1. HeadTeacher Inverness high school
John Rutter
HeadTeacher Inverness high school

2. Options choice evening Curriculum presentation
Talks from AspireNorth and UHI / Inverness College
Questions and discussion

3. Inverness High School Positive Destinations 2017
Higher education %
Further education % Mainly UHI / Inverness College
Training %
Employment % Positive Destinations 91.5%
Unemployed seeking 2.8%
Unemployed not seeking 5.6%

4. Start with the end-point in mind
Academic – University (outside Inverness v UHI)
Inverness college
Vocational – Inverness college (other options)
Apprenticeships – modern / foundation
World of work – need for skills
Gap year – plenty of volunteering opportunities

5. Academic University. – need for Highers / Advanced Highers and a
Academic University – need for Highers / Advanced Highers and a strong personal statement
Aspire North
Working through the UHI system – HNC / HND / Degree

6. Vocational / Apprenticeships Foundation apprenticeships at UHI
Modern apprenticeships with a very wide variety of employers e.g. administration, construction, engineering, ICT

7. World of work Work-based (modern) apprenticeships
Essential skills
Literacy and numeracy
Communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Self-management skills
Creativity and problem-solving

8. Curriculum for Excellence:
Up to the end of S3 all pupils are entitled to a curriculum which helps them develop:
literacy, numeracy and thinking skills
essential skills and knowledge
an understanding of society and their place in it
an active and healthy lifestyle
This is known as the broad general education.

9. The choice for the curriculum in S3
Core subjects – English, maths, physical education, religious and moral education, personal and social education
At least one creative subject – art and design, creative industries, music, pe with leadership
At least one science – biology, chemistry, physics
At least one technology – computing science, food and hospitality studies, technology
At least one social subject – geography, history, modern studies
Plus two free choices from Languages (French and Spanish) plus all of the above
There is no guarantee you will get all your choices – this depends on uptake and staffing

10. The Senior Phase
From S4 to S6 all pupils are entitled to a senior phase of education so they can:
specialise
gain qualifications
develop skills
head towards a positive destination. The senior phase can include time spent in and out school to build up a “portfolio” of qualifications. 

11. Senior phase qualifications
National 3 / National 4 / National 5
Highers
Advanced Highers
Other qualifications

12. Other qualifications in the senior phase
Other qualifications including:
ASDAN
SQA wider achievement awards
Duke of Edinburgh award
vocational skills for work courses
courses provided by UHI

13. The curriculum in S4
Core subjects – English, maths (or applications of maths), physical education, personal and social education
Plus four subjects from:
There are also a large number of vocational pathways choices available from UHI / Inverness College
There is no guarantee you will get all your choices – this depends on uptake and staffing
Art and Design
Biology
Chemistry
Computing Science
Creative Industries
Design and Manufacture
Engineering Science
French
Geography
Graphic Communication
History
Hospitality
Modern Studies
Music
Physical Education
Physics
Practical Woodworking

14. The curriculum in S5 and S6
Core subjects - physical education and personal and social education (in S5) – plus a strong recommendation to continue with English or maths (or lifeskills maths) to obtain a national-level qualification
S5 pupils will study five subjects; S6 pupils will study a minimum of four plus citizenship activities
Similar choices to S4 plus:
There may be options available for S6 to continue to advanced higher (either at IHS or elsewhere)
There are also vocational pathways choices, online highers (S6), national progression awards and first-year degree level modules (S6) available from UHI / Inverness College
There is no guarantee you will get all your choices – this depends on uptake and staffing
Most pupils will get at least four of their top five choices
Community Involvement
Community Sports Leadership
Engineering Skills
Human Biology
Lifeskills Cookery
Media
Personal Finance Award
Practical Cake Craft
Practical Woodworking
The Edge
Travel and Tourism

15. All pupils interviewed by Guidance teachers: Ongoing
Information on subject choices to pupils: Today
S3 course choice sheets handed in: 11 March
S4/S5 course choice sheets handed in: 25 March
S2 course choice sheets handed in: 25 February

16. Five important things to think about
• What is my end-point?
• Am I any good at the subject – is success likely?
• Do I enjoy the subject?
• Will it be useful for me in getting a job or going on to further / higher education or training?
• Do my teachers (and guidance) think it will be good for me?

17. Four important things NOT to think about
• My friends are all doing this subject
• None of my friends are doing this subject
• I don’t like my current teacher
• I’ll do this one because I can’t think of anything else to do

18. Remember, before choices are made there is help available:
• Notes on subjects available from departments
• Discussions with subject teachers
• Discussions with guidance teachers
• Advice from senior management – please phone or
• Plenty of websites such as:

25. Any questions ... ?