Post on 28-Jun-2020
Future Curriculum
Pauline Walker
Rector The Royal High School
Future Curriculum
• Rationale for change
• Proposed Changes
• Exam structure
• Pre-meeting questions
What Opportunities Are Arising?
Curricular
Pathways
Efficiencies
Assessment
Strategies
Learning
&
Teaching
Make best use of
the tools we have in
Curriculum for
Excellence
Rationale for Change
• Curricular pathways should meet the needs of all learners
• Learners should have clear opportunities to personalise their choices
• Strong Broad General Education supporting Senior Phase
• Maximise final results by end of S6
New Exam Structure
Nationals
National 3
National 4
National 5
No
External Exam
External
Exam
In most
cases
Higher/AH
Higher Advanced
Higher
External
Exam
External
Exam
Exam Results 2014
Awards Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
5 or more 96.82% 94.55% 57.73%
6 or more 93.64% 87.27% 48.64%
7 or more 88.18% 79.55% 42.73%
8 or more 66.82% 62.27% 35.00%
S1 & S2
• Breadth
• Balance
• Choice as appropriate
• Ongoing skills development
• Inter-disciplinary Learning(IDL) in its truest form
Broad General – S1 & S2
S3
• Increased personalisation & Choice
• Working within the 7 areas of the curriculum
• Ongoing skills development
• Preparation for Senior Phase BUT is not Senior Phase
• The S3 experience needs to keep options open and avoid reducing young people’s choices.
• It also needs to provide scope for young people to stretch well beyond third level in those areas where they can. In these areas particularly, by planning learning within the context of Es and Os which relates directly to qualifications, staff can pave the way into the qualifications framework.
» CFE Briefing - Progression from the Broad General Education to the Senior Phase
Broad General – S3
Senior Phase
▪ S4-6 should be viewed as a cohort no matter the timetabling▪ Variety of courses and options should be on offer▪ Working collaboratively with partners▪ Pathways through the curriculum should be strong and varied
Pathways to Success = Improved Positive Destinations
Curricular Pathways Example
NAT 5 Units
NAT 4
Course
Award
NAT 5
Consolidation
S4May 14
S4May 15
S5Dec 15
Nat 4 AVU
Higher Course
S6May 17
NAT 5
Consolidation
NAT 5
Course
Award
S5Mar 16
S5May 16
Higher
Award
Appropriate & varied pathways through the curriculum = maximise student success
Maximise aspiration and achievement by capitalising on the varied pathways through
the Nationals
Creating a Curriculum
Proposals for Change
The School Week – 32 blocks per week
Currently 28ppw
• Increase flexibility
• Advantages such as earlier Friday finish to allow pupils and staff to attend Friday sessions
Year Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
S1 English MathsModern
Languages
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Social Subjects
Geo, Hist, Mod StdsScience
Creative &
Aesthetic
Music, Art, Drama
Technologies
HE, CDT, Computing, Bus
Ed
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Enhancement
Block
Core Subjects
PSE, PE, RE, Tutor Time
S1 & S2 Broad General Education
Enhancement
Skills & Wider Achievement
Framework
e.g.
Masterclass in subject, short
courses (3 x 12)
dance, rugby or football sports
courses
JASS, Skill force, IDL options and
lots more
S1 & S2 Broad General Education
Year
Group1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
S3 English Maths
• Core Curriculum based on 7
areas of learning
• 8 Options
• 4 bpw English & Maths
• 3 bpw each for options
• 1 bpw IDL
• Enables 3 Science, 2 Social
Subjects and other
combinations
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Mod Lan
Choice
Social Sub
Choice
Science
Choice
Expressive
Choice
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Technology
Choice
Optional
ChoiceIDL
Core Subjects
PSE, PE, RE, Tutor
Time
S3 Broad General Education
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Core
Choice 1
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 2
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 3
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 4
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 5
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 6
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 7
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Core
Subjects
PSE, PE,
RE, Tutor
Time
• 7 Choices at Nat 3/4/5
• 4bpw
• Progression from Broad General Education
Senior Phase (S4-6)Pathway One
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Core
Choice 1
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 2
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 3
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 4
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 5
Higher/AH
5bpw
5th period
of
Higher/AH
Courses
Wider
Achievement
Or
Study
3 or 4bpw
Core
Subjects
PSE, PE, RE,
Tutor Time
Senior Phase (S4-6)Pathway Two
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Core
Choice 1
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 2
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 3
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 4
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 5
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 6
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Choice 7
Nat3/4/5
4bpw
Core
Subjects
PSE, PE, RE,
Tutor Time
Choice 1
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 2
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 3
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 4
Higher/AH
5bpw
Choice 5
Higher/AH
5bpw
5th period
of
Higher/AH
Courses
Wider
Achievement
Or
Study
3 or 4bpw
Core
Subjects
PSE, PE, RE,
Tutor Time
Senior Phase (S4-6)
Options from each column available for all S4-6
Senior Phase - Pathway Example One
S3
8 Options
Maths
English
French
Biology
History
Computing
Art
PE
S4
7 Options
N4/5 Maths
N4/5 English
N4/5 French
N4/5 Biology
N4/5 History
N4/5 Computing
N5 Photography
S5
5 Options
H Maths
H English
Nat 5 Biology
Nat 5 History
Sports Leaders
S6
5 Options
AH Maths
H Biology
H History
Senior Phase - Pathway Example Two
S3
8 Options
Maths
English
German
Physics
Modern Stds
CDT
Art
PE
S4
7 Options
N4/5 Maths
N4/5 English
N4/5 German
N4/5 Physics
N4/5 Modern Stds
N4/5 CDT
N5 Electronics
S5
5 Options
H Maths
H English
H Physics
H Modern Stds
H German
S6
5 Options
AH Maths
AH Physics
Nat 5 Photography
Sports Leaders
S3
8 Options
MathsEnglishFrench
ChemistryHistory
Business Management
DramaSkillforce
S4
7 Options
Nat 4/5 MathsNat 4/5 English
Nat 4/5 ChemistryNat 4/5 History
JETCollege
S5
S57 Options
Nat 4/5 Cake Decorating
Nat 4/5 MediaNat 5 History
Nat 4/5 ElectronicsSports Leaders
JET+College
S6
5 Options
Careers Academy
&Work Experience
Senior Phase - Pathway Example Three
Future Consideration
2 Year Courses at National 5 and Higher
• National precedent in some schools
• Possibility of 6 Higher courses at end of S5
• No need for additional assessment burden of Nat 5 in S4?
This is under consideration and is a possibility for 2017/18
Are these proposed changes or are they “up for debate”?
These are changes proposed following extensive consultation
and group working by the RHS staff. We have consulted with all
staff, the student body and the Parent Council and have
adapted the proposals as a result. We are now asking for your
thoughts and opinions on our proposals.
You can respond to this consultation via this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RHSParentCurriculum15
How can you ensure this change to the curriculum will benefit
all pupils in their education?
We are providing a curriculum which gives a robust, skills based
Broad General Education which will give all our students a very
strong basis from which to undertake their Senior Phase. Our
new curriculum takes account of national advice and best
practice to ensure varied pathways through the Senior Phase to
take account of all learners no matter their destination. We
believe this will give every student the very best opportunity to
maximise success and achieve strong positive destinations.
What subject choice restrictions (if any) might there be?
Within S3 students still need to follow a Broad General Education and therefore must follow a set of choices which cover all seven areas of the curriculum We do however already operate this within S3 and our 8th choice column allows flexibility enabling options such as 3 sciences, vocational opportunities, additional subjects in areas of interest.
In the Senior Phase options will be open to all (subject to entry requirements) but based on national advice it is not advisable for S4 students to undertake one year Higher courses.
Is there a subject path description to help pupils make
choices?
Students are given advice and support through PSE, Guidance
interviews and the careers service (Skills Development
Scotland) prior to making any choices. We aim to educate
students in career pathways from S1 and staff also engage with
students regarding careers in their particular subject areas.
How easy is it to change your choices part way through?
In most cases to undertake a National 5 in S4 students will need
to have undertaken this subject in S3. There are exceptions to
this including course options which are only offered in the
Senior Phase.
There are flexible options for students to access “fall-back”
levels in subjects such as Higher/Nat 5 or Nat 4 compensatory
award.
Frequency of parent “meet the teachers” meetings?
All year groups have one parents consultation evening per
session. We will be planning this schedule next session based
around the new course choice procedures and timings. In
general you can expect to see your child’s teacher prior to an
option process.
Please note you will also receive one full report per session and
also regular Tracking Reports.
Will my son still be able to sit 8 level 5 in 4th year?
Not under these proposals. We believe 7 gives better pathways
to success for all students. This is based on experience under
our current structure and also national practice. Undertaking 8
160 hour courses across one academic session is causing
concerns such as assessment burden and ability for subjects to
be taught in depth prior to entry in to Higher level.
If the number of Nat 5 exams is to be reduced to 6 in 4th year,
can the pupils study at home and still be presented in
additional exam subjects (such as Music and French)?
We are proposing reducing to 7.
We would not be able to certificate pupils through additional
home study as the new assessment arrangements require
ongoing in class assessment. Students are required to pass all
internal assessments to be certificated through the final exam.
Restricting choices to 7/6 at Nat 5 is restrictive – required
children to specialise early and is not in keeping with CfE
broad general education.
We are proposing to offer choice at S3 but this is still in line
with the Broad General Education. This phase ends after S3 and
students should continue to personalise their learning through
further choice as well as increasing their depth in their chosen
areas of study during the Senior Phase.
Will the length of the school day change?
The timings of the school day will change under these
proposals but students will still study in school for 1650
minutes per week.
Please can students have the option to drop French and so
retain better choice in other courses which they might have
better aptitude and outcomes and choices.
Following a Modern Language such as French is no longer
compulsory in the Senior Phase and hence this can be dropped
in favour of another option in S4.
Provision for special needs. How does this relate to national
exams?
Our pathways approach will offer a much better provision for
learners requiring a specialised provision. We offer a full range
of National courses including National 3. In addition we will
have much stronger partnership working with other providers
such as college, vocational providers and wider achievement
organisations. This will ensure a very broad range of courses
appropriate to all needs.
What Now?
•Ongoing consultation with staff, parents and student to May 2015
•Changes finalised in June 2015 and planned for August 2016