CHRYSTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 TODAYS PRESENTATION The coming

CHRYSTON HIGH SCHOOL 1

TODAY’S PRESENTATION • The coming months for S 5/6 pupils • What has changed about Unit Assessment? • Why is the assessment fortnight important? • What about the exams? • Results service requests • What are we doing? • What can you do as parents / carers? • What we expect of our pupils? 2

THE COMING MONTHS FOR S 4/5/6 PUPILS • Unit Assessment – Completed throughout session for tracking purposes • Parent’s night – S 4 – Tuesday 4 th December S 5/6 – • Tracking reports – S 4 – S 5/6 - Thursday 15 th November 11 th October, 7 th February, 28 th March 4 th October, 7 th February, 28 th March • Assessment fortnight begins - 9 th January • February / March - Folios / Practical work completed in certain subjects and submitted to SQA • SQA Exams begin – 25 th April 3

WHAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT UNIT ASSESSMENT • No longer part of the formal SQA assessment (except Ad Higher) • Units no longer a barrier to sitting exams • Units used to help track progress. (Will vary across departments) • Units as stand alone accreditation where overall award unlikely. • Presentation Levels 4

WHY IS THE ASSESSMENT FORTNIGHT IMPORTANT? • No appeals, now replaced with results service. • Practise for the final exam • Let pupils, staff and parents know about current attainment (Tracking progress) • May be used if pupil is unable to sit the exam (Exceptional Circumstance) 5

WHAT EXAMS ARE OUR PUPILS SITTING? • National 5 • Higher • Advanced Higher • There are no exams for National 3 or 4, however both of these levels are open to external verification in every subject to ensure grades are appropriate. 6

NATIONAL 5– ADVANCED HIGHER • • Pupils cover work over less than one year. End of unit assessment’s only apply to Ad Higher. Final exam in May. For Advanced Higher necessary to pass ALL assessments and final exam to gain a course award. • Graded A – D on certificate. • If not mentioned on certificate then No award has been given ( Generally less than 40%) 7

AN EXAMPLE OF A TRACKING REPORT • • S 4 -6 pupils will receive one tracking report each term. Study Level initially set at highest possible level. Regular DHT / PT meetings to discuss levels. Importance of Target Grade and Working Grade 8

WHAT ARE TEACHERS DOING? • Identifying what needs to be done to achieve targets • Offering additional support • Lunchtime • Supported Study after school • GLOW, Edmodo, Twitter • Mentoring • Encouraging pupils to be positive and believe in themselves • Notifying parents should there be any concern or any real areas of outstanding success. 9

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO? • Discuss targets and share in agreed goals • Remind your son/daughter to ask for help from teachers if and when needed • Encourage attendance at Supported Study • Discuss revision – you may suggest: • Note taking • Summarising work completed • Making mindmaps / spider diagrams / lists • Help look over completed work • Ask about progress • Encourage and praise (be firm and don’t give in when 10 things get difficult)

STUDYING IS MORE THAN JUST HOMEWORK • Find space for them to work • Monitor time watching TV, playing consoles, on Facebook, out with friends etc… • Help them get organised • Make sure they have enough resources – pencils, paper, highlighters, calculator etc… • Be interested • Be patient • Be available • Contact us if you have concerns 11

WHAT DO WE EXPECT OF OUR PUPILS? • • • Attend school every day on time Identify with teachers what needs to be done Show commitment and complete individual tasks Take advantage of support offered by teachers Persevere – it won’t always be easy Be positive, aim high, believe in their ability and enjoy their personal achievements • Be resilient. Don’t give in or take the easy option. 12

SOME FINAL POINTS • Notification of concerns form staff. Work with us – we want the best for your child. • Study Periods • Part time jobs 13

CHRYSTON HIGH SCHOOL MAKING THE GRADE 14