Saint Roch's Secondary School

Curriculum

Broad General Education

Deaf pupils participate in a wide range of subjects both in the mainstream and DDE classrooms. At the start of the year, qualified Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (ToDCYP, or ToD for short) test deaf pupils using a range of levelling tests such as the York Assessment of Reading Comprehension (YARC) and Oxford Analytical Writing Assessment as well as tests of knowledge in numeracy in order to decide how they should access English, Maths and other subjects.

Deaf pupils then have an Additional Support Plan (ASP – sometimes referred to as an IEP) written for Literacy and Numeracy which goes in their files for pastoral care and parents to be able to read, which identifies key areas for support to ensure deaf young people have access to the widest range of options for their future career pathways. All ToDs utilise these ASPs in their subject specialism to support deaf young people to access the curriculum through individual timetables which fit their needs.

These practices have been highlighted by Education Scotland as excellent practice in the HMIe report published March 2025.

Senior Phase

SCQF Subject Options

In S3-6, pupils begin to study towards chosen topics to get SQA qualifications. Sometimes these will be taught by specialist Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (ToDCYP, or ToD for short) because we have a range of subject experts who can teach in line with the structure of mainstream courses, but adjusted to fit deaf people learning needs better. In other situations, pupils will study alongside mainstream pupils in a classroom with a ToD who can teach and support further though translating and providing extra materials that support deaf young people to access what is being taught and understand it better.

College and Apprenticeships

Sometimes pupils will want to start working towards a practical job like painting, woodwork or construction. We offer, through our links with colleges and organisations such as Tigers and RSBI, opportunities for pupils to get hands-on learning about different trades so pupils also build up work experience and practical skills that prepare them for their future.

Broad General Education – S1-3

Pupils receive BSL input on a variety of topics such as health and wellbeing, deaf community, the workplace and other relevant topics through the first three years at St Roch’s. We assess BSL at third and fourth level which is equivalent to Signature Level 1 and allows for a direct pathway to gaining qualifications that are recognised across the UK to show competency in BSL.

The course does not only focus on the BSL language alone, but also focuses on deaf issues, identity and culture – through the BSL curriculum pupils learn to take pride in being deaf, recognise barriers they may face in the wider world and how to take agency over getting their needs met. The development of this curriculum has been highlighted by Education Scotland as sector leading practice worth sharing more widely.

Senior phase

We provide courses in BSL for senior phase as a timetabled option: SQA BSL Awards at SCQF level 3-6. This is equivalent to Signature Level 1-3 courses. In these courses, pupils explore and develop their BSL and understanding of Deaf History and Culture through outcomes focused on research, demonstrating understanding of signed BSL and its linguistic features as well as participating in assessed monologues and signed conversations in increasingly complex contexts.

Documents pertaining to the BSL courses offered at St Roch’s Secondary for deaf pupils will be available in due course.

WIder Achievement

We offer opportunities for our deaf young people to achieve more qualification through a tailor-made curriculum based on the John Muir award which encompasses watersports, community link events, activity nights and snow sports to build confidence and resilience in our deaf young people. This also offers deaf young people opportunities to participate in activities they would not otherwise have experienced. There are plans to expand these opportunities to the senior phase and include mainstream pupils so all pupils at St Roch’s can benefit.

Extracurricular

Nurture

• Learning is understood developmentally
• Environment offers a safe base
• All behaviour is communication
• Nurture is important for wellbeing
• Transitions are important in children’s lives
• Language is a vital means of communication

Pastoral

You will find your pastoral care teachers Mrs Millan, Mrs Quinn and Miss Nicholls in the DDE base in St Roch’s Secondary School.

Your pastoral care teachers are there to help you with many different things. Maybe your are struggling in a subject? Maybe you have some issues in school? Maybe you are worried about something at home? Maybe it’s something completely different? No matter what you are worried about, they are there to help you, always.

Remember that it is good to talk and that every solution starts with a conversation. Your pastoral care teachers are warm and approachable people and they will do everything they can to support you throughout your school years.

Audiology Information for parents

We expect that pupils with hearing aids or cochlear implants keep a supply of spare parts at home and for parents to provide their children with spare batteries to bring to school daily along with their iPads and blazers. Please go to the relevant section of this page depending on the audiology technology worn by your child.

Cochlear Implants

We have been advised by Crosshouse Hospital that schools are unable to keep a supply of spare parts for cochlear implant processors due to the high cost incurred by the hospital NHS trust in ordering spare parts. This means we are limited in the nature of support we can provide your child with when it comes to replacing parts. Regular maintenance of your child’s processors is something you agreed to at the pre-implant/implantation stage with your child when you signed the consent form for your child to undergo the implantation procedure.

You can order spare parts such as ear hooks, drying box capsules, microphone filters and coils, as well as batteries by calling Crosshouse Hospital at 01563 827339, texting at 07824 598277 or emailing at cochlear.implant@aaaht.scot.nhs.uk.

Hearing Aids – Glasgow City Council Residents

The school keeps a limited supply of spare tone hooks and tubing for your child’s Phonak hearing aids at school, but to support your child in becoming independent with their audiology maintenance, we would encourage you to get them to clean their hearing aids regularly at home (there is a video on your child’s Audiology Showbie page showing them how to do this) and change tubing when they become stiff and discoloured. You can order in spare tubing and drying capsules by texting 07815701101 with the child’s full name on the text. Your child can order these independently too, at the same number, to encourage more independence.

Hearing Aids – Out of Authority

We are unable to keep spare parts for Oticon branded hearing aids and have limited correspondence with out of authority audiology services. Please ensure you request spares such as tone hooks, tubing and drying capsules from your audiology services in Lanarkshire, Lothian, Edinburgh, Tayside, Forth Valley, etc., and keep these to hand. If you are unsure how to replace tone hooks for an Oticon hearing aid, we are happy to do this for you if you send this along with your child to school. Please encourage your child to be more independent in cleaning their hearing aids regularly – there is a video on your child’s Audiology Showbie page which shows them how to do this.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the relevant pastoral care teacher for your child and they will get in touch with Mr Dow regarding audiological matters.

Parents Zone