Introduction to pupil choices

This site is designed to assist pupils and parents in making the best curricular choices for the coming year.  Please click on the appropriate handbook above for year specific information.

The Broad General Education: S1 to S3

The change from a largely one-teacher approach in primary to a system based on a weekly timetable offering a wide range of subjects with different teachers and changes of classrooms is a major feature of the transfer from P7 to S1. As a result, schools give a high priority to areas of pastoral and curricular liaison between primary and secondary to ensure the experience of young people is one that is emotionally nurturing.

The primary school years and the early years of secondary are now seen as a continuum in terms of what and how children learn. This is called the Broad General Education under Curriculum for Excellence. There is a great deal of contact between primary and secondary to ensure a smooth transition from one system to another, especially from our Pastoral team.

S1

In S1, young people are allocated to “form” classes of roughly equal size (maximum 33 per class). Information from our partner Primary schools is used to achieve gender, ability and geographical balance within each class. We create practical classes in a similar way (maximum 20 per class). All S1 pupils receive 5 periods of Maths & English, 3 periods of Physical Education, 1 of PSE and 1 of RMPS. The high number of subjects studied in the week reflect the schools desire for as broad an experience of curriculum areas that is as intellectually-enriching as possible in their BGE. Our PE allocation ensures every pupil experiences competitive sport and the opportunity to perform in the wider life of our school.

The importance of Literacy and Numeracy in our efforts to close the attainment gap can be seen with 5 periods a week for each of these curriculum areas. STEM is prioritised through 4 periods per week of Sciences, and creativity through 4 periods per week of Expressive Arts subjects.

S2 & S3

At the end of S1 pupils will make a choice to be able to focus on their favourite subjects as they move to S2 which will be continued into S3. The BGE entitlements of Physical Education, PSE, RMPS and Maths and English remain the same in S1. In addition 9 courses can be chosen which will be studied at two periods each,  including at least one subject from each curriculum area. This allows for an interesting, varied and balanced group of subjects. Although their entitlements will remain the same, PHS prides itself on making this a completely free choice. Rather than choosing from subjects already aligned in pre-decided columns, at PHS every year we construct our S2 the curriculum around the desires of our S1 pupils. When all pupil choices are collated, a computer programme will group courses into columns to ensure the very greatest number of pupil choices are satisfied based on their choice patterns. We find this system to be a highly equitable and successful way of ensuring pupil satisfaction.

Moving into the Senior Phase – S4 to S6

Peebles High School is committed to creating a curriculum that gives the best life chances for all. Using reflections from recent consultation with teaching staff, we are also adapting our curriculum to create more streamlined opportunities to springboard young people into the workplace through the creation of new courses under the study of workplace sector demands in our local area and trends and people employment aspirations that we track through secondary school. We highly value the commitment and creativity of our staff as they work hard to create these new courses. As our school community prepares for its move into our new school facilities we will continue to consult closely with pupils, teachers and parents to take full advantage of new curriculum opportunities made possible by the new building’s physical space.

As young people move into S4, inevitably SQA examinations will become more important and they will move on to a study of National Qualification courses.  Young people will choose a curriculum in S4 which allows them to follow courses of study in a range of areas. They will also be able to follow increasingly personalised courses of study, including, where appropriate, extended work experience, courses in association with colleges and also links with the local community.

Accordingly, the Pastoral Team organises a full programme of information for S3, S4 and S5 young people at this point:

• A Course Choice Booklet is published on this website, giving details of National Qualification courses, as well as information about careers and advice about the choice process. This Booklet is studied with young people as part of the PSE programme.
• Young people are encouraged to seek further information from class teachers.
• A Parents’ Information Evening is held in the school to provide background information and advice to parents in supporting young people with course choice.
• Reports are sent to parents from subject departments.
• A Parents’ Evening enables parents and teachers to discuss progress within individual subjects.

In S4 pupils will be required to take Maths and English on their timetables, but beyond this their timetables are entirely free choice, and the end of S4 and S5 is completely free choice. Pupils will choose from a range of 90 options on offer and from this we will create a curriculum around this pupil choice. In the small number of cases (1 to 2%) in which we are unable to offer pupils a timetable of their preferred choices we will provide intensive pastoral support and every opportunity to meet this pupil’s needs.

As young people move further into the Senior Phase, in S5 and S6, they will have the opportunity to study a wide range of qualifications from National 2 to Advanced Higher level. Parents are asked to note that course choices may alter according to changes in roll, staffing or policy and in line with national developments. Please note also that current courses may not be available when a young person enters S1, and options currently offered at later stages may not be provided when a young person reaches this stage in due course. In Senior Phase, it may not be possible to pursue all subjects through all levels from National 3 across the National Qualifications Framework. Peebles High School is dedicated to pursuing excellence for its learners and, as such, it does not support the dropping of subjects. Students will be supported to complete each course that they begin.

Assessment and Reporting

In the phase of Broad General Education from S1 to S3, most assessment of a young person’s progress is built into normal class teaching.  End of unit tests or assessments are used to assess strengths and weaknesses in their learning and are used to structure their work.  These assessments are also based on various elements or skills which are central to a subject, e.g. reading, writing, talking and listening in English.

Reports to parents are therefore based upon a wide range of assessments and reports give information on progress according to the differing elements or skills appropriate to that subject.  In addition, information on attendance, behaviour, effort and homework is provided.

In S4 and beyond the regular, continuous ‘diagnostic’ assessment does continue as part of the normal classroom process.  However, as a result of most courses in S4 to S6 leading to national certification, formal school examinations are built into the school programme including preliminary examinations, which are used as a trial run for the actual SQA examinations.  These prelims also provide the evidence for Estimate grades which are sent to the SQA in March of the presentation year.