WELCOME TO CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE AT

EARLSTON HIGH SCHOOL

We are about to enter exciting new times in Scottish education. In August 2010 Curriculum for Excellence will be introduced in all schools. Scottish education has been globally admired and respected for many years so why do we need to change?

The following information attempts to explain the need for this change.

Curriculum for Excellence

 Bringing learning to life and life to learning

Curriculum for Excellence is now being introduced across Scotland for all 3-18 year olds – wherever they learn. It aims to raise standards, prepare our children for a future they do not yet know and equip them for jobs of tomorrow in a fast changing world.

Curriculum for Excellence enables professionals to teach subjects creatively, to work together across the school and with other schools, to share best practice and explore learning together. Glow, Scotland’s unique, world-leading, online network supports learners and teachers in this and plans are already in place for parents across the country to have access to Glow.

Teachers and practitioners will share information to plan a child’s ‘learning journey’ from 3-18, helping their progression from nursery to primary, primary to secondary and beyond, ensuring the change is smooth. They’ll ensure children continue to work at a pace they can cope with and with challenge they can thrive on.

Curriculum for Excellence balances the importance of knowledge and skills.

Every child is entitled to a broad and deep general education, whatever their level and ability. Every single teacher and practitioner will be responsible for literacy and numeracy – the language and numbers skills that unlock other subjects and are vital to everyday life.

It develops skills for learning, life and work to help young people go on to further study, secure work and navigate life. It brings real life into the classroom, making learning relevant and helps young people apply lessons to their life beyond the classroom. It links knowledge in one subject area to another helping children understand the world and make connections. It develops skills so that children can think for themselves, make sound judgements, challenge, enquire and find solutions.

There will be new ways of assessing progress and ensuring children achieve their potential. There will be new qualifications for literacy and numeracy and from 2012/13, new National 4 and 5 qualifications from 2013/14. Our well regarded Access, Highers and Advanced Highers will be updated to take account of and support the new approaches to learning and teaching.

There’s personal support to help young people fulfil their potential and make the most of their opportunities with additional support wherever that’s needed. There will be a new emphasis by all staff on looking after our children’s health and wellbeing – to ensure that the school is a place where children feel safe and secure.

Ultimately, Curriculum for Excellence aims is to improve our children’s life chances, to nurture successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors, and responsible citizens, building on Scotland’s reputation for great education.

For more details visit the Learning and Teaching Scotland website at:

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence

WHAT ARE WE DOING AT EARLSTON HIGH SCHOOL?

Transition Project

In June, Primary 7 pupils spend 2 days at the High School. To mark their journey from primary to secondary we have worked with our primary colleagues to develop a Travel transition project. Instead of entering the assembly hall they enter the world of Earlston International Airport, where they are checked in by the check-in assistants (pastoral teachers), shown to their seats by the cabin crew (S6 pupils) and welcomed aboard by Captain Strong (Headteacher, Miss Strong). They receive their 2-day itinerary and an in-flight menu (what is available at the refectory).

They return to primary school and have travel tasks to complete for starting high school in August. Every department then spends approximately 4 weeks working on their travel unit.

This is our attempt at retaining the enthusiasm with which our new pupils often arrive at high school, while providing a creative way of learning. It provides continuity to the work done in primary school while youngsters face up to settling in to secondary school.

Our transition project caught the attention of the Times Educational Supplement for Scotland and we were fortunate enough to appear in print in December 2009. For more details of the type of work undertaken please read the article at:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6029607

To provide added opportunities for choice and challenge, Challenge Options will be introduced in session 2010-2011. This requires the identification of one or more periods on the timetable which will be suspended for three weeks. During that time, teachers of S1 classes (joined by any other available interested staff, SMT, visitors from external agencies etc) will offer options in knowledge and skills totally divorced from the normal timetable and from which pupils will choose. These same challenge options can be repeated at any time in the year with pupils making fresh choices. This method of providing three-period blocks will be manageable and timetable-neutral while providing all pupils with valuable additions to their curriculum.

Literacy and Numeracy Trios

Literacy and Numeracy will be promoted by the creation, for every S1 class, of Literacy and Numeracy Trios. For literacy, each group of pupils will have three staff (their English teacher plus two others eg History and RME) and similarly for numeracy (their Mathematics teacher plus two others eg Science and CDT). These three staff will work together to maintain each pupil’s literacy or numeracy folder and identify particular pieces to go into the folder; while prime responsibility will lie with each trio, all members of staff will be encouraged to contribute pieces to the literacy and numeracy folders. The creation of the trios should ensure that serious attention is given to the development and evidence-gathering of literacy and numeracy in all pupils while keeping the system under control and manageable.

THE HALL OF FAME

At Earlston High School we like to recognise the achievements of our pupils and staff. In the Assembly Hall we have The Hall of Fame, a photographic display of individuals or teams and their achievements. People are nominated for entry to The Hall of Fame and it tends to focus on extra-curricular activities, taking place both in school and outwith school.

Years 1 and 2

In first and second year pupils are divided into mixed-ability classes which follow a "common course". The courses taken in S1/S2 are:

The number of periods per week is shown in brackets; the first figure applies to S1 and the second to S2. Each period lasts 54 minutes.

Notes

a) Personal & Social Education (PSE) courses cover areas of general guidance e.g. health, relationships, careers.

b) Computing is shared with PSE time in S1; Business Information Technology is shared with PSE time in S2

C) A booklet giving information on all S1/2 courses is issued to all S1 pupils.

 

 

 

S2 Choice

In February/March of S2 pupils choose subjects for S3/4. The choice sheet will soon be available to download below as an Acrobat PDF file.
Download the S2 choice sheet
55KB PDF document, opening in a new window

The choice procedure has been designed to involve pupils, parents and subject teachers. The main stages are :

a) Information booklet on courses issued to pupils and parents
b) Parents evening for information/questions
c) Reports issued by class teachers
d) Every department gives recommendations on likely levels of work for each S3/4 course
e) Pupils discuss choices with Guidance Teachers
f) Parents evening
g) Final choice sheet and final choice

Throughout the procedure the Guidance Teachers are very pleased to discuss choices with pupils and parents.

Years 3 and 4

Most courses are Standard Grade Courses. Since Standard Grade assessment covers the full ability range, it is important to note that all pupils will receive a Scottish Certificate of Education describing achievement in about 8 courses.

Pupils are expected to continue a foreign language into S3/4.

Years 5 and 6

Students can take either Higher or Intermediate courses in S5 in up to 5 subjects. Both are one-year courses; those students who successfully complete their Intermediate course in S5 may go on and take Higher in S6.

Students in S6 have access to all the courses offered to S5 and those who have gained a Higher Grade pass in S5 can take Advanced Higher in that subject in S6.

Students in S5 and S6 may take some courses at the Borders College and some are able to timetable regular Work Experience or School Community Service. Students in S5 and S6 must take at least 4 courses. (Two Advanced Highers count as three courses.)

S4/5 Choice

The main stages are :

a) Careers Interviews.
b) General discussions on entry qualifications etc. at Social Education.
c) Parents/students information evening.
d) Students receive details of all courses being offered.
e) Students indicate the courses they intend to take.
f) Teachers are asked to comment on the students' intentions.
g) The Choice Sheet is adjusted to meet students' needs as far as possible.
h) Students start a provisional timetable in June.
i) After exam results are out, students (and parents) are invited to come into school before term starts in August to discuss results; choices and possible careers.

Notes on Subject Choice

a) It is not possible to offer all combinations of course choices.
b) Courses may not run if numbers selecting them are small.
c) The number of places on some courses is limited.
d) There can be no guarantee that subjects taken in S3/4 will be continued at Higher Grade.
e) Every effort is made to accommodate the wishes of pupils. The number of pupils who are not able to obtain their choice of courses in any year is relatively low.
f) Booklets describing courses are available for S1/S2; S3/S4 and S5/S6. Parents are welcome to ask for any of these information booklets.

The S5/6 senior choice sheet will soon be available to download below as an Acrobat PDF file.
Download the final choice sheet

62KB PDF document, opening in a new window