Presentation deliver on 5th March 2014 to parents of S2, S4 & S5 pupils of The Community School of Auchterarder. We explain some of the most prevalent features of The new Nation Qualifications.

1. PARENTS’ CURRICULUM
INFORMATION EVENING
S2-S5
The Community School of Auchterarder
Wednesday 5th March 2014

2. TONIGHT’S AGENDA
• What are the arrangements for Personalisation & Choice?
• What is the new Nationals structure?
• What’s the progression route from Nationals to Highers?
• What kind of work will they be expected to produce?
The Community School of
Auchterarder
Wednesday 5th March 2014

3. TONIGHT’S AGENDA
• What happens if my child fails an exam?
• What do colleges & Universities know about the new structure?
• What are the new Highers
• Why are some subjects studying towards existing Highers?
• What are the arrangements for study leave?
The Community School of
Auchterarder
Wednesday 5th March 2014

4. What are the arrangements for Personalisation & Choice?
S2
• Choice forms out to pupils at the beginning of March
• Guidance interviews
• Maths & English fixed, choose five from other columns
• All pupils to choose from each curricular area
• Seven subjects presented by end of S4 - PKC directive
• Broad General Education into S3, then more focussed by subject
• Course choices evening on Thursday 20th March in LRC

5. What are the arrangements for Personalisation & Choice?
S4/5
• Choice forms out to pupils at the beginning of March
• Guidance interviews
• Choose five from across columns
• Cannot choose two from same column
• Levels available are dependent on demand
• Some AH subjects taught out with column structure
• Course choices evening on Thursday 20th March in LRC

6. A change to next year’s S6
• Full timetable
• Accountable & trackable throughout the week
• Options out with certificated study
• supporting younger classes
• supporting primary school
• volunteering
• structured study classes
• A more focused, business-like S6
• Absolute expectation of course completion
• Anything less, maybe better in college?

7. What is the structure of new Nationals?
Advanced Higher
Advanced Higher
Higher
Higher
Credit
National 5
General
National 4
Foundation
National 3

8. What is the structure of new Nationals?
Advanced Higher
Higher
National 5
National 4
National 3
A must-read for parents:
Nationals in a nut shell
Click here

9. What are the progression routes?
S6
Advanced
Higher
Higher
National 5
S5
Higher
National 5
National 4
S4
National 5
National 4
National 3
• Pending availability (demand)
• Other routes can be considered

10. What kind of work will be expected?
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Currently, a lot
Folio work
Project work
Examples of class work
Examinations

11. What happens if my child fails an exam?
• National 4:
• internally assessed, then moderated
• National 5:
• Narrow miss: awarded a National 5 award at D
• Larger miss: possibility of National 4 pass, but only
after August certificate time. Details here

12. What about the appeals process?
• All changed this year
• No back-up for ‘under-performing’
• New: Exceptional Circumstances Consideration
• New: Post-Results Service
• Full details here

13. What do employers, colleges & universities
know?
• Responsibility of SQA
• Representatives all involved since 2002
• Colleges & universities fully prepared
• Employers - info here
• Universities - info here
See www.dundee.ac.uk/cfe for University take on CfE
• Very worthwhile SQA document here

14. What about the new Highers?
• Highers are changing
• Some substantially, others hardly at all
• Next session - both new & existing are running
Why would we want to do the existing one?
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•
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Support material coming from SQA
This year working on Nat 4/5
Small school means less staff to do development
Robust discussions have taken place
For those subjects, it’s in the best interests of pupils

15. What about the new Highers?
At TCSoA:
New Higher
Existing Higher
Maths
French
English
German
History
Geography
Modern Studies
Computing
Art & Design
Chemistry
Music
Biology
Drama
Physical Education
Business Management
Administration
Physics
Craft & Design Tech
Human Biology

16. What about study leave?
• Current S5/6
• Full study leave
• Current S4
• Four (or more) exams?
Full study leave
• Less than four exams?
Two days off before exam and day of exam
S4 pupils in school during May will be involved in
alternative learning provision.

17. What have we covered?
• Arrangements for Personalisation & Choice?
• New Nationals structure?
• Progression route from Nationals to Highers?
• The work they will be expected to produce?
• What happens if children fail exams
• Colleges & Universities
• New Highers
• What subjects are studying towards existing Highers
• Study leave

18. PARENTS’ CURRICULUM
INFORMATION EVENING
S2-S5
The Community School of Auchterarder
Wednesday 5th March 2014