Mearns Castle High School S 5 Parents Curriculum

Mearns Castle High School S 5 Parents Curriculum Evening Monday 17 th September 2018 Presentation on school website after event

The purpose of this evening Introductions S 5 – SDS Support, Alternative Pathways Pupil and Subject Perspective Insight into the move from S 4 to S 5

e l y o D s i Chr r e s i v d A s r e e r a School C Skills Development Scotland

There are now three kinds of Apprenticeship: • Foundation Apprenticeship • Modern Apprenticeship • Graduate Level Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship or University?

Moderns Apprenticeships “Apprenticeships are for young people who are good with their hands”

A Powerful Model of Learning

What is available? There are over 100 apprentice frameworks Mechanical Engineer Carpenter Civil Engineer Childcare Chef Digital Media Lab Technician Retail Social Care Travel & Tourism Surveyor Facilities Management

Modern Apprenticeship Rates of Pay The current 1 st year rate of pay is £ 3. 57 per hour

Pupils can speak to Chris or book appointments during the following times. 08. 15 – 08. 45, 12. 40 – 13. 00 Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays only At the Mearns Castle High School Careers Room, Health Suite. Skills Development Scotland

The Move from S 4 to S 5 National 4/5 English N 5/Highers Mathematics English Modern Language Maths Music Chemistry Biology Modern Language Hospitality PCC Chemistry T&T Geography Music Hospitality Biology

The Move from S 4 to S 5 Highers Vocational English Music College Programme Modern Language Chemistry Geography

A Pupil’s View (Vocational) “I really enjoyed my hairdressing college course and it helped me decide what I wanted to do when I left school. It made me more responsible and it also helped me to get a Saturday job in a local salon. I really enjoyed my course last session and know that anyone following me will enjoy it next session. ”

The Move from S 4 to S 5 Highers +Vocational + English Work Experience Music College Programme Extended Work Exp. Modern Language Chemistry Geography + World Challenge Voluntary Work Duke of Edinburgh Dancing Exams Music Lesson Pupil Leadership

A Pupil’s View (NQ courses) “The reduced travelling between classes because of the double periods is excellent. Means we get less disruption and more time with our teachers. ” “Aaarrggggghhhhhh. ” “I just don’t think I realised how fast paced the Learning and Teaching had to be due to the ‘twoterm dash’. Are the prelims really in five months? ”

The Move from S 4 to S 5 A number of assessments within a more concentrated timeframe Increased tracking interviews with teachers as part of the target setting programme A number of subjects with folio based/assignment submissions Prelims University/College Applications

Key Messages Sometimes in S 5 it can take until October for pupils to fully engage with the understanding that this is a highly challenging year Pupils do not have 18 months of contact (as in S 3/4) but have two terms of contact. Even with increased number of periods per week and fewer subjects, pupils have to greatly increase their skills in a shorter time scale

The Move from S 4 to S 5 Home study is no longer just about working through questions set by the class teacher, but for consolidation, working through class work looked at that day. Greater need to be proactive in terms of research and ensuring understanding of learning and organised in terms of assessment dates. Independent Learning!

Planning for study • The techniques embarked upon in S 3 & 4 should still hold relevance for S 5 exams. • What should be considered is an honest appraisal of what works and what doesn’t at this stage and to consider what supports the volume of work required. • A study plan and area should both be set up at this stage to ensure proper planning can be carried out for the year ahead. Pupils should also watch out for supported study opportunities offered by various departments throughout the year.

Planning for study • • Mind maps Flash Cards Recording Notes Post-its Ever-decreasing notes Dedicated study area Mobile phones Sleep patterns

scholarprogramme @SCHOLARuk SCHOLAR A programme of Heriot-Watt University Program Oilthigh Heriot-Watt SCHOLAR

24/7 access Set Homework Classroom learning Encourages independent learning SCHOLAR A programme of Heriot-Watt University Program Oilthigh Heriot-Watt In service & snow days Why SCHOLAR? Part of a large online community

SCHOLAR A programme of Heriot-Watt University Program Oilthigh Heriot-Watt

SCHOLAR for • • 24/7 access anywhere Comprehensive notes Targeted assessments Record of assessment performances Interactivities Online tutorials Revision planner SCHOLAR A programme of Heriot-Watt University Program Oilthigh Heriot-Watt

SCHOLAR A programme of Heriot-Watt University Program Oilthigh Heriot-Watt Anytime, anywhere

Planning for study • We are increasingly putting revision materials, study advice and homework on GLOW • Use of online platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom • We will have an updated 5/6 Assessment calendar on the school website to help support pupils to prepare and organise their time management.

Course Assignments Higher Chemistry & Biology The final mark is now based on an exam worth 120 marks and an assignment that will be worth 20% of the final award. The assignment will be completed during school time but marked externally.

Course Assignments Higher Modern Studies, Geography, History & RMPS The main difference for the New Higher exam is that 27% of the final grade is now based on the Assignment. Learners will research an issue of their choice and will write up a report on their research under timed exam conditions. The exam will be over 2 papers in each subject and take about 3 hours.

Visiting Assessment • Music – Practical examinations with a Visiting assessor will take place between mid February and late March 2019 • Drama - Practical examinations with a Visiting assessor will take place around March/April 2019 Approximate dates for both have still to be confirmed Please note there may be only 2 weeks notice of the actual date for these visits.

Important dates • • • 24 th October 2018 – Careers Fair 5 th November 2018 - Tracking Report 1 Issued 8 th November 2018 – S 5/6 Parents’ Meeting 7 th January 2019 – Tracking Report 2 Issued 28 th January 2019 – S 4/S 5 Options Evening 24 th Jan until 8 th Feb 2019 – Prelims 4 th March 2019 – Full Reports 24 th April 2019 – Exam Leave starts 26 th April 2019 – SQA Exams

Where to find Support School Website GLOW, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom SQA

S 5 Subject Perspective Miss J Murphy Principal Teacher English

The English Higher Course A Brief Outline

Higher • Same structure as National 5 English • Paper One: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation. 2 passages: 30 marks. 30% of final mark. • Paper Two: Critical Reading. Set Text Response: 20 marks Critical Essay: 20 marks 40% of final mark. • Folio 1 broadly discursive piece. 1 broadly creative piece. 30%of final mark

The Big Jump National 5 Exam: One Close Reading [Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation] One Critical Essay and one Scottish Set Text Analysis including final 8 mark question Higher Exam Two Close Reading passages. There is a final question on both passages in which the pupil must compare the ideas and opinions of the two passages. One Critical Essay and one Scottish Set Text Analysis including final 10 mark question

What’s so different about Higher ? • It’s harder. • The passages used for Close Reading are longer, harder and often taken from broadsheet newspapers. • The standard of essay is expected to be more fluent and accurate in expression and more detailed in content. • The Set Text questions will be more challenging. • More depth and complexity needed in talk and folio work. • Time is shorter – 2 terms not 2 years!

Course Assessments • The course assessments in RUAE and Listening will be removed from this year. • There will still be a year group RUAE w/c 12 th November. • The internal assessment for Spoken Response remains. Teachers will include this in the course at an appropriate time for their class. For some classes, this might be a group discussion or an individual Presentation. This is a pass/fail component.

Reading Skills – how are they developed? • Through reading! • Reading non- fiction (adult level) – Quality journalism – Biographies – Travel writing • Reading Literature (not children’s literature) – Novels, short stories, poems, plays

Help - my child doesn’t read! • Reading on-line instead of on paper • Newspaper links, speech links, reviews of music, sport, films… • Comment based articles are best • What’s topical? What’s current? Follow their interests. Discuss topics with them.

• • • You can study for the Reading Exam ! Types of questions – learn formulas for answering them Standard uses of punctuation – learn exactly how to express these Practice in these types of questions is available in the text books we use as well as past papers. Home Learning Pack on school website: detailed revision notes and practice for reading skills. Practice questions and target setting sheets are also available on the school website.

http: //www. independent. co. uk/

Writing Skills • Essay writing tests both: – understanding of literature studied – the student’s writing abilities Pupils are taught essay structures Learning quotations? Yes but… Learning to write in formal English Learning to write a well structured essay Proof reading to eliminate errors in spelling and punctuation. • Teachers put resources on GLOW on literature. Great deal the pupils can access. • • •

The Folio • A portfolio of Writing is required • Pupils will work on the folio in class and at home. • The folio is worth 30% of the marks. • Paper 1 Reading UAE is worth 30%. • Paper 2 Critical Reading is worth 40%.

What’s in the folio? • At National 5 and at Higher the folio must contain two pieces of writing. • Each piece is a different genre [Creative / Discursive] • How long should the writing be? • National 5 : up to 1000 words • Higher: up to 1300 words

Authenticity • The folio pieces must be entirely the pupil’s own work. • Candidates will be required to sign a declaration that the work in the folio is their own and unassisted other than by legitimate support from, for example, a teacher.

Pupil’s role • Pupils must hand in: ♦ draft title and proposals ♦ outline plan • Pupils are only allowed to submit two drafts. ♦ first draft ♦ final version. • Full effort is needed at all stages.

Teacher’s role • Teachers will supervise the work and make suggestions. • Teachers are not allowed to correct spelling and expression mistakes. • The final mark will be given by SQA markers.

Useful Websites • There are some useful links to go to from Curriculinks. • 14+ section > English > many types of literature notes and a link to BBC Bitesize Higher Revision. • SQA website has useful information for pupils and parents including exemplar papers. • A variety of links on the department website, including SCHOLAR GOOD LUCK!

Parental Evaluations • Further reminder that there is an online link to an evaluation has been emailed to all parents –please complete this when you return home • Power. Point presentation will be on the website this week • Thank you for attending tonight's presentation

S 5 Subject Perspective Mrs E Gibson Principal Teacher Maths