CHOICES AT 14+ : Introduction

Dear Parent / Carer,

This time of year marks a very important stage in the educational life of second year pupils as you and your child make decisions about the subjects your child will study over the next two years in school.

This guide has been prepared so that you know what courses are being offered, what they involve and what choices are available.

Great Care will be taken in school to ensure that your son/daughter makes the correct choice.  A special guidance programme concentrates on careers information and the choice of course form.  As well as receiving this booklet and your child’s report, you will receive information from subject teachers, indicating the appropriate level of study for your child, and subject teachers will explain to pupils the courses on offer in their department.

Your son/daughter will also have a personal interview with his/her guidance teacher to discuss the choice of course form and to look at the courses available.  At the end of the interview, your child will be given a completed choice of course form showing the school’s recommendations for study in Third and Fourth Year.  The completed course choice form should be signed and returned to your child’s guidance teacher no later than Tuesday 2 March.

You are invited to attend an information meeting for parents that will be held in the Assembly Hall at 4.00 p.m. on Monday 1 March, immediately prior to the parent contact evening which begins at 4.30 p.m. 

The parent contact evening will give you the opportunity to discuss the Third and Fourth Year course with your child’s guidance and class teachers.

I hope you will consider carefully the information in this booklet.  It is our intention to give you as much information as you require to make the best choice of course for the next two sessions.  If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child's House Head, at the Parents' Evening or beforehand if necessary.

Yours sincerely

George Laidlaw

Head Teacher

Introduction

Pupils entering S3 embark on a two-year course in various subjects.  These courses lead mainly to the SQA Standard Grade, although some courses lead to National Qualifications (NQs) at Intermediate 1 or Access 3.

Standard Grade Courses

Standard Grade courses are generally available at three levels:

Level: Credit                        General                     Foundation   

Grade: (1 or 2)                      (3 or 4)                      (5 or 6)

Normally, presentation is at two of these levels.  Candidates sit the General paper and then sit either the Credit paper, or the Foundation paper, depending on the pupil’s progress in that subject. 

National Qualifications Intermediate 1 / Access 3

A number of subjects offer Standard Grade at Credit and/or General level, and National Qualifications Intermediate 1 / Access 3 as an alternative to a Standard Grade   course at Foundation level.  A pass at Intermediate 1 is equivalent to a Standard Grade award at General level.

Entry Requirements

Entry into a particular course is based on the recommendation given by the department. Department recommendations are included in the Second Year report issued to all parents. The final level for presentation is determined in Fourth Year and is based on pupil progress in the subject.