1. Ardrossan Academy Senior Phase Curriculum Ambition - Respect - Excellence

2. Aims of this evening To introduce the new SQA National Qualifications. Explain the structure of qualifications and what assessment looks like. Share information about the Senior Phase curriculum from session 2016-17. Ambition - Respect - Excellence

3. New Qualifications. Advanced Higher Higher / National 6 National 5 National 4 National 3 National 2 National 1

4. National 3 and National 4 Made up of internal units only. Added Value unit. Marked internally by teachers as Pass / Fail. No final examination. For full course award, candidates must pass ALL internal units AND the Added value unit. All National 3/4 coursework is subject to SQA External Verification. National 5 and New Higher Made up of internal units and a Course Assessment. Unit assessments are marked internally as Pass/Fail. Course Assessment makes up the final examination grade and is mainly marked externally by SQA. Graded A to D or ‘No Award.

5. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Assessment Methods. 7 Assessment methods. Added value will be assessed using seven broad methods: Assignments Case studies Practical activities Performances Portfolios Projects Question papers/tests

6. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Summary of Methods of Assessments National 4 (35 Courses) National 5 (35 Courses) Higher (35 Courses) Assignment2625 Case Study-11 Performance378 Portfolio-32 Practical Activity66- Project--4 QP/Test23842

7. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Assessment Arrangements. Reader assistance. Scribe. Laptop assistance. Extra Time. Digital Papers. Braille papers. ESOL.  Arranged through pupil support by classroom teacher.

8. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Exceptional Circumstances. Use to support candidates who through no fault of their own cannot attend the final examination. Bereavement / Serious Illness / Injury. Medical certificate presented to school. Must be with SQA no later than 10 working days following exam. Materials presented by school to SQA. Certification as normal.

9. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Recognising Positive Achievement. Available at National 4 and National 5. Automatically awarded when candidate has passed all Internal units and Added Value unit at National 4 but attains a ‘No Award’ in final National 5 Course Assessment. Or if candidate passes internal unit assessments at National 4 but fails the Added Value Unit at this level. Not awarded to candidates who attain a grade D at National 5.

10. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Results Service. 9 th August 2016 Results to Candidates

11. Ambition - Respect - Excellence Key Dates – Session 2015 -16 S4/5/6 Prelims – Monday 18 th January 2016 to Friday 29 th January 2016 (inclusive). Final exams – Wednesday 4 th May 2016 to Friday 5/6/15 (inclusive) Unit Assessments / Added Value Units – 2 weeks notice (text message) Under achievement – Ongoing, Letters sent home from school Tracking Information – 12 th November 2015, 19 th February 2016 and 1 st April 2016. Parents’ Evenings – S5/6 29 th February 2016 and S4 8 th March 2016.

12. Senior Phase Curriculum The Senior Phase is the part of the curriculum which has been traditionally thought of as S4- S6. Currently S4 is a single year of 7 National Qualifications. Currently S5/6 is a blend of (at most) 5 Highers, Advanced Highers and Nationals. Currently vocational learning does not take place until S5 at the earliest. Ambition - Respect - Excellence

13. Senior Phase Curriculum Currently pupils are taught by what is considered appropriate for their age. Currently the skills employers tell us are very important don’t get a real chance to be developed until S6. Ambition - Respect - Excellence

14. Ardrossan Academy Staying on Rates Ambition - Respect - Excellence What does this tell us? Our curriculum needs to support a wider range of learners than ever before! AugustS4 to S5S5 to S6S4 to S6 201491.78%62.77%48.04% 201376.54%70.90%54.60% 201277.01%65.19%48.09% 201173.77%67.18%46.56% 201069.31%52.98%39.02%

15. Ardrossan Academy School Leavers’ Destinations Ambition - Respect - Excellence Session 2013-14 Learning is good! Approximately 75% of our learners want to keep learning. Higher Education42.2% Further Education32.0% Training2.7% Employment16.3%

16. Ambition - Respect - Excellence

19. How do we design our Senior Phase Curriculum? Priorities Meeting learners’ needs Pathways Vocational Academic route Skills Development Closing the Attainment Gap Ambition - Respect - Excellence

20. Combine S4, S5 and S6 Reduce to 6 SQA subjects in S4. S5 pupils will study a minimum of 5 SQA subjects. S6 pupils will study a minimum of 4 SQA subjects. Assign classes by level rather than by stage. Incorporate vocational learning into S4 where appropriate. Ambition - Respect - Excellence From Session 2016-17

21. What do we need from parents/carers? Support with attendance and time-keeping. Support with attendance at supported study and Easter School. Support with study planning. Ask questions. Ambition - Respect - Excellence