Achievement Pathway: Ru
Ru achieved exceptionally well in his BGE achieving beyond fourth level in many aspects of his work
by the end of S3. His S3 profile highlighted his intention to study veterinary medicine. Ru, in
consultation with his parents and teaching staff, planned very carefully his pathway through the senior
phase to ensure that he was in a position to achieve the requisite five Highers at one sitting.
Ru wanted to be a vet from a very early age and had helped out at the local vet’s surgery on a
Saturday morning since S1. As a result, Ru had a very good knowledge and understanding of the
demands of the profession. The placement also helped Ru develop his confidence and interpersonal
skills in dealing with the public.
Building on his learning in his BGE, in S4 Ru undertook two-year programmes of study in English,
maths, biology, chemistry, physics and history working across N5/Higher level. This option meant that
there was the opportunity to by-pass qualifications at the lower level if Ru, in consultation with school
staff and parents, felt that this was appropriate. He also continued with programmes of learning in PE,
RE and HWB and benefited from opportunities for universal support throughout his senior phase. In
S4, Ru made exceptional progress in maths and the three sciences achieving at the very highest level
in N5 units of the course. He was already showing the same potential in the Higher units. It was
agreed, therefore, that he would by-pass qualifications in these subjects. In English and history,
where he was also making very good progress, Ru felt that he would benefit from exam experience
and so decided to undertake these course assessments and achieved A grade passes in both.
In S5, Ru continued with Higher programmes in all six subjects. As predicted, he achieved top grades
securing A grade passes in all subjects. In S6, Ru was keen to further his science studies in
preparation for his university course selecting AH biology, AH chemistry and AH maths as this would
enable him to complete the Science Baccalaureate. In order to combine his interest of local wildlife
and environmental projects, his IDL project for the science Baccalaureate considered ‘whether the
population of seabirds is declining around the Scottish coastline?’
As head boy, Ru was expected to lead the prefect team in a number of initiatives to positively raise
the profile of the school. One of the projects he led was an environmental project in the local park to
encourage more wildlife into the area. He worked with staff in design & technology and art & design to
plan and deliver a project for S2 pupils to design and make bird feeding boxes. He gained
accreditation for this work through the NQ Leadership award. Ru also arranged a one-day weekly
work placement with the local vet.
Ru successfully secured a place at university to study veterinary medicine.
S
4
S
5
S
6
N5
N5/Higher
N5/Higher
N5/Higher
N5/Higher
N5
English
maths
chemistry
biology
physics
history
Higher
Higher
English
history
PE
RE
Advanced
Higher
maths
Advanced
Higher
chemistry
Advanced
Higher
biology
Science Baccalaureate
HWB
NQ
Leadership
SCQF 6