1. Mearns Castle High School Striving for Excellence
S1 Parents’
Curriculum Information Evening
8 October 2018

2. Tonight’s presentation will be available on the school’s website

3. P7 Pupil Evaluations June 2018
No.
Question
Agree
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree %
Agree % 1
I enjoyed visiting Mearns Castle
161 42 3 1%
99% 8
I know what to do if there is something that worries me
141 51 9 4%
96% 10
Teachers expect me to work to the best of my ability
169 31 12
I get on well with other pupils
149 47 7 3%
97% 13
I feel safe and secure in the school
122 75 5 14
The Academic Family was helpful 32 2 18
I am looking forward to coming to Mearns Castle in August 35 4 2%
98%

4. P7 Pupil Evaluations June 2018
I think the Induction Days really helped because they give you a taste of what will happen in August
I enjoyed the Induction Days and I am less nervous to come here now
The Academic Family was amazing I am so excited to start High School
I met new people and friends and all the kids are nice, I’m excited for August
I can’t wait for August

5. Our Vision
The Mearns Castle High School community will work together to sustain a safe, inclusive and high quality learning environment that enables us to develop fully our capacities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society.

6. Our Values
Respect: show self-respect and be considerate of the needs, wishes and feelings of others.
Inclusion: treat all people fairly and enable them to feel included.
Integrity: be honest and sincere.
Responsibility: be accountable for your actions and make a positive contribution to society.
Ambition: show a pride in your school and have high expectations of what you can achieve.
Achievement: be enthusiastic and show a determination to succeed in all you do.

7. Our Aims
We will be motivated and enthusiastic in our learning and teaching and determined to reach the highest standards of attainment and achievement.
We will be confident and ambitious, build positive relationships and pursue a healthy and active lifestyle
We will show initiative and be enterprising, creative and responsible citizens.
We will show respect for others, care for our environment and make a positive contribution to society.

8. Vision Values and Aims
‘A shared vision is not an idea… it is, rather, a force in people’s hearts… at its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question ‘What do we want to create?’’
Peter Senge

9. Pupil Support Arrangements
Surnames HT /DHT /PTPSP House
A, C, J, Mac Mrs Mitchell/Mr Cairney Caledonia
B, D, E, F Mr Phillips /Mrs Crilley Balmoral
G, H, I, K Mr Smith/Mr Gooch Gleneagles
M, N, O, R Mr Donnelly/Mrs Brophy Ramsay
Mc, S Mr McGarry/Miss Oram Sutherland
L, P, Q,T- Z Mr Hale/Miss Cartledge Wallace

10. The story so far... Academic Family S6 Buddies
S1 Extra Curricular Showcase
S1 Fun Run

11. Future Events Firework Safety Presentation Charities Week
Christmas Dance
S-Factor IDL Event
Pointless – Maths Competition

12. Secondary Stages
Broad General Education S1-2
Senior Phase – S3-6
S1/S2 (most choose 8 subjects at end of S2)
S3/S4 (most choose 5 subjects at end of S4) S5 S6

13. Curriculum Organisers
Languages – English, Modern Languages
Mathematics
Social Studies – Geography, History, Moderns Studies
Religious and Moral Education – RMPS, Citizenship
Health & Wellbeing – PE, Health & Food Technology, PSE
Science – Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Expressive Arts – Music, Art, Drama
Technologies – Technical Education, Business Education, Computing

14. Responsibilities for all Teachers
Health and Wellbeing
Mental, Emotional, Social, Physical
Health and Food Technology, PE, PSE
embedded in the curriculum
Literacy
Numeracy

15. Literacy and Numeracy
Every teacher in each area of the curriculum needs to find opportunities to encourage young people to explain their thinking, debate their ideas and read and write at a level which will help them to develop their language skills further.
All teachers have responsibility for promoting the development of numeracy. With an increased emphasis upon numeracy for all young people, teachers will need to plan to revisit and consolidate numeracy skills throughout schooling.
Building the Curriculum 1

16. Literacy / Numeracy Across Learning
Helping pupils make the links…
S1 Literacy Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing Passport w/c Monday 8 October
1 week event
Pupils look for literacy/ numeracy/ h&wb across school
Passports stamped at the Library
House points awarded as appropriate

17. Inter Disciplinary Learning
 Giving space within the curriculum for
learning beyond subject boundaries
Whole Year Group activities – S-Factor / Rapid Response (Hurricane in Honduras)
Linked working between departments
Transferrable skills

18. Departmental Links and many more... French & PE ‘Handball’
Learn the rules of this popular game in French and play the game in PE
English & Science ‘Whodunnit’
Use chromatography techniques in Science to solve a murder mystery that pupils write in English
Drama & Music ‘Scottish Stories’
Pupil use music they have created to prompt drama performances
and many more...

19. Timetable 33 periods per week 5 @ English – every day / S2 - 4
Maths / S2 - 5 – every day
PE, Science, ML, Social Studies
RMPS, Citizenship, PSE
Subjects taught in rotation (rotate in October)
3 Periods per week – approximately 10 week blocks
Technical & Art
IT & Music
Food and Health Technology & Drama

20. Assessment
Teachers use a range of assessment approaches to assess the different types of achievement across the curriculum.
This range allows learners to demonstrate what they know, understand and can do.

21. Examples of assessment
Food and Heath Technology English
Produce a food safety leaflet Solo talk presentation measured
that is well presented and against a pro-forma and peer
colourful assessed
Music Modern Languages
Filmed evidence of Performance of a ‘Rap’ on the
individual/group performance topic of leisure
Physical Education History
Evaluation of filmed performance Deliver a group presentation on your
over a period of time research about Skara Brae

22. Reporting Attainment Levels
For each CfE level 2 to 4 there are currently 3 categories
Developing
Pupils have experienced a number of outcomes and are beginning to make progress
Consolidating
Pupils have achieved a wide range of outcomes and are beginning to undertake more challenging learning
Secure
Pupils have achieved success in all outcomes and have applied learning in new and unfamiliar situations

23. Gradient of Learning / Progression Key Milestones
Stage
Pre 5 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 S1 S2 S3
70%
Early
Dec
1st
Oct
2nd
4th
Jun
25%
Mar
3rd

24. Gradient of Learning / Progression Key Milestones
Stage S2 S3 S4 S5 S6
70%
CfE
4th Level
National Higher Adv H
25%
3rd Level
National National Higher 5%
National National 4

25. Wider Participation / Achievement
A wide range of opportunities, including
Maxwell Mearns Church Basement
Sports / Games
Debating
Jewellery and Textiles / Craft
Classics
Performing Arts / Music / Chinese
Chess
Science / Cryptocrackers
Lego History
Christian Union
Amnesty International / Eco Schools

26. Colours
For many years we have taken great pride in recognising pupil achievements through the school’s Colours programme.
The fields we recognise are:
Sport
Expressive Arts
Citizenship
Enterprise
Application forms on the website

27. Leadership
Pupil Voice
S1 House Prefects
S1 Year Group Council

28. Reporting Progress Tracking Report – Tuesday 20 November 2018
- Ratings on Progress, Behaviour, Effort & HW
Parents’ Meeting – Thursday 29 November meet individual teachers for feedback
Full Report – Monday 20 May 2019
- Full written comment from each subject detailing strengths, next steps and level & progress within level

29. SDS School Leaver Initial Destination Statistics 2016-2017 - %HE FE
Train
Emp
Volun
Un / S
Un / NS
Not K
Positive
Mearns Castle HS
76.2
10.4
1.0
9.4
0.5
1.5
97.5

30. Parent Partnership UPBEAT Uniform
Homework – Logbook (website presentation)
Attendance /timekeeping
Pupil Support (Pastoral) support
Check the website regularly
Twitter
We value your feedback

31. on line Evaluation Form P7-S1Transition Programme
and Finally…
 Any Questions?
Please complete your
on line Evaluation Form
of our
P7-S1Transition Programme
Thank you