (don’t) like the teacher
It has to be your own choice, right for you.
You are not your friend
You are not your mum – and the course may well have changed since she did it, so make sure your information is up to date
If a course is essential for entering a career, those skills will be needed in the job. If you don’t like doing them in school, you probably won’t like doing them in the job – is this really the right career for you?
If you’re choosing a course to impress someone else, but your heart isn’t in it, that probably won’t be enough to sustain you when the work is getting hard
Teachers move on, things change – no guarantees they will be there next year or beyond

11. Help with choosing It’s YOUR choice! PSE lessons 1:1 interviews
Library sessions
Careers Officer
“My World of Work” website
Mrs Firth
It’s YOUR choice!

12. The process Free choice of courses
Must be signed by PT/Guidance/parent
Must meet deadline – 20th March
Aim to accommodate all choices (including reserve subject)
Checked by pupils after Easter holidays
Ms Hegarty

13. This is the form

14. Thinking further ahead?
Senior Phase Subjects Exhibition until 7pm
Welcome to visit subjects exhibition, things may change but gives you a good idea
School website includes Senior Phase School and College Course brochures under “Info”
Speak to us individually if you have questions