Dear Fifth Years,

In S6 you will study a range of courses with various workloads depending on the level of the subjects being studied. Past experience has shown that those pupils who do not succeed in S6 are more often those who opt for too light a programme. To help you choose your subjects and plan a realistic programme, our expectation is that you will follow 4/5 subjects possibly at various levels. For example, 3 Advanced Highers or 2 Advanced Highers and one Higher or 2 Higher and a ’Crash’ Higher.

S6 will be given more responsibility with an expectation of signing up for voluntary work in areas such as work experience; volunteering in the community; paired reader or peer mentor to younger pupils. Pupils will be given more information about this in due course

The final copy of an S6 pupil’s timetable must be negotiated and agreed with the pupil, parents and Pupil Support teacher as part of the overall S6 agreement.

We want all pupils to make sure that they make the correct subject choices as it is our expectation that S6 pupils will complete all courses which they embark upon so they should make their subject choices with care.

Progression to Advanced Higher is from Higher in subjects studied in S5. Specific departmental entry requirements are detailed in the various subject descriptions which can be found on the ‘Pathways’ Blog on the school website.

Consult with teachers, especially your Pupil Support teacher, before you finalise your course choice. Make sure that you also speak with the Careers Advisor (Pauline McBride) and use the careers materials being posted on the DYW Teams page and on your Registration Teams pages.

You will have the opportunity in August to make adjustments to your course choice, taking into account your results in the SQA examinations. Please note that not all subject choices can be guaranteed as this will depend upon staffing and pupil demand.

National 4/5 Courses

National 5 courses would be appropriate for those who gained a National 4 award in the subject in S5. In addition, these courses would be suitable for those who have completed some Higher courses and wish to pick up a new subject.  Again, this should be discussed with your Pupil Support

Should you require any help or support please don’t hesitate to contact your Pupil Support Teacher.