GUIDANCE NOTES FOR PARENTS ON SUBJECT CHOICE
INFORMATION
In years S3 and S4 the school seeks to offer a balanced curriculum containing subjects in two distinct
categories:
(i)
Subjects which are not examined - eg Social Education, Religious Education
(ii)
Subjects which have the syllabus and assessment procedure prescribed by the Scottish
Qualifications Authority. Successful study of these subjects would lead to presentation for an
award to appear on the Scottish National Certificate.
WHAT TO DO
1
Parents should read both the ‘Description of Courses on Offer’ and ‘Subject Choice Guidance
Notes for Pupils’ contained in this Booklet. Information on individual courses is supplied later
in this booklet.
2
Parents have the opportunity to gain further information at two parents' meetings before the
choice is made:
~ a meeting with senior staff looking at general issues/concerns
~ a chance to meet individual class teachers.
Details of these meetings appear in good time.
3
Parents who continue to have unresolved doubts or difficulties concerning subject choice may
seek further information or advice by contacting, initially, their child’s Guidance Teacher who
has a special responsibility for, particular knowledge of, and specific detailed information about
that child.
Such contact is best made by telephoning the school to make an appointment to see the
Guidance Teacher at a time suitable to all concerned.
TELEPHONE: JEDBURGH 863273
~ ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR CHILD'S GUIDANCE TEACHER
NOTE
While the School will make every effort to continue to offer the widest range of courses possible,
we cannot guarantee that any particular course will run or that a place will be available for every
pupil.
1
S3/S4 CURRICULUM
The principal difference between the curriculum in third and fourth years and that of first and second
years is the increasing element of choice. All pupils in S1 and S2 follow a Common Course where a
wide range of subjects are studied. This wide range continues in the middle school years where balance
and breadth are key ingredients, but there is much scope for pupils to make choices.
JGS tries to provide as wide a range of courses as possible. However, like all schools, we are under
considerable financial pressure which, in turn, reduces the number of staff available. Pupils will
therefore not have a completely free choice. It is important that pupils consider second and third
choices.
Compulsory Core Subjects
All pupils must take English and Mathematics as well as Core Physical Education, Religious Education
and Social Education.
The decision on which courses to choose will depend on the progress made over the last two years and
future hopes or intentions. Subject teachers and Guidance staff have studied the progress and results of
all the pupils in their care and they are in an excellent position to give advice.
2
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR PUPILS ON SUBJECT CHOICE
Pupils should note the following pieces of good advice
Choose your subjects for GOOD REASONS:
(a) You are good at the subject and you like it.
(b) The subject is necessary or useful for the kind of work or career you have in mind.
(c) The subjects chosen will keep as wide as possible the range of jobs or careers open to
you.
Do not choose subjects for BAD REASONS:
(a) Your friend is taking the subject, so you will take it.
(b) You like the teacher, not the subject. Remember you may not have the same teacher
next year.
(c) You think a subject will be easy and that you will not have homework. Remember
that all subjects demand effort and work if you are to be successful.
If you have any difficulty or any doubts about making a decision about your course you should
consult the following people:
(a)
Your Subject Teachers, particularly the Teachers in charge of departments
(b)
The Guidance/Careers Staff
(c)
Your parents and other relatives and adults.
Your choice of course, to some extent, will depend on the career you would like to take when
you leave school, because there are certain subjects which you must take if you wish to follow
a particular career. Consult the following before you make your decisions:
(a)
Your Guidance Teacher - for information on courses and subject requirements
(b)
The Careers Adviser - for information on careers and subject requirements.
3
Pupils intending eventually to go to University must normally:
(i) at least have good passes in:
a)
English
b)
a language subject other than English
c)
Mathematics or a Science subject
in order to satisfy General Entrance requirements for most Universities.
(ii) have at least three good Higher grade passes and two other acceptable Standard grade or
Intermediate
passes.
(iii) satisfy specific Faculty or Course requirements. (Information on these and advice may be
obtained from the Guidance staff. Reference must always be made to the current
University, Faculty or Course regulations).
You should know that there is extremely tough competition for admission to some Universities
and some Faculties within any University and selection may, therefore, depend on the
attainment of a higher level of performance than is demanded for compliance with the basic
requirements PLAN AHEAD.
Details of the choices that can be made in Courses and Subjects which are on offer are given
in the SPECIMEN CHOICE SHEET (to be found at the end of the Booklet)
ON RECEIVING YOUR ACTUAL CHOICE SHEET,
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
BEFORE MAKING ANY ENTRIES
(IN PENCIL FIRST)
SO THAT ANY NECESSARY ALTERATIONS
MAY BE MADE WITHOUT SPOILING YOUR FORM
Your Guidance Teacher, Subject Teachers, Heads of Departments, Depute Rectors and the Rector are
all willing and available to give individual advice before final choices are made.
THINK CAREFULLY
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
ASK THE RIGHT PEOPLE
CHOOSE WISELY
4
TYPES OF COURSES ON OFFER
There are two main types of course offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
STANDARD GRADE COURSES
Two important features of the new Standard Grade Courses are:
1
Within the Standard Grade there are up to three levels of study in each subject to cater
for the wide range of pupil’s needs.
These are:
FOUNDATION LEVEL
GENERAL LEVEL
CREDIT LEVEL
2
Normally leads to Awards 5, 6 or 7 (the most basic level).
Normally leads to Awards 3 or 4
Normally leads to Awards 1 and 2 (the most difficult level)
The courses are designed to overlap in such a way that it is not necessary to make hard and fast
decisions about levels of study at the beginning of the Third Year. This allows a pupil to settle
at a level according to his/her progress during the Third and Fourth Years.
However, a pupil
will be given advice by the school about suitable levels at which to begin courses with the
possibility of change of level during the course, according to progress being made. Change of
level will not necessarily involve a change of teaching group. These changes are possible because
the different levels of a course have been designed to have areas of overlap in most cases as
follows:
Foundation Courses will overlap with General Courses and General Courses will overlap with
Credit Courses.
NATIONAL QUALIFICATION UNITS & COURSES
National Qualifications are offered in S3 at Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 levels. In simple terms,
Intermediate 1 is equivalent to General level and Intermediate 2 is equivalent to Credit level.
The units are internally assessed and externally moderated. They are pass or fail only.
A course award acknowledges the unit passes together with a final graded external exam.
All units and courses passed will appear on the National Certificate at the end of S4.
It should be noted at this stage that admittance to the Senior School (S5/6) is through completion of
an application form and an interview with a member of SMT. There is also a minimum standard which
has to be achieved before a subject can be studied at a particular level.
Standard Grade Credit roughly equates to
Standard Grade General roughly equates to
Intermediate 2
Intermediate 1
5
and leads to
and leads to
Higher
Intermediate 2
COURSES OFFERED 2008/09
There follows a description of courses on offer in 2008/09. All are at Standard Grade unless
otherwise noted. The subjects are arranged by department as follows:
Art
Art & Design
Business Studies
Accounting & Finance
Administration
Business Management
English
Drama
English
Home Economics
Home Economics
Life Skills - Lifestyle & Consumer Technology (Int 1)
Practical Cookery - Health & Food Technology (Int 1)
Fashion & Textile Technology (Int 1))
Mathematics
Mathematics
Modern Languages
French
German
Music
Music
Physical Education
Physical Education
Core PE (not assessed)
Pupil Support
ASDAN
Science
Biology
Chemistry (also Access, Int 1)
Physics
Science
Social Subjects
Geography
History
Modern Studies
Technical Subjects
Craft & Design
Technological Studies
6
DESCRIPTIONS
OF
COURSES ON OFFER
IN
S3 & S4
7
EXPLANATION OF ASSESSMENT TABLE
Each S grade subject is made
up of a number of elements
covering different skill areas.
INTERNAL assessment is
done by teachers in school
(and checked by outside
bodies).
EXTERNAL assessment is
done by outside bodies.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Internal/External
Contribution to
Final Grade
How Assessed
The Final Grade is made up
from the grades of the
individual elements.
Different elements will be assessed in different ways. Some have a
larger proportion of assessed work to be done in school or at home.
This commitment should be understood when subjects are selected.
A timetable is agreed to avoid all the work being required at once and
you will receive a copy of this in due course.
All courses described relate to Standard Grade, unless otherwise stated.
8
ART DEPARTMENT
Art & Design
The Art & Design Course offers pupils the opportunity to express their own ideas and feelings in a
range of media, to create designs to meet a purpose or solve a problem and to appreciate the work of
artists and designers.
These three areas:
Expressive Activity
Design Activity
Critical Activity
are set in the context of the pupils' daily lives and experiences. In each of the two years of the course
there will be work concerned with both Expressive activity and Design activity. The pupils' Critical
activities will be developed through these.
Grades will be given for three activities. For Expressive activity, topics for investigation will be
specified in advance of the external examination. Pupils will be given time to do preparatory work,
which they can later use during the examination itself. In the examination they will be allowed to use
drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking or 3-dimensional work to interpret their chosen topic.
Design activity will be assessed in the school, on the basis of a folio which will show how a design was
approached, the possible solutions considered, the final design and its evaluation. Critical activity will
be assessed on the basis of work from two units of the course done during the fourth year.
ELEMENTS ASSESSED
Expressive
Critical
Design
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
33%
33%
33%
How Assessed
Practical Exam
Classwork
Classwork
9
BUSINESS STUDIES DEPARTMENT
Accounting & Finance
The main aims of this course are to develop an appreciation of the contribution of accounting
and finance to industry and commerce and an understanding of the role of accounting and
finance in personal, social and business contexts.
Pupils will be involved in working through practical exercises both on paper and using
a spreadsheet program. Assessment takes the form of an external examination and a
project done in class time.
No specialist knowledge is needed to choose this subject but competence in arithmetic is necessary.
This subject is particularly useful for pupils considering a career in business, but it is also useful for
anyone who will have to look after their own finances.
ELEMENTS ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Handling
Information
Project
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
33%
33%
33%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
Business Management
Business Management allows pupils to develop knowledge and skills that provide
an understanding of the role of business in society. It also provides a foundation
for entering a career in business, or Further Education in this or related subjects.
The course studies businesses within 4 areas: What is Business, How do Businesses Develop and
Perform, What Resources do Businesses Use, and How are Businesses Managed.
Pupils will gain knowledge and understanding of: the importance of business activity, the management
of business resources, the contribution people make to business activity, and an awareness of the
structures and functional areas, ie Marketing, Finance, Human Resources and Production within an
organisation. This course demands a high level of literacy. Pupils will also learn how to use IT to aid
decision making.
Assessment will take the form of an external examination and a practical abilities project done in class
time under exam conditions
ELEMENTS ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Decision
Making
Practical
Abilities
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
33.3%
33.3%
33.3%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
10
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
English
On entering S3 all pupils will undertake a two-year course following the SQA Standard Grade English
syllabus. Departmental policy is to regard S3 and S4 as a single entity and the same teacher will,
normally, teach the class over the two-year course.
Classes will be broadly set at three levels – Credit/General, General/Credit and General/Foundation.
This means that pupils can move from one level to another because the skills – of Reading, Writing,
Talking and Listening – taught and practiced are more or less the same at each level. The difficulty of
the texts studied and the quality of work expected are the main differences between the classes. The
final grade is determined by the quality of work that the pupil produces, not by which class he/she has
been placed in.
The Standard Grade course provides a balance of classroom activities in all four modes:
 The reading and appreciation of literature (to include Drama, Poetry, Novel and Short Story)
 The study of language
 The study of methods of written and oral communication
 The opportunity to express and practice what is learned above.
ASSESSMENT
Writing
Reading
Element
What is assessed
How assessed
Folio
Three Critical Essays on Literature.
At least two genres must have been studied.
Internally produced
Externally Graded
Exam
Two Close Reading Papers
either General and Credit or General and Foundation
External Exam
Folio
Transactional – Factual or Discursive essay
Expressive –
Personal /Reflective essay or Short Story
Internally produced
Externally Graded
Exam
One piece of writing in response to a Writing Paper
External Exam
An holistic
assessment of all
assessable talk done
over the S Grade
course. Internal
Talk
Individual Talk
Group Discussion
11
Contribution
to final grade
One third
One third
One third
Drama
S3 Drama is open to all pupils regardless of previous experience. However, it is important, that pupils
wishing to study drama recognise that the course involves both practical and written work. Pupils will
undertake a two-year course following the SQA Standard Grade Drama syllabus.
Standard Grade Drama involves the following elements:
Creating : the process in which pupils are involved in order to progress through a given learning
task. Pupils should be able to:
 explore a variety of stimuli
 initiate and select ideas
 contribute to and negotiate in group discussion
 cooperate and participate in group activity
 make real and symbolic use of space and resources
 adopt and work out a variety of roles, using appropriate language and movement.
Presenting: the product of dramatic exploration which can be shared with an audience outwith the
group i.e. a performance. Pupils should be able to:
 portray a variety of characters by using appropriate language, voice and movement
 portray ideas, actions and emotions through language, voice and movement in a variety of
situations
 demonstrate technical skills in aspects of drama
 evaluate the work of self and others
 use presentation skills to show drama work to an audience.
Knowledge and Understanding.
What is assessed
How assessed
Contribution
to final grade
Creating
The candidate’s ability to contribute ideas in response to a stimulus,
to adopt roles and to use space and other drama resources.
Teacher
observation
using Grade
Related Criteria
One third
Presenting
ASSESSMENT
The candidate’s ability to contribute to planning of presentation, to
portray characters and to demonstrate ability in theatre arts and
technology. In addition, 25% of the award for this element will be
based on the candidate’s ability to evaluate drama.
Each pupil will sit two examination papers – General plus Credit or
Foundation – which will assess candidates’ knowledge and
understanding of drama.
Papers will comprise a number of compulsory questions in two
sections as follows:
Section A: based on responses to a Stimulus Paper
Section B: based on general knowledge and understanding of drama.
Teacher
observation
using Grade
Related Criteria
One third
External
assessment
One third
Knowledge and
Understanding
Element
12
HOME ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT
Home Economics
Standard Grade Home Economics is a two year course which aims to equip both boys and girls with
the basic skills for living. The course has developed in response to social and technological change
reflecting the needs of the present day family.
Based on national guidelines, each school has developed a course which directly satisfies the needs and
interests of their particular pupils. The complete course is broken down into 5 topics over 2 years.
The knowledge and skills of Home Economics are developed through practical experiences, discussions,
enquiries and investigations which encourage pupils to make reasoned and informed decisions, interpret
information, solve problems and apply ideas and principles in a wide range of realistic situations. At
least 50% of the course is based on Practical Activities.
Pupils will be awarded grades for the 3 elements of the course, namely:
~ Knowledge & Understanding
~ Handling Information
~ Practical & Organisational Skills
Over the 2 years the topics in Jedburgh Grammar are:
~ Eat to Live
~ Beat the Bugs
~ Manage your Money
~ Looking after Ourselves
~ Design & Conservation for the 21st Century
Grades are awarded for the 3 elements in the final certificate and these elements are also assessed
throughout the course.
There is a final written examination paper from the Scottish Examination Board at the end of the
fourth year for the 2 elements Knowledge & Understanding and Handling Information. The
assessment of the element Practical & Organisational Skills is carried out in school.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Handling
Information
Practical/Organisational
Skills
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
25%
25%
50%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
13
Life Skills - Lifestyle & Consumer Technology
(Intermediate 1)
The course comprises of 4 compulsory units:
~ Organisation of Practical Skills
~ Food Preparation for Healthy Eating
Plus 1 optional unit:
~ Design & Make
or
~ Preparation for Parenthood
~ Health & Safety of Babies
& Young Children
~ The Pre-school Child - Food, Clothing & Play
This course covers the realities of preparing to be a parent. Responsibilities, baby care, budgeting,
special food requirements, etc, are studied via visiting speakers, case studies and a vast variety of
practical activities. Caring for the baby will be exemplified through our virtual baby - who may be
allowed home overnight! New craft skills, such as making soft toys, learning books, baby items and
decorating novelty cakes will be learned. This is a course relevant to the 21st Century and to our
teenagers today.
Careers In
Childcare
Nursery care
Nursing
Teaching
BEING A PARENT!
Follow up Courses
Lifestyle & Consumer Technology - Int 2
ASSESSMENT
Each Unit
Practical
Assignment
Internal/External
Internal
External
When
End of each
Unit
End of S4
How Assessed
in School
Final Project
Practical Cookery - Health & Food Technology
(Intermediate 1)
The course comprises of 4 compulsory units:
~ Introduction to Food Hygiene
~ Food Preparation for Healthy Eating
Additional free-standing units:
~ Cake Decoration Techniques
~ Introduction to Food Preparation Techniques
~ Introduction to Cookery processes
~ Royal icing
~ Pastry
This is the ideal course for those pupils who enjoy practical cookery and wish to extend their skills,
whether with a view to a career in catering or simply for hobby and enjoyment.
Careers In
Catering
Food Industry
Hospitality
Tourism
Hotels & Restaurants
Follow up Courses
Health & Food Technology - Int 2
Hospitality - Practical Cookery - Int 2
ASSESSMENT
Each Unit
Practical
Assignment
Internal/External
Internal
External
When
End of each Unit
End of S4
How Assessed
in School
Final Project
14
Fashion & Textile Technology
(Intermediate 1)
The course comprises 2 compulsory units:
~ Practical Fabric Skills
~ Fashion & Textile Technology Design and Make
Plus 4 optional units:
~ Organisation of Practical Skills
~ An Introduction to the Fashion and Clothing Industry
~ Developing Craft Skills in Textiles
~ Technology in Home Economics
This course is suitable for students with an interest in the fashion and clothing industry. The unit will
also enable students to gain knowledge about the stages in garment production from design to retail.
The students will also benefit in developing their practical and organisation skills using a range of
technological and other resources.
Careers in
Fashion/Textile Design
Fashion Journalism
Garment Production
Retail Management
ASSESSMENT
Each Unit
Practical
Assignment
Internal/External
Internal
External
When
End of each Unit
End of S4
How Assessed
in School
Final Project
Practical Cookery and Fashion & Textile Technology
Whilst these courses are highly subsidised by the department,
please be aware that there will be additional costs involved.
15
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
Mathematics
The courses in Mathematics teach pupils to describe, tackle and solve real life problems. There are
courses at three levels and pupils will follow the one that suits them best.
The areas which are covered are number and money (fractions, decimals, percentages, etc), measure and
shape (length, weight, area, volume, speed, etc) and relationships (graphs, formulae and algebra). The
course contains non-calculator work and this will be tested in a separate paper in the final exam.
Every pupil is expected to have access to a calculator, a scientific one for those following the Credit and
General courses and a basic calculator for those following the Foundation course.
ELEMENTS ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Reasoning &
Application
Internal/External
External
External
Contribution to
Final Grade
50%
50%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
16
MODERN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
French & German
Standard grade courses are available in French and German. The approach adopted in both courses is
essentially the same. German is, of course, a more intensive and, therefore, demanding course given that
pupils have only two years to reach Standard grade level.
Pupils of all abilities are given the opportunity to develop the skills which will allow them to use a
modern language in real-life situations. It is used as much as possible in the classroom. Pupils will be
involved in activities such as talking to the teacher, to a partner, or in a group in their chosen language.
They will listen to recordings of native speakers, possibly watch videos and read materials taken from
authentic sources, eg foreign magazines and newspapers. Writing in the foreign language will also be
important as an aid to understanding and as a skill to be developed.
Separate grades are given for Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. For the actual exam Listening
and Reading are assessed externally by written papers (with a tape recording in the case of Listening).
Speaking tests are carried out by the class teacher in the school and Writing is assessed by means of a
folio consisting of the pupil's three best pieces of work written over the course.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Listening
Reading
Speaking
Writing
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
17% single
weighting
33% double
weighting
33% double
weighting
17% single
weighting
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
ongoing covering 3
separate activities
Folio built up
through year
EUROPE
17
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Music
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The course is open to pupils who receive instrumental instruction in school or have private tuition.
Otherwise pupils should have reached Level F in the solo (first) instrument and Level E in their group
(second) instrument.
There are three elements in Standard Grade Music. These are Performing, Inventing and Listening.
ASSESSMENT
This occurs in a variety of ways: an external live recital to a visiting examiner (4-6 minutes); an
internally assessed recording of at least 2 performances and a folio of at least 2 inventions, which are
moderated; and an external Listening exam paper lasting approximately 40-50 minutes depending on
level.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Performing
1st Instrument
Performing
2nd Instrument
Inventing
Listening
Internal/External
External
Internal
Internal
External
Contribution to
Final Grade
25%
25%
25%
25%
How Assessed
Live Performance
Recording
Classwork
Exam
18
PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Physical Education
The Standard Grade Physical Education course allows pupils of a wide
range of abilities to take part in a range of physical activities. It aims to
help them to understand the principles involved and through practical
experience to learn to apply these principles to a variety of activities.
The course is very practical in nature, ie pupils are involved in playing
games and participating in the other activities in the course. However,
there is a sizeable theory element included involving discussion and
classroom sessions. There are also written components which
involve pupils in regular homework and written assignments.
The Jedburgh Grammar School course involves all pupils in gymnastics, swimming, basketball, athletics
and badminton.
Grades will be given for Practical Performance, Knowledge & Understanding and Evaluating.
Assessment is based on these three elements. Practical Performance is assessed by the teacher with
assessment standards checked by the Exam Board. Knowledge & Understanding and Evaluation are
assessed by a written examination set and marked by the Board and based on a video presentation.
Question papers are offered at three levels: Foundation, General and Credit.
On the certificate, an overall award on a scale 7 to 1 is shown, 1 being the top of the scale. A profile of
performance is also provided, showing the award for each element on the same scale. In arriving at the
overall award, twice as much importance is given to Practical Performance as to either of the other two
elements.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Practical
Performance
Knowledge &
Understanding
Evaluating
Internal/External
Internal
External
External
Contribution to
Final Grade
50%
25%
25%
How Assessed
Continuous
Final Exam
Final Exam
Core PE
In addition to the optional Standard Grade PE, there is also a
compulsory Core PE for all S3 and S4 which lasts for four periods each
week. In these periods, pupils have the chance to continue their
participation in a variety of activities including an element of choice to
every pupil.
19
PUPIL SUPPORT DEPARTMENT
ASDAN
Award Scheme Development Accreditation Network
The ASDAN Awards programme offers pupils the chance to progress through Bronze, Silver and
perhaps to the Gold level. Each programme contains a choice of challenges which encourage the pupil
to develop core skills which are:






Improving Own Learning and Performance
Working with others
Problem solving
Communication
Application of Numbers
ICT
These skills are highly valued by employers and places of further and higher education.
To achieve an award, the pupil must keep a well organised file of their work. As each challenge is
completed, evidence must be collected for the file which may include action plan, review sheets, written
work, drawing, photographs, tapes, certificates or forms signed by someone who has seen the work.
This file is inspected by an external verifier.
BRONZE AWARD
With effect from 2008, to achieve the Bronze Award, the pupil will need to gain a minimum of six full
credits. This represents about 60 hours of work.
The pupil must
 Complete the require number of challenges (signed and dated in the book)
 Present an organised portfolio of work, including three examples of action plan/review sheets
 Produce a summary of achievements
 Ensure the Record of Progress is counter-signed by the Tutor
Challenges can be chosen from the 12 modules, which include: Information Handling, The
Community, Sport and Leisure, Home Management, the Environment, etc.
20
SCIENCES DEPARTMENT
Biology
This course shows pupils the relevance of Biology to themselves and the
natural world in which they live. It is based on experiments and
includes both study of plants and animals and their environment and
includes recently developed areas, eg Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology.
Standard Grade Biology is based on seven topics: the Biosphere, the
World of Plants, Animal Survival, Investigating Cells, The Body in
Action, Inheritance, and Biotechnology. Individual grades will be given
for Knowledge & Understanding, Problem Solving and Practical
Abilities. KU & PS are assessed externally by written examination.
Assessment of Practical Abilities is carried out in school.
Pupils electing to follow the Standard Grade Course should have a good grounding in basic language
skills as the subject involves a substantial amount of reading and writing. Comprehensive skills and the
ability to organise thoughts upon paper are important. Pupils lacking these literary skills are likely to
find the course frustrating. A certain level of numeracy is also required as the pupil will be asked to
cope with graphs, percentages, ratios and other calculations. SG Biology is available at General and
Credit levels only.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Problem Solving
Practical Abilities
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
40%
20%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
Chemistry
(Access 3)
The study of Chemistry at Access 3 is similar to Intermediate 1 in that it
provides students with the opportunity to develop a knowledge and
understanding of physical and natural environments within a chemical
context.
The 3 units that make up this course are Chemistry in Action, Everyday Chemistry and Chemistry and
Life. Each unit is similar to the ones studied at Intermediate 1 but with simplified outcomes to meet
the needs of the students. The units seek to develop knowledge and understanding, problem solving
and practical abilities in various contexts such as chemical reactions, bonding, acids and alkalis,
photosynthesis, plastics, metals and diet and drugs.
Assessment of the course is internal only. At the end of each unit of study there is an end of unit Test
and the write up of a practical activity. These are pass/fail only.
21
Chemistry
(Intermediate 1)
The study of Chemistry at Intermediate 1 provides students with the opportunity to
develop a knowledge and understanding of physical and natural environments
within a chemical context.
The 3 units that make up this course are Chemistry in Action, Everyday Chemistry, and Chemistry and
Life. Each unit seeks to develop knowledge and understanding, problem solving and practical abilities
in various contexts such as chemical reactions, bonding, acids and alkalis, photosynthesis, plastics,
metals and diet and drugs.
Assessment of the course is a mix of internal and external assessment.
INTERNAL
At the end of each unit of study.
End of Unit Test
Write up of practical activity
EXTERNAL
At the end of the course pupils sit an SQA exam of 11/2 hours, testing all three
outcomes across the 3 units of study. This is graded A, B, C or D.
To gain the course award students must pass all three units as well as the external exam.
Chemistry
This course is designed to make pupils aware of the applications of
chemistry to everyday life.
They must be able to demonstrate their
knowledge and understanding of some chemical facts, ideas and techniques
and some applications of chemistry in society. Problem solving abilities
such as handling and processing information and making predictions form
an integral part of the course. Practical work assesses pupils' ability in
procedural and investigative skills.
Fifteen topics are studied and these range from subjects such as Acids and Alkalis, Metal and Corrosion,
Atoms and How They Combine, Plastics to Fertilisers, and Carbohydrates.
Grades will be given for Knowledge & Understanding, Problem Solving and Practical Abilities.
Knowledge & Understanding and Problem Solving are assessed externally by a written examination.
The assessment of Practical Abilities is carried out within the school. The course is available at General
and Credit levels only.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Problem Solving
Practical Abilities
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
40%
20%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
22
Physics
Physics is the science which explains the world around us - why things
happen. This course introduces Physics through its impact on everyday
life. It helps pupils to make sense of the physical environment and to
develop the skills of scientific problem-solving. For this reason, it
concentrates on areas of particular interest in the modern world in which physics
principles can be seen to operate. Pupils can see how important principles apply in
several areas. They can see the relevance of the subject and at the same time have the
opportunity to establish a firm understanding of its essentials.
The course consists of seven units: Telecommunication, Using Electricity, Health Physics, Electronics,
Transport, Energy Matters and Space Physics. A wide range of topics is covered, from the foundations
of mechanics and electrical circuits to the use of radioactivity in medical care, energy conservation,
physics of sport and space travel.
The course is available at General and Credit levels only.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Problem Solving
Practical Abilities
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
40%
20%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
Science
This is a course designed for pupils who don't want to specialise in Biology,
Chemistry or Physics and therefore is offered at Foundation and General Levels
only. As well as giving pupils useful knowledge about themselves and the world
they live in, it develops ways of approaching and solving everyday problems.
The course consists of four compulsory topics: Healthy & Safe Living, An
Introduction to Materials, Energy and its Uses and A Study of Environments. There
will also be one more additional topic, selected by the school.
Grades will be given for Knowledge & Understanding (of scientific facts and ideas and their application
in the modern world), Problem Solving and Practical Abilities. Knowledge & Understanding and
Problem Solving are assessed externally by written examination set by the SQA. Practical Abilities are
assessed in the school.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Problem Solving
Practical Abilities
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
40%
20%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Class Project
23
SOCIAL SUBJECTS DEPARTMENT
Geography
The aim of this course is to give pupils an understanding of the main
ideas of Geography and to develop a range of evaluating and
investigating skills. Pupils will learn how to work on their own and
handle information and so develop initiative and a sense of personal
responsibility.
The three themes of the course are: The Physical Environment, including topics such as weather,
climate and conservation; The Human Environment, which ranges from a study of farming systems to
industrial change; and International Issues, such as trade and aid.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Enquiry Skills
Internal/External
External
External
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
60%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
History
This course aims to develop in pupils the skills of the historian, and
to support and develop English language skills. They will
have the opportunity to discover their heritage, to study people in
situations different from their own and to become familiar with the forces of
change which have shaped the world.
They will learn to weigh up evidence of various sorts, and to consider issues on which opinions differ.
Skills of investigating and explaining will be needed and these will encourage pupils to think in an
organised way.
The three units studied consist of: 'Changing Life in Scotland and Britain 1750-1850' - a survey of
population change and the Industrial Revolution; 'International Co-operation and Conflict 1890s1920s' which deals largely with the First World War; and 'People and Power: Russia 1914-1941'
which focuses on the downfall of the Tsar and the Russian Revolutions of 1917.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Enquiry Skills
Internal/External
External
External
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
60%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
24
Modern Studies
The Modern Studies course gives pupils an understanding of the society in which they live, at local,
national and international levels. Pupils should gain a knowledge of aspects of contemporary society
such as the making of political decisions, develop skill in investigating social and political issues, and be
prepared to participate in community affairs.
There are four main areas in the course: Living in a Democracy, Changing Society, Ideologies, and
International Relations. Topics covered will include the British electoral system, trade unions,
employment, Third World development and China as an emerging nation.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Enquiry Skills
Internal/External
External
External
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
60%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
25
TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
Craft & Design
The Craft & Design course is about designing, making and evaluating. At
the start of S3 pupils will need a lot of guidance from their teacher, but the
aim is to make them capable of working independently. To achieve this
they will need experience in designing, planning and organising their
own work, using the "design process". This process involves finding
out what needs to be made and what the product should be able to do,
deciding on suitable materials and developing ideas for design and
production. Finally they make the item and evaluate how successful it is.
the
Throughout this design process the pupils are involved in thinking, writing,
drawing and sketching as well as learning about materials, tools and processes
and gaining practical skills. At the end of the course they will undertake a major project.
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Designing
Practical Abilities
Internal/External
External
Internal
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
33%
33%
33%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Project Folio
Final Project
Technological Studies
Technological Studies aims to reflect, in the classroom, current advances in
technology and approaches to research and development in industrial design. Pupils
are introduced to technology through both practical and computer simulated problemsolving experiences. They will have the opportunity to experience first hand current industrial practice,
learning both how systems work and where they could be used.
The areas of study are pneumatics (like the system which may operate an automatic door), electronics,
microcontroller programming (like those found inside almost all household electronic devices), energy,
and mechanical systems (such as gears and levers).
ELEMENTS
ASSESSED
Knowledge &
Understanding
Reasoning &
Application of
Numerical Analysis Technology
Internal/External
External
External
Internal
Contribution to
Final Grade
40%
40%
20%
How Assessed
Final Exam
Final Exam
Project
26
CONTENTS
Page No
1
Guidance Notes to Parents on Choice of Subject
2
S3/S4 Curriculum
3
Guidance Notes to Pupils on Choice of Subject
5
Scottish National Certificate - Course Types
6
Courses Offered
7
Course Descriptions
27
Specimen Choice Sheet
27