Senior Phase CoursesS4 @ Bucksburn

Academy

2 October 2018

Old

Access 2

Foundation/Access 3

General/Intermediate 1

Credit/Intermediate 2

Higher

Advanced Higher

New

→ National 2

→ National 3

→ National 4

→ National 5

→ New Higher

→ New Advanced Higher

Old and new qualifications

• Almost all National Qualifications have an

internal element (assignment/folio etc) and

an external assessment (exam). Together

these determine the overall grade

• At National 4 an Added Value Unit will be

completed instead of an exam.

What is required in these courses?

The new qualifications

National 2, 3 and 4

• Pass/fail only

National 5/Higher/Advanced Higher

• Grades A, B or C = Pass

• Grade D = Overall award

High Aspirations – Has Impact

• The one year course is a sprint – at no time can

a student drift behind with their work. If they are

off they have the responsibility to catch up.

• If they (or you) feel they are not coping with any

aspect of the course – ask for help (teacher,

PTPS, Mr Sherrington)

Quality Homework – Has Impact

• Homework will be issued regularly, but

students need to look over their work

regularly. It is part of the course, not an add

on.

• Complete homework on time and to the best

of their ability – not quickly to ‘get it done’

Assessment changes

• At N5 and Higher students may sit internal units if

there is concern the exam may not be passed

• The assessment for internal units can be retaken

once.

• Before taking a resit, the student should be informed

by the department and time should be given for them

to make necessary improvements

• Deadlines for the completion of externally assessed

work will be explained to students.

Assessment changes• Internal units have been removed as a compulsory

element of the course

• There is no automatic ‘fall back’ position to National 4 –

know as Recognising Positive Achievement

• Exams have been extended to account for the removal

of units.

• Exams have been introduced in some courses e.g.

Practical Woodworking

• A Grade D Award will be given for students gaining

around 40% in the exam (this will depend on the exam) –

previously a D was awarded for those achieving 45%

Important dates• Wednesday 19th September – Live Report issued

• Tuesday 2nd October – Parents’ Engagement

evening

• Wednesday 14th November – Live Report issued

• Wednesday 23rd January – Live Report issued

• January/February – Practise exams

• Wednesday 27 March – Live Report issued

• End April – SQA exams begin

• Early August – results

Parental Support – Has an Impact• Ask your son/daughter what they are doing, how they

are getting on and what they need to do to improve.

If they don’t know the answer – keep probing.

• Use the Live Reports to actively discuss their

progress – if you are concerned, contact Pupil

Support Teacher

• Encourage them to make revision sheets early and to

use these for the full year

• Monitor their ‘on-line’ use – is it distracting?

Attendance – Has an Impact

Impact on future earnings ?

• Someone leaving with qualifications at National 4 and 5

can expect to earn around £16,700 as an adult

• If you leave with Highers this rises to £19,240

• If you get further qualifications from College this could

rise to £24,240

• If you gain a degree this rises to £31,000

• If you leave with no qualifications earnings would expect

to be around £13,000 if in employment

In summary

• Parents have a vital role in helping their child achieve

success

• There is no time to coast doing Nationals or Higher

• Changes to National 5 mean students will be

expected to hit the standards throughout the year,

not just in April/May next year.

• Some sacrifices will need to be made to be

successful!

Whole school attainment 2017-18

S4 2012-18

Percentage of pupils passing at benchmarks ( N5 based on A-C)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2017(N5 A-D)

2018 2018(N5 A-D)

5@5 25 46 41 54 41 40 50 57 63

5@4 87 90 85 83 79 90 90 90 90

5@3 96 94 85 85 79 92 92 92 92

S4 2014-18 National 5 attainment trends

Percentage of pupils gaining 1 N5 at A-C or better

2014 2015

2016 2017 2017(A-D)

2018 2018(A-D)

5 x N5 + 1 Higher - - - 5 5 4 4

6 x N5 or better 32 38 32 26 31 44 51

5 x N5 or better 42 54 41 41 48 57 63

4 x N5 or better 51 54 50 58 65 67 73

3 x N5 or better 61 61 50 66 74 72 85

2 x N5 or better 71 77 85 84 89 88 95

1 x N5 or better 85 88 91 95 95 95 96

S4 CURRICULUM EVENING Tuesday 2nd October 2018

4.45pm 5.20pm 5.37pm 5.54pm 6.11pm 6.28pm 6.45pm

Column FMon 5, Wed 4, Thurs 5, Fri 2

Column EMon 6, Tue,1, Wed 3, Fri 1

Column AMon 1, Tue 5, Wed 2, Fri 3

Column BMon 2, Tue 5, Wed 2, Fri 3

Column DMon 4, Tues 3, Wed 2, Thurs 1

Column CMon 3, Tues 4, Wed 1, Thurs 2

Presentation in the Hall

for all parents

BiologyK Finlayson

D GreenS71

ComputingJ Simpson

F45

Maths 4M1K Simpson

A ByrneB Gray

Hall

English 4E1S McRobb

F41

PER McKendrick

F47

Art & DesignC BrownJ Carson

S80

Business Management

M SimpsonF46

HistoryV Esslemont

S63

Maths 4M2K Simpson

A ByrneB Gray

Hall

English 4E2L FlynnD Ellis

F43

ChemistryD Hardacre

S70

BiologyK Finlayson

D GreenS71

DramaD Dryburgh

F51

PEC Stickle

F47

Maths 4M3H Johnstone

S65

English 4E3H Dinan

F50

FrenchN Fernandez

O MaesF52

ChemistryN Gillan

S70

GeographyJ Findlay

S ArmitageS61

PhysicsK Barber

K SimpsonS69

English 4E4H Dinan

F50

Maths 4M4K Simpson

A ByrneB Gray

Hall

HospitalityE Paterson

G14

GeographyJ Findlay

S ArmitageS61

MusicT Milne

G16

Practical WoodworkN Hughson

G11

English 4E5K Marvin

S FlettF39

Maths 4M5H Johnstone

S65

Modern StudiesK Friel

S62

HistoryJ Barkham

T SherringtonS57

PhysicsK Barber

K SimpsonS69

MusicH Mitchell

G16

Feedback Questions 1,2,3,4?

I was made to feel welcome in school when I arrived.

I was able to find my way to each of the subject seminars.

After tonight’s seminars, I understand better how to support my child to progress.

I found the subject seminars clear and informative.

The time for each subject seminar (15 mins) was appropriate.

I felt I could ask questions.

Tuesday 2nd October 2018S4 Curriculum Evening Evaluation

Thank you for coming along tonight. We would really appreciate some feedback from

you. Please use the rating scale to answer each of the questions below.

1. Strongly agree2. Agree3. Disagree4. Strongly disagree

Any other comments:

Thank you