Planning for making your subject choices is very important.  There are many correct reasons for chosing to study a subject, as well as many wrong ones.  The link below gives you some hints and tips:

In making choices, students should consider the following.

• S3 choices – this is an opportunity for you to gain much more depth and understanding in these subjects which could possibly lead onto a future career pathway.  These subjects will give you strong building block to move onto the Senior Phase.
• Senior Phase choices – think about your leaving point ie end of S4, S5 or S6 and plan over this time ie one year, two year or a three year period of study.  Subjects chosen in S3 should be continued into S4 as the building blocks of national qualifications will have started in S3.  In S5 subjects should be taken at the next level if this is available to allow progression – most emphasis being on pupils moving to Higher level or Level 6 subjects.  In S6 there is also the option of broadening your studies by choosing subjects not previously undertaken since S2 or S3.  This is what many pupils do in order to give themselves a wide range of subjects and skills and give then the edge to gain places in college and university.

It is important to note that although a wide range of Courses are offered, whether or not a course runs is dependent on pupil uptake and staffing constraints.

The following links will help you in the choice of course process:

 

Number of Subjects Studied

• S3 – students will study nine subjects – English, Mathematics and French – plus 6 other subjects from the curricular areas.  They will also maintain their core periods of PE, RE and PSE.
• S4 – students will study seven subjects – English and Mathematics – plus five other subjects at National 3, 4 or 5.  These subjects should be taken from the courses undertaken in S3 where possible.  In some circumstances, there may be the opportunity to study a subject at Higher.  They will also maintain their core periods of PE, PSE and Raising Attainment.
• S5 – students will study five or six subjects of their choice at the appropriate level (Higher, National 5, 4 or 3) with 5 periods allocated to each. There will also be an opportunity for students to study ‘wider achievement’ courses.  They will maintain their core periods of PE, PSE and Raising Attainment.
•  S6 – students’ timetable become more bespoke to their needs and the progression pathways that they have taken.  All students will endeavour to have as full a timetable as possible and this will be made up of a mixture of National courses (National 3, 4 or 5, Higher, Advanced Higher) and Wider Achievement.  The number of columns a S6 student will undertake is dependent on the level of courses undertaken.  They will maintain their core periods of PE, PSE and Raising Attainment where appropriate.

College Courses

On Wednesdays pupils can attend Moray College which runs a number of Courses offered to students in the Senior Phase at a variety of levels.  Student who are considering opting for a college course should consider when in the Senior Phase is the best time for this – usually the final year of study.  Also by opting for a college course they will miss a period from two of their other subjects so this should be considered.

 

Useful websites –

• National Parent Forum for Scotland
• Parent Zone
• SCQF Support for Learners & Parents