1. Curriculum for Excellence and S2 to S3 Course Choice Evening
4 February 2013

2. What is the Curriculum? The Four Contexts
The curriculum is more than curriculum areas and subjects. The curriculum is the totality of experiences which are planned for children and young people through their education
Ethos & life of the school as a community
Positive ethos, shared values, participation in decision-making, contribute as leaders & role models
Curriculum areas and subjects
In drawing up Es & Os, learning in each curricular area reviewed to emphasise contribution to developing 4 capacities
Interdisciplinary learning
Make connections. Provide relevant, challenging & enjoyable learning experiences. Different perspectives deepen understanding & provides coherence
Opportunities for personal achievement
Provides a sense of satisfaction & builds motivation, resilience & confidence

3. Key Aim of CfE
Further raise the quality of academic attainment and achievement to enable more of our pupils to achieve sustained positive destinations.

4. Broad General Education
BGE and Senior Phase
Broad General Education

5. S1 and S2 Timetable & Curriculum
Rota of Business Ed/Enterprise + IDL Electives
Largely maintain ‘core’ time
Necessity for some of level 4 in S2 to ensure pace

6. Big Developments BGE courses structured to deliver Es & Os
Greater focus on developing skills for life, work & learning
Greater emphasis on use of formative assessment – including through self, peer, PLPs & profiling
Responsibility of All – Literacy, Numeracy & HWB
Greater emphasis on transitions – primary to secondary and 16+ Learning Choices

7. Greater promotion of:
Active learning – being actively engaged, whether mentally or physically, using real life and imaginary situations
Cooperative learning – encouraging thinking and talking together, to discuss ideas and solve problems
Interdisciplinary learning – using links between different areas of learning to develop, reinforce & deepen understanding
Using technologies in learning – to find material, communicate, create and present

8. Language and Literacy Elective
Pupils will choose three short courses that they will study one period per week throughout the course of the session. Titles include:
Exploring Fairytales
Read All About It!
A World of Stories
Film Trailer Elective
Classical Myths and Legends
The Simpsons
Greek Myths and Legends
Comic Book Superheroes
Find Out About Film
Visions of the Future
Branding (or how to market a product nobody wants!)

9. S2 Electives Curricular Area(s) Title Technologies, Social Studies
Business Enterprise (Compulsory)
Sciences, Technologies, Social Studies, HWB, Numeracy
Food & Environment
HWB, Science, Social Studies, Technologies, RME, Literacy, Numeracy
Alcohol Awareness & Heartstart
RME, Expressive Arts, Technologies, HWB, Literacy
Hinduism
Science
CSI
RME, Social Studies, HWB, Expressive Arts, Literacy
Global Citizenship
Languages
Survival Spanish
Social Studies, Expressive Arts
Titanic
Expressive Arts
Glee Club
Social Studies, Expressive Arts, Technologies, Literacy
Who do you think you are?

10. The Timetable for S3 for 2013-14
English
Mathematics
Health & wellbeing
RME
Choice x 6
4 periods 4
3 (2 x PE + 1 x PSE) 1
3 x 6 = 18
Timetable structure exactly the same as before.
8 Subjects + ‘core’

11. Timetable Structure

12. New SQA Qualifications
SCQF Level Current Qualifications New Qualifications
5 Standard Grade Credit/ National 5 (A-D)
Intermediate 2
4 Standard Grade General/ National 4 (Pass/Fail)
Intermediate 1
3 Standard Grade Foundation/ National 3 (Pass/Fail)
Access 3

13. Fife Council CfE Senior Phase Principles Paper June 2011
It also seems likely that the quality of grades will have increasing importance…. This dilemma also provides strong reasons why the status quo model (8 subjects in S4 for almost all pupils) of the Senior Phase could do serious damage to the quality of many pupil qualifications and to the success rate of leavers’ aspiring destinations.

14. Framework for S4 for 2013-14 English Mathematics Health & wellbeing
RME
Choice x 4
5 periods 5
3 (2 x PE + 1 x PSE) 1
4 x 4 periods

15. Framework for Most of S4 for 2013-14
Effectively 1 period more per week per subject in S4

16. Key Aim of CfE
Further raise the quality of academic attainment and achievement to enable more of our pupils to achieve sustained positive destinations.

17. Parents/Carers Information Evening
Vision: The vision for Inverkeithing High School is based on our motto – “Grow by Choice”. As a school community, we strive to motivate each individual to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning and to therefore achieve their full potential.
Respect Commitment Opportunity Success

18. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013
3rd year continues to be about a broad general education – however, there is choice within this for our pupils.
Now time to start planning ahead and identify the areas that pupils find interesting.
There are a number of areas to consider.

19. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013 The Curriculum
Balance
Breadth
Depth
Progression

20. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013 Advice for parents/carers
Consider the bigger picture – do not look at S3 in isolation.
From the 8 subjects picked in S3, the pupils will choose to continue with 6 of them in S4.
Consider progression of the subjects – majority lead onto Higher, but not all do.

21. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013 Advice for parents/carers
Key factors to remember when discussing this will be:
Enjoyment of subject
Ability within subject
Balance – ensuring that pupils do not narrow their choices too early
Influences

22. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013 Influences
Previous success
You have a major influence
Guidance staff
Peer group
Careers

23. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013
Sometimes pupils have to make hard choices
Sometimes the school has to make very difficult decisions
No course can be guaranteed – it is dependent on the uptake of pupils.

24. S2 into S3 Course Choice 2013 Process
Tonight
Personal & Social Education class
Course choice booklet – Monday 11 Feb
S2 reports – Friday 8 Feb (possibly 11 Feb)
S2 parents’ evening – Wednesday 20 Feb
Interviews – 25 Feb – 1 March
Options check – Wednesday 13 March

25. Course Choice Option Sheet