Welcome to the S2 Course Choice Handbook
- Feb 2025 – Link S2 Course Choice Information Evening Presentation
- Video recording of S2 Course Choice Evening
Dear S2 Learner,
You will be the first year group to choose subjects at the end of S2 in PHS, so this is a new Course Choice handbook created for 2025, which explains everything you need to know as we make changes to our curriculum. It includes a range of topics which will help you in some of the important decisions you will require to make for your future in Peebles High School and beyond.
Your handbook is not just about making subject choices but helping you to consider the consequences of whatever decisions you make. When you have to make decisions, do not just do what you would like to do, but also consider what is likely to have the best or, at least, good consequences for you.
The contents of the handbook have been thought out carefully to support you, and you should refer to it from time to time for advice. Please consult with your pastoral teacher if you require clarification on any point.
Set yourself challenging targets in the senior school and can only expect to achieve them by working hard. You are and will be in competition with many talented learners across Scotland. We believe that you can be up there with the best of them.
I hope you have a successful year.
Yours sincerely
Kevin Ryalls
Rector
Using the handbook
This handbook is full of information to support you to make the best choices and contains:
- An overview of key dates
- An overview of the PHS curriculum changes and how they affect S2 into S3
- A course choice preparation form to support conversation at home (from the pastoral team)
- The course choice descriptors
- The course choice sheet
- The link to enter choices online at home
- Information on Career Pathways and Further Information at the end of the page
Key Dates
The key dates regarding these curriculum changes are as follows:
- w/b 24th Feb – S2 Course Choice Support begins with Pastoral
- Learners will receive input in PSE lessons to help them decide their choices, with individual also available
- Tuesday 25 Feb – S2 Handbook Webpage Launch
- This will be a webpage dedicated to providing additional information about the new S2 curriculum structure, the courses you will be able to study, and the course choice process
- Tuesday 25 Feb 6pm – Online information evening for parents/carers and pupils
- As was held in S1, this will be an optional information evening held online which will explain the changes and the course choice process
- Friday 7 March/Monday 10 March – Progress and Achievement reports uploaded to Showbie
- This is a new rescheduled report that will be sent to parents and carers which will help with the final decision-making process
- Friday 14 March – Course Choice deadline
- The date by which course choices should be entered online. It is important that choices are submitted on time as late submission may increase the chance of your reserve choice being used
PHS Curriculum Changes and how they affect S2 into S3
- What’s changing?
- PHS learners currently choose to study 9 subjects which they study for 2 periods per week in S2 & S3
- In March 2025, S2s will be asked to make new course choices for the first time
- S3 in 2025-26 will study 7 subjects, as well as Core subjects like English and Maths
- Then in S4, this year group will get to choose to study 5 subjects, as well as Core
- This means everyone will study 7 subjects in S4 including English and Maths
- Why are we doing this?
- Data shows us we need to broaden our curriculum offer
- Studying 7 subjects in S4 will mean 4 periods per National subject per week (now it is 5 periods of 6 subjects per week)
- Changes to S3 will mean minimum 3 periods per Optional subject per week, instead of 2 as it is now
- This bring PHS in line with a broad national curriculum rationale
- What will the benefits be?
- Specialization of 7 subjects will allow for more periods per week and depth of learning of subjects in S3
- This will allow better preparation for S4 while still offering a Broad General Education in S3
- Studying more subjects in S4 means more subjects you are able to study when you return for S5
S3 Core – Courses everyone will study
- 4 periods of English
- 4 periods of Maths
- 2 periods of PE
- 1 period of RMPS
- 1 period of PSE
S3 Electives – Courses you can choose to study
You also have the opportunity to choose seven additional subjects.
You will be timetabled to 3 periods for each of these.
You need to choose a reserve in case one of your choices is unavailable.
You will be asked to select from the following categories:
| Choice 1 | Choice 2 | Choice 3 | Choice 4 | Choice 5 | Choice 6 | Choice 7 |
| Sciences | Social Subjects | Expressive Arts | Choose one of:
|
Choose one of:
|
Free | Free |
Which courses are for you?
Before selecting a course you must carry out research to ensure that you understand fully what you are going to study, how hard it will be and how you will be assessed. You also need to know why you are taking the course. Is it because it is an essential entry requirement for further study or employment, because you enjoy the area of study and/or because you feel you have talents in this field? It might even be all three!
Remember, there is information on different career pathways at the end of this page and on the school website that can help inform your choices. You may also wish to look at the S3 and S4/5 pages on this website to begin to consider what options may be available to your child as they progress through the school.
Elective Course Choice Descriptors
| BCT | |||
| · Admin | |||
| · Business Management | |||
| · Computing Science | |||
|
CDT |
|||
| · Design & Manufacture | |||
| · Graphic Communication | |||
| · Practical Woodworking | |||
|
English & RMPS |
|||
| · Philosophy | |||
|
Expressive Arts |
|||
| · Art & Design | |||
| · Drama | |||
| · Music | |||
|
HWB |
|||
| · Hospitality | |||
| · Fashion & Textiles Technology | |||
*Please note that for the S3 PE Elective, young people will have 3 choices: to choose a General PE course, or one that specialises in Rugby or Hockey over the course of the year. Please look at the 3 booklets for more information on this and speak to the PE department for more information
|
|||
| · Mountainbiking | |||
|
Modern Languages |
|||
| · French | |||
| · German | |||
| · Italian | |||
| · Spanish | |||
|
Sciences |
|||
| · Biology | |||
| · Chemistry | |||
| · Physics | |||
| · Science | |||
|
Social Subjects |
|||
| · Geography | |||
| · History | |||
| · Modern Studies | |||
| · Social Subjects |
Course Choice Sheet and Link to Online Choice Entry
Please remember to enter your choices online below. (You will need your unique log in details – these will be distributed in PSE in March):
(Please enter your choices above by the 14th March at the latest as a late submission may increase the chance of your reserve being used)
Career Pathways – Life Beyond School
- Apprenticeships
- Apprenticeships offer a great variety of ways to blend learning with the world of work. Some can be started while still at school (Foundation Apprenticeships), others you can gain qualifications while you work at SCQF Level 6 & 7 (Modern Apprenticeships) or Level 8 and beyond (Graduate Apprenticeships). Click on the link below to find out more
- Further & Higher Education
- Further Education describes any course studied at Level 6 beyond school, while Higher Education describes any course at Level 7 and above. Click on the links below to find out more
- Career Pathways
- The links below are a way for you to work backwards from the careers you are interested in to the subjects you choose in school, or forwards from the subjects that you like most to see where a career in those areas could take you
Further information
Further information on curriculum developments and the shape of the new National Qualifications that your child will sit in the Senior Phase can be found on the SQA website. www.sqa.org.uk
Do not hesitate to contact the appropriate Pastoral Teacher if you are worried about any aspect of your child’s choice.
