Dyce Academy

S3 Information Evening March 5 2014

The Senior Phase

• Pupils will select and study National Qualifications at an appropriate level for them

• From S4 – S6, pupils will be able to build a portfolio of qualifications at different levels, relevant to their individual needs

• Their learning journey will take pupils through a range of personalised curricular pathways supported by teachers, Guidance staff and parents.

The Senior Phase

• Each National Qualification from National 3 – Advanced Higher is allocated 160 hours

• Pupils will study 6 National Qualifications in S4 and 5 or 6 National qualifications in S5/S6

• The combining of the curriculum structures across S4-S6 in the senior phase will create better opportunities

• Classes will be open to S4, S5 and S6 students

The New QualificationsSCQF Level New Qualification External Exam? Replaces Previous

Level 1 National 1 No- Pass or Fail → Access 1

Level 2 National 2 No- Pass or Fail → Access 2

Level 3 National 3 No- Pass or Fail → Access 3 & SG Foundation

Level 4 National 4 No- Pass or Fail → SG GeneralIntermediate 1

Level 5 National 5 YesGraded A - C

→ SG CreditIntermediate 2

Level 6 Higher (new)Available 2014

YesGraded A - C

→ Higher

Level 7 Advanced Higher (new)Available 2015

YesGraded A - C

→ Advanced Higher

National Courses

• Courses in the new qualifications are generally made up of 3 units, each of which is assessed internally on a pass/fail basis

• National 4 courses will include an added value unit. At National 4 neither the units nor the course will be graded. Assessed on pass/fail.

• National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses will include an external exam. The units will not be graded but the external assessment will be graded ( A – D)

Assessment

The new qualifications will be assessed through Unit and Course assessment.• Course assessment – sampling of skills, knowledge and

understanding from the units of a course• Added Value – Case Studies, Practical Activities, Performance,

Portfolio, Project, Question Papers/Tests• Controlled Assessment – SQA led activity, Assessments quality

assured by the SQA• Unit Assessment- SQA assessment support for every Course

National 4

• Follows on from Outcomes and Experiences in the Broad General Education

• Designed to provide progression between levels• Teachers will mark all Units within the National 4

Course pass or fail - Quality Assured by SQA • Courses at National 4 - 160 notional hours• More skills based• Assessment appropriate to subject and level• National 4 Courses will not be graded.

Previously Standard Grade General and Intermediate 1

National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher

• Courses are Unit based - Units assessed pass/fail within centres – as at present

• Designed to provide progression between levels• Courses at National 5 and above - 160 notional

hours• Assessment appropriate to subject and level• More skills based

REPLACES CREDIT/INT2/CURRENT HIGHER AND CURRENT ADVANCED HIGHER

Added Value Assessment

Added value will be assessed using seven broad methods:

• Assignments: structured problem-solving exercise with clear guidelines

• Case studies: stimulus-based assessment of learner’s ability to analyse and draw conclusions

• Practical activities: direct application of learner’s skills to making or building something

• Performances: practical demonstration of learner’s skills• Portfolios: collection of learner’s work assembled over the period

of learning• Projects: open-ended task with support appropriate to the SCQF

level requiring investigative/research skills • Question papers/tests: examination of knowledge

and understanding via written responses

Recognising Positive Achievement

A candidate who achieves a band 8 or 9 (No Award) in a National 5 Course external assessment will be able to gain an National 4 Course, as long as the following requirements are met:• There is a corresponding/hierarchical course at National 4• The candidate has passed all the internally assessed Units in

the National 5 Course• The candidate has passed the National 4 Added Value Unit• The candidate has passed a Literacy/Numeracy Unit – this is

an additional unit which applies to English, Mathematics and Gaelic courses only at either National 4 or National 5

Education Scotland

All schools are expected to adhere to the following requirements;• A Broad General Education until the end of S3 is essential• Implementation of the new SQA qualifications from 2013 –

2014• Pupils’ experiences in Broad General Education S1 – S3 should

not predetermine young people’s options for qualifications in S4 and beyond

• The Senior Phase, S4-S6, will be combined no later that 2014-2015

Curriculum Structures in the Senior Phase

S4 S5/S6

S4/S5 S6

S4 S5 S6

Mythbusters and Questions

Are all schools doing the same?All Aberdeen city schools will be adhering to the same requirements. This does not mean that we will have an identical curriculum. We will take into account our local circumstances such as our consortium links with Bucksburn, access to FE college provision, links with Aberdeen University and local business. We also consider the number of periods in the week, our school roll and the profile of our teachers and resources. Many schools in other authorities are planning around a six column structure, delivering between five to six subjects in S4. This is recognised as good practice. The National Courses are 1 year courses and are designed for 160 hours. It would not be possible to offer more than 6 courses in one year.

Mythbusters and Questions continued

Can my child change courses at the end of S3?The Broad General Education lasts until the end of S3. While we, at Dyce Academy, have provided a degree of some personalisation and choice during S3, the choices that your son/daughter made for S3 does not predetermine the courses that a pupil may choose to follow in S4 and beyond for certification. The courses are one year courses. Pupils will be given as free a choice of courses for S4 as possible. Pupils should take into account the best possible advice from their teachers, Guidance teachers, parents and other sources of careers advice when making decisions.

Mythbusters and Questions continued

Must my child take English and Mathematics in the Senior Phase?Although the Senior Phase is tailored for each individual’s interests, needs and intentions, we want all our pupils to gain qualifications in English and Mathematics at National 4 or 5 level in S4 since these are likely to be necessary for future employment or study. Where appropriate there will be opportunities for pupils to take National 3 in English and Mathematics.

Mythbusters and Questions continued

Will my child achieve fewer SQA Qualifications than previously?This depends very much on your child’s journey through the senior phase. The majority of young people at Dyce Academy stay on until the end of 5th year and increasingly to the end of S6. With our six column structure S4 – S6 there is the potential for a pupil to gain 18 Highers or 4 Advanced Highers plus Highers or a combination of National 4’s and 5’s with Highers and Advanced Highers. Most pupils in S4 will be taking six National Qualifications instead of the previous 7. However your child will have more in-depth learning given the 4 hours per week allocated to each of the Courses.

Mythbusters and Questions continued

Will my child gain credit for the work they have done in the Junior phase?At the end of the Broad General Education in S3 pupils and parents will receive:• A Pupil Profile that summarises the pupil’s key

achievements during the Broad General Education. This will be compiled by the pupil with support from his/her teachers.

Mythbusters and Questions continued

Will my child be disadvantaged when applying for college or university?Universities in Scotland will continue to set entry requirements based on Highers. In some cases there may be a requirement to hold minimum qualifications in particular subjects such as English, Mathematics. Universities, Colleges and employers are looking at the quality of qualifications, rather than the quantity. Our new structure aims for pupils to gain better quality passes than the previous system. The combination of possible Highers will be similar to that in the previous system and will enable students to acquire the necessary entry requirements where possible.

University and CfE

• Universities understand they cannot assume that there is a single model of when students are presented for Highers, or that learners necessarily all have the same opportunities to study for a full range of Highers in a single year.

• They remain committed to promoting a fair admissions policy to ensure equal consideration to candidates who apply on time and who possess the necessary knowledge and skills, irrespective of the route travelled through the Senior Phase, S4 to S6.

• www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/uploads/USBeyoundtheseniorphaseCfEMay2012.pdf

University and CFE

• Universities will require evidence of academic rigour in the form of a suitable diet of examinations at the end of S5

• Universities will accept 5/4 Highers studied over 2 years (S4-S5)

• Universities may place conditions on the academic programme taken in S6

• Where a student is in S6 and receives an unconditional offer, universities expect full and continued participation in the subjects declared within the UCAS application and contribution to the life of the school

Universities and CfE

• Students who choose to resit a Higher in which they achieved a Grade C or below in the first sitting, will be required to achieve a grade A in the second sitting

• Applications to very competitive degrees such as Education, Law or Medicine require special attention to the Personal Statement and the Referee’s statement

National 4

National 5

Higher

S4

Maths & English plus 4 Choices

5 Subjects, mix of National 5 and

Highers

Advanced Higher

4 Subjects - Highers, Advanced Highers

Advanced Higher

Leave school Leave school Leave school

Job

Apprenticeship

College NC (1Year)

College NC (1Year)

National 5

Higher

Higher

HNC (1year)

HND (2year)

University Degree (4years)

University Degree

2yrs College + 2yrs University

S6 S5

Job / Career

Progression Routes

Draft Choice Sheet1.Please Select One Subject from each column and write down your choice in the box below each column.

2.Please indicate a reserve choice for each column

 

 

 

 

 

 

C D E FAccounting Art & Design Admin & IT Biology

Art & Design Business Management

Chemistry Chemistry

Biology Geography Computing & Info Science

Engineering Science

Computing & Info Science Engineering Science Drama French

Geography PE

Graphic Communication

History

Graphic Communication Physics Hospitality Modern Studies

Music RMPS Practical Craft Skills Music

PE Spanish Physics

Choice        

Reserve        

S5/ 6Mo1 Mo2 Th3 Th4 Tu5 Tu6 Fr3 Fr4 Mo3 Mo4 We1 We2 Tu3 Tu4 Th1 Th2 We3 We4 Fr1 Fr2 Tu1 Tu2 We5 Fr5

AH Shared

AH Dyce

AH BucksburnDyce/ BucksburnShared Courses

H Dyce

H Bucksburn

National 5 Dyce

National 5 Bucksburn

Hospitality-Cake CraftOther

Study (Dyce)Classroom AssistantReading Group

Music

Biology

MusicPhysics

Chemistry

S4

Graphic Communication Music

Biology

Engineering ScienceFrenchHistory

ModernStudies

Col E Col FAdmin and IT Biology

SpanishRMPS

Computing ScienceDrama

Graphic CommunicationHospitality

Practical Craft SkillsPE

ChemistryBiology

Computing ScienceGeography

Graphic CommunicationMusic

GeographyPE

Physics

English EnglishMaths Maths

Accounting Art and Design

S6@UniFrench

Col A Col B

Art & Design Business Management

Photography

Graphic Communication

PE

Column 4

John Muir Award (BB)

D: , B:

D: , B:

GeographyS6@Uni

Art

French

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3

Music

Photography Modern Studies

S6@Uni S6@UniMusic

Open University (YASS)

Physics -

Practical Cookery

BiologyGraphic Communication

S6@Uni

HistoryModern Studies

S6@Uni

Column 5 Column 6

Open University (YASS)B: , D:

English

Open University (YASS)Open University (YASS)Open University (YASS) Open University (YASS)

Geography

Chemistry - Maths -

Maths

English

Biology

Maths

Physics

Philosophy

B: , D:

Spanish

MathsChemistry

Drama

Maths

Business Management

Graphic Communication

English

Leadership Award -

Physics

DramaEnglish

English

PEChemistry

Col DCol C

ArtPE

ArtHospitality

Business Management Administration

Maths

Technological StudiesAdministration

Art

Practical Craft SkillsArt

HistoryPEMusic

Maths

Geography

Physics

IT

ChemistryEnglish

English

Technological Studies

H Modern Studies -

B: , D:

D: , B:

Modern Studies

Duke of Edinburgh (BB)

Young Enterprise

Personal Development

StudyStudyStudy StudyClassroom Assistant Classroom Assistant Classroom Assistant Classroom Assistant Classroom Assistant

Life Skills - I nt 1 (Dyce)

Reading Group Reading Group Reading Group Reading Group

StudyClassroom Assistant

Reading Group Reading Group

Study

(Global Education)

D: , B: I nformation Systems -

B: , D: B: , D:

H History

Art

Timeline

5 March Parents information evening

Friday 14 March Choice forms returned

Useful Websites

http://www.planitplus.net

http://www.ucas.com/students/coursesearch

http://www.myworldofwork.co.uk

http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/uploads/USBeyondtheseniorphaseCFEMay2012.pdf

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone