MEARNS CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL S 3 CURRICULUM EVENING

MEARNS CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL S 3 CURRICULUM EVENING TUESDAY 30 th OCTOBER 2018

Overview SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework) Assessment Subject Advice specific Information for parents and carers – home learning, study environment and useful websites!

This evening’s presentation will be uploaded onto the school website https: //blogs. glowscotland. org. uk/er/Mearns. Castle/

SCQF Framework

History lesson… �O Grades (until 1990) � Standard Grades (from 1990 – 2006) ◦ Credit, General, Foundation � National Qualifications (NQ) (2006 – 2014) ◦ Access, Int 1, Int 2 � Nationals (2015 - ) ◦ Nat 3, Nat 4, Nat 5

New National Courses SCQF Level Change from Change to 1 Access 1 National 1 2 Access 2 National 2 3 Access 3 / Standard Grade (Foundation) National 3 4 Standard Grade (General) / Intermediate 1 National 4 5 Standard Grade (Credit) / Intermediate 2 National 5 6 Higher (new) 7 Advanced Higher (new)

Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework http: //scqf. org. uk/interactive-framework/

Assessment

Nat 4 Assessment � Assess ◦ ◦ ◦ the application of learning across the course Pass or fail. NO FINAL EXAMINATION. Ensure required skills, knowledge and understanding have been achieved Unit Assessments (UASPs) are set by the SQA Added Value Unit Assessments are set by the SQA Carried out and marked by class teacher and internally moderated by department/faculty. All internal moderation could be subject to external verification by the SQA.

Nat 5 Assessment � Most course assessments consist of an assignment and a final exam which are marked by the SQA. � For practical reasons, other courses have components which are assessed by external examiners, e. g. music � Graded A-C, D or fail.

7 Methods of Assessment. � Assignment � Case Study � Practical Activity � Performance � Portfolio � Project � Question paper/test

Assessment Subject Examples

Mathematics � Unlike almost all other N 5 courses – there is no internal component to the Maths course. � The Course Assessment consists of two Question Papers – calculator and non-calculator presented in the final exam and marked by the SQA

English Ø Assessment consists of a final examination and also portfolio work. Ø A two section final examination close reading/comprehension and critical reading. Ø All assessed externally with the exception of spoken assessment.

Biology � The course assessment will be a two-section final exam and an assignment which will require learners to research a topical issue. � The Course Assessment and Assignment will be marked by the SQA.

Modern Languages � The Course Assessment will be a Final Exam in listening, reading and writing and there will be a written assignment and a talking exam. � The Course Assessment and Assignment will be marked by the SQA.

Geography Ø The course assessment consists of a final examination that assesses KU and applying skills as well as an assignment. Both are marked externally.

Art & Design � The Course Assessment consists of two folios – an Expressive Portfolio and a Design Portfolio. Through investigation, development and evaluation the pupil produces one final piece of expressive art work and a further investigation, development and evaluation leads to one final design solution. � There is also a final written exam � All work is externally marked by the SQA.

Music � The Course Assessment consists of a Performance Exam, Composition Assignment and a Listening Question Paper � Pupils perform an 8 minute programme of music on two chosen instruments or instrument and voice. � All elements are externally marked by the SQA

Physical Education � The Course Assessment consists of Performance and the Portfolio: � Each candidate will perform in two different activities, each worth 30 marks. School staff will carry out the assessment but are subject to external moderation from SQA. � The portfolio is worth 60 marks and is completed in school and marked according externally by SQA � No final exam

S 3/4 Assessment Calendar School Website Mearns Castle High School - SQA Nationals - S 3 Whole School Assessment Timeline

Additional Support for Learning � Information about Assessment Arrangements ◦ Young people with additional support needs may be eligible for tailored assessment arrangements such as extra time, use of a computer, digital question papers/tests/reader and scribe

Presentation Levels? � In 2018 over 92% of our presentations were at N 5 and of those presentations 93% were successful � However N 4 may be a better route for some young people allowing them to have success in S 4 and then build on that during the senior phase � Final decisions about presentation levels will be made in the main after the S 4 prelims. We are ambitious but realistic

Gradient of Learning Subject Nat 5 Result 2017 English Higher Result 2018 (ERC) A B C D Fail A 1 81% 17% 2% 0% 0% A 2 42% 36% 16% 3% 3% B 3 10% 36% 13% 11% B 4 3% 21% 44% 18% 14% C 5 0% 7% 26% 21% 46% C 6 3% 0% 21% 29% 47%

Gradient of Learning Subject N 5 Result 2017 Maths Higher Result 2018 (ERC) A B C D Fail A 1 86% 11% 3% 0% 0% A 2 35% 33% 22% 4% 6% B 3 11% 30% 13% 16% B 4 3% 22% 34% 16% 25% C 5 0% 14% 33% 13% 40% C 6 0% 0% 0% 14% 86%

Home Learning

Planning for study � Dedicated study area � Work to a plan � Organise notes and resources � Mobile phones � Diet � Exercise � Sleep patterns

Study techniques

Mind Maps

Mnemonics Cranial Bones Old People from Texas Eat Spiders Occipital Parietal Frontal Temporal Ethnoid Spheniod

Flash Cards Apps and software • Evernote • Springpad • Simplenote • Google keep • Microsoft Onenote

Recording Notes

Post Its

Bedroom? ? ?

Bedroom? ? ?

Number 1 distraction?

Sleep to remember, remember to sleep. Many teenagers have little understanding of how much bad sleep is impairing their ability to learn. “Some research showed that if children are sleep-deprived by just an hour a night, it could reduce their cognitive academic performance by up to two whole years, ”. “We need to recognise that sleep is one of the most powerful performance-enhancers known to humankind. If you are serious about your academic performance, then you should be getting good quality sleep on a regular basis. ” Source: The Guardian

Sleep tight: tips for a good night • • Avoid sugary snacks and caffeine, particularly at supper time. Good alternatives are bananas, porridge or wholemeal bread. Think about the bedroom environment: is it calm and conducive to sleep? Have a consistent routine that you follow every evening in the hour before bedtime. Having a bath/shower bathtime can be relaxing. Do this 30 minutes before bedtime to allow the body temperature to rise and then drop again – this helps us feel sleepy. No screen activity in the hour before bed; no TVs, computers, phones or tablets. Activities involving hand-eye coordination help the brain wind down before bed Have a set wake-up time, even at the weekend.

GLOW & MCHS Website � Increasingly we are putting revision materials, study advice and homework on GLOW and the school website. � We have an updated S 3/S 4 Assessment calendar on the school website to help support pupils to prepare and organise their time management.

Useful websites � http: //www. pickthebrain. com/blog/how-to-stick-to-your- study-plan/ � http: //www. edutopia. org/multiple-intelligences-assessment

Scottish Qualifications Authority http: //www. sqa. org. uk/sqa/70972. html BBC Bitesize https: //www. bbc. com/bitesize/subjects/ztrjmp 3

Key dates � S 3 ◦ ◦ Tracking Report – 7 th December 2018 Parents meeting – 12 th March 2019 S 3 Exams – 18 th March– 3 rd May 2019 Full report – 7 th June 2019 � S 4 (provisional) ◦ S 4 Parents meeting – October 2019 ◦ Prelims – December 2019 ◦ S 4 Report – confirmation of presentation levels – January 2020

We welcome your feedback � An online evaluation is available from 8. 00 pm Tuesday 30 October until 8. 00 pm Friday 2 November.

Any questions?