Curriculum for Excellence Senior Phase Information Evening – Knox Academy

Relevant, inspiring, engaging education for every child and young person in Scotland

Main aims of Curriculum for Excellence Raise standards Close the gap Develop skills for learning, life and work

Successful Learners Confident Individuals Effective Contributors Responsible Citizens What is the purpose of the new curriculum?.... to develop the four capacities in children and young people.

Learner Entitlements Opportunities for developing skills for learning, life and work with a continuous focus on literacy, numeracy, and health and wellbeing Personal Support to enable them to gain as much as possible from the opportunities which Curriculum for Excellence can provide Support in moving into positive and sustained destinations beyond school.

Expressive artsHealth and well beingLanguagesMathematicsReligious and moral educationScienceSocial studiesTechnologies

Curriculum Structure S1/2S3/4S5/6 S1/2/3S4/5/6 S1/2/3S3/4/5/6

How are learners assessed? Write SayDo Make make models or power points reports or essays role play exercises or campaigns debates or podcasts

Comparison Standard Grades Credit level General level Foundation level Intermediates Intermediate 2 Intermediate 1 Access 3 National 5National 4 National 3

National Qualifications In S4 (start of Senior Phase) courses will be focused on preparing students for qualifications at National 3/4/5 and beyond.

National 3 and 4 National 3 consists of three units National 4 consists of three units plus an ‘Added Value’ unit In National 3 and 4 pupils will be assessed internally at the end of each unit To achieve at National 3 or 4, pupils must pass all units at that level Course award will be either a pass or a fail (i.e. no grades will be awarded for National 3 or 4)

National 5/ Higher National 5 consists of three units In National 5 pupils will be assessed internally at the end of each unit At the end of the course, all National 5 pupils will sit an externally assessed examination plus an ‘Added Value’ assessment To achieve a National 5 Course award, pupils must pass all units at National 5 and pass the course assessments The course assessment is graded A-D or No Award In the sciences, grades will be determined by performance in the course examination (80%) and the ‘Added Value’ assessment (20%)

Senior Phase

Wherever learning takes place school as the hub collegevolunteering work experience other school partnerships

Vocational provision in our school StriveEast Lothian WorksCollege CoursesCareer AcademiesTots and Teens

National Support Online Bitesize Revision (National 5 & Higher) Nationals in a Nutshell National 5 Revision in a Nutshell nutshell/ Higher Revision Guides

What support does the school provide? National Qualification Assessment Completion Dates Senior Phase Parent Information Booklet Knox Academy

Tracking and communicating progress is key. Senior phase reports are now issued 5 times in a session to allow you to monitor progress and intervene when needed!

Keep your own Record Subject Presentation Level Work Grade (LC1) Target Grade (LC1 ) Benchmarking Assessment Work Grade (LC2) Next Target Grade (LC2) Final Presentation Level Final Target Grade Initial OCTFEB

How will the tracking process work? Pupils have 2 formal learning conversations per year with each of their teachers. During these conversations they will set a next target grade and decide upon 2 written targets that will help them reach that goal. They must come prepared to each conversation. Their teacher will also discuss the grade you are working at too ( your working grade). These targets will be recorded by the pupil you in their subject record sheet, by their teacher on SEEMIS and parents will be made aware of them through reports.

Reports in the Senior Phase S4-6SeptOctNovDecJanFebMarch LC 1 and Targets Tracking 2 Tracking 3 Tracking 4 LC 2 and Targets

Supporting You Following each set of Learning Conversations in September and March, your Group Tutor will also discuss your progress and complete a record of this conversation. If working grades (WG) fall at least 2 bands below next target grade (NTG) in a number of subjects pupils will be highlighted for mentoring by their Guidance teacher or Year Head. This will involve an interview and some follow up and will include information sharing with parents/carers.

SQA Results Service Pre-Results Service For pupils who have faced a significant barrier to learning in the run up to the examinations. We send the SQA all evidence of what their performance would be in normal circumstances. The request is supported by a letter from the school or a doctor’s note. This information is used along with the examination material, if the pupil has been able to sit it.

SQA Results Service Post-Results Service Where there is a significant difference between examination performance and the school’s prediction, and a mistake in the marking is suspected. Schools can request an administrative check or a marking review. This is only an option where final performance is below the estimated grade.