Welcome to the Fourth and Fifth Year Information Handbook
Dear S4 and S5 Learner
This handbook is for you and your parents. 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.
As we adapt our curriculum to suit the changing needs of learners in front of us, you will notice several new courses on offer in the common session (indicated as “new” below). Please take the time to read the information carefully and discuss with your pastoral teacher as you decide the best course for you.
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 and make sure to look at the broad range of courses across the curriculum we have.
You should 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
Headteacher
Support Programme
This handbook is full of information to support you and your child to make the best choices and contains:
- An overview of the curriculum on offer
- An S4/5 course choice presentation
- An overview of the support programme
- A course choice preparation form to support conversation at home (from the pastoral team)
- The course choice sheet
- The course choice descriptors
- The link to enter choices online at home
- Links to various support websites e.g. PlanIt Plus and My World of Work.
Further support and information:
- From February, Pastoral teachers will be working with their PSE classes on the S4/5 options process, giving information and advice.
- If your child is finding it difficult to make their choices they can request an interview with the pastoral team. You will find out more in the presentation mentioned above.
- 11th February Course Choice Information evening.
- S4 reports issued from 13th February.
- S5 reports issued from 28th February.
- The S4/5 options completion deadline is the 14th of March. Please note that this is online and should be done with parents at home.
- It is important that choices are submitted on time as late submission may increase the chance of your reserve choice being used
Using the handbook
The contents have been thought out carefully to support you.
You should refer to the handbook from time to time for advice.
Please consult with your pastoral teacher if you require clarification on any point.
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!
Curriculum Pathways
Peebles High School faculties have created a series of maps or pathways to help understand the progression from one course to another throughout your years at school. Click on the links below to help you understand how your senior years in PHS might look. Check on the Meta-skills and Career Pathways pages too to see how the subjects you’re interested in could lead to your future career, and how you can build skills in these areas in your time at school.
- Art & Design
- BCT
- Biology
- CDT
- Chemistry
- Drama
- English
- HLS
- Maths
- Modern Languages
- Music
- PE
- Physics & Science
- RMPS
- Social Subjects
Meta-skills
Meta-skills are key skills for the workplace that everyone should look to develop in their time at school. Some may be more important than others for you to develop for your chosen career path, and the school will provide experiences and opportunities for you to develop these skills.
Consider School Service as a way to develop your skills in key areas that will help you on your chosen pathway.
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
Courses everyone will study (Core)
- Personal & Social Education – 1 period
- S5 Physical Education – 1 period
- S5 RMPS – 1 period
- S6 Leadership – 2 periods
Your Choices
S4s choose either:
- A minimum of 6 courses at any level
or
- 5 Higher courses plus School Study
S5 choose either:
- A minimum of 5 courses at any level
or
- 3 AH courses, LRC School study plus one other course at any level
New S6 learners who wish to participate in school service rather than one of their subjects can select this as an option. This must be followed by a successful application. Unsuccessful applicants will be asked to choose an additional course. S5 attendance patterns will be considered before granting such an application.
You also need to choose a reserve in case one of your choices is unavailable. This step is important and you must be aware this is considered a valid choice.
Course Choice Descriptors
| BCT |
| · Admin & IT – Higher |
| · Admin & IT – N4/5 |
| · Business & ICT – Level 6 NPA |
| · Business & ICT – N2/3 |
| · Business Management – Higher |
| · Business Management – N4/5 |
| · Computing Science – Higher |
| · Computing Science – N4/5 |
| · Enterprise and Employability – Level 4/5 NPA |
| Borders College (This link takes you to the Schools Academy Site) |
| · Land-based Agriculture
· Forestry · Racing Yard Routine · Horsecare · Skills for Learning & Work · Early Learning & Childcare · Social Services, Children & Young People · Social Services & Healthcare · Animal Care · Engineering Academy · Cyber Security · E-Sports · Beauty & Hairstyling · BASE |
| CDT |
| · Design & Manufacture – Higher |
| · Design & Manufacture – N4/5 |
| · Furniture Making – Level 5 NPA |
| · Graphic Communication – Higher |
| · Graphic Communication – N4/5 |
| · Practical Craft Skills and Design & Technology – N3 |
| · Practical Metalworking – N4/5 |
| · Practical Woodworking – N4/5 |
| English & RMPS |
| · English – Communication & Literature – Level 6 |
| · English – Advanced Higher |
| · English – Higher |
| · English – N4/5 |
| · Journalism – Level 6 NPA |
| · Philosophy – Higher |
| · Philosophy – N5 |
| Expressive Arts |
| · Art & Design – Advanced Higher |
| · Art & Design – Higher |
| · Art & Design – N3/4/5 |
| · Drama – Advanced Higher |
| · Drama – Higher |
| · Drama – N4/5 |
| · Music – Advanced Higher |
| · Music – Higher |
| · Music – N4/5 |
| · Music Technology – N5 |
| · NPA Drama: Musical Theatre & Professional Theatre Preparation – Level 6 (New) |
| · Photography – Higher |
| Foundation Apprenticeships (available at Borders College) |
| · Social Services, Children & Young People
· Hospitality · Automotive Skills · Social Services & Healthcare · NPA Construction Craft & Technician |
| HLS |
| · Fashion & Textile Technology – N5 |
| · Fashion & Textile Technology – N5/Higher |
| · Food Health & Wellbeing & PE – N2/3 |
| · Hospitality: Practical Cookery – N5 |
| · Hospitality: Skills for Work – Level 5 NPA |
| · Mountainbiking – Level 5 NPA |
| · Physical Education – Advanced Higher |
| · Physical Education – N4/5 |
| · Physical Education – Higher |
| · Sports Leaders – Level 6 |
| Modern Languages |
| · ESOL – N4/5/Higher |
| · French – Higher/Advanced Higher |
| · French – N4/5 |
| · Italian – Higher |
| · Italian – N45 |
| · German – N4/5 |
| · German – Higher |
| · Spanish – Higher/Advanced Higher |
| · Spanish – N4/5 |
| Mathematics |
| · Applications of Mathematics – Higher |
| · Applications of Mathematics – N5 |
| · Mathematics – N4 |
| · Mathematics – N5 |
| · Maths – Higher |
| · Maths – Advanced Higher |
| Sciences |
| · Biology – Advanced Higher |
| · Biology – Higher |
| · Biology – N4 |
| · Biology – N5 |
| · Chemistry – Advanced Higher |
| · Chemistry – Higher |
| · Chemistry – N4 |
| · Chemistry – N5 |
| · Health Sector – Level 5 NPA |
| · Human Biology – Higher |
| · Laboratory Sciences – Level 5 NPA |
| · Physics – Advanced Higher |
| · Physics – Higher |
| · Physics – N4/5 |
| · Practical Electronics – Level 5 NPA |
| · Science in the Environment – N2 |
| · Science – N3/4 |
| Social Subjects |
| · Criminology – Level 5 NPA |
| · Geography – Advanced Higher |
| · Geography – Higher |
| · Geography – N4/5 |
| · History – Advanced Higher |
| · History – Higher |
| · History – N4/5 |
| · Legal Studies and Criminology – Level 6 |
| · Modern Studies – Advanced Higher |
| · Modern Studies – Higher |
| · Modern Studies – N4/5 |
| · Politics – Higher |
| · Social Subjects – N3/4 |
| · Travel and Tourism – N4/5 |
| Miscellaneous |
| · LEAPS Transitions Course (S6 only – check with your pastoral teaching regarding eligibility) |
| · School Service (S6 Only) |
Course Choice Sheet and Link to Online Choice Entry
S4-5 Course Choice Sheet – February 2025
Please remember to enter your choices online below. (You will need your unique log in details – these will be distributed in PSE):
https://www.studentoptions.co/PHS-SeniorPhaseOptions
(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)
A link to the PowerPoint shared on the Course Choice Information evening can be found here.
RECOURSING POLICY
Please take the time to read our recoursing policy below:
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
The SCQF is a way of comparing Scottish qualifications to other qualification frameworks. It does this by giving each qualification a level and a number of credit points. See the diagram below:
