1. Kilwinning Academy S3 News
October 2010
Welcome to our S3 Curriculum Bulletin
In our recent visit by school inspectors we were praised for our effective partnership working.
In the report it was noted that parents were asking for more information about how to improve
the education of their youngsters and how to provide more homework support. We are taking
steps to raise attainment in partnership with parents by promoting more active learning. We
hope that this publication is helpful to parents and students in S3 as they start work on SQA
certificate courses leading to qualifications at Standard Grade and Intermediate levels.
English Maths
All S3 pupils will begin the two-year Standard Grade Each pupil will be issued with a homework booklet,
course. There are three elements to the course – Reading, notes jotter, class work jotter and textbook. Problem
Writing and Talking. solving booklets are also available and should be
worked on through the year.
Reading includes both close reading skills and the study
of literature (prose, poetry and drama). Homework exercises are due after the completion of
each topic covered in class. These should be
Writing includes the production of personal essays, short completed in line with departmental policy and are the
stories and functional writing. minimum requirement for S3 pupils.
Talking involves both solo talk and group discussion. S3 has 3 assessments. Each assessment has two papers
– Non calculator and Calculator.
All of the elements are assessed.
Assessment 1 Class test- End of October.
Pupils are expected to complete a folio of work (a
minimum of two pieces of creative writing and three Assessment 2 Class test- Mid December
responses to literature) by the end of S3.
Assessment 3 S3 Examinations- Beginning of May.
There is also an exam, which comprises two close
reading papers and one writing paper. All pupils in General/ Credit are encouraged to
All pupils will sit the General level exam, plus either purchase a Scientific Calculator.
Foundation or Credit papers as appropriate.
Geography History
Over the last few weeks our S3 pupils have settled in well to the Pupils have started work on Unit 2A: international
Geography department. They will complete the introductory co-operation and conflict. This will cover the
ordnance survey unit in the next few weeks, which will be
followed by an assessment. They will then complete a target causes of WW1, the experience of civilians and
setting exercise with their teacher. They will have 2 targets soldiers during war, and the peace settlement at
which they will bring home to be signed by parents/carers. the end of the war. Staff will be encouraging
Hopefully this will help them to improve their grades over the
course of the session. pupils to regularly revise jotters notes at home as
part of their homework schedule. History staff will
By the start of September all our pupils moved onto the River issue target sheets to pupils in the coming weeks.
Landscapes section of the Standard Grade course.
The department encourages pupils to attend the
Pupils undertaking Acc3/Int 1 courses started by looking at river 1 inquisitor club which provides quizzes to enhance
landscapes then studied glacial landscapes before completing factual knowledge.
the first of their 3 NAB assessments.

2. Core Religious Education Standard Grade Religious Studies
In line with government requirements all pupils in S3 receive Pupils are currently looking at Issues of Belief and should
core RE for one period each week. Following our work on have returned an essay task recently. Much of what is
morality and moral issues in S2, pupils in S3 follow a learned requires pupils to reflect on what is happening in
continuously assessed free-standing SQA unit examining moral the world around them, and so it is worth spending time
issues in technology which can be achieved at either watching TV programmes which involve making moral
Intermediate 1 or 2 level. Pupils identify different examples of
technology (work and leisure, environment, medical) using choices, eg in issues such as abortion, sex, terminal illness,
newspaper and magazine articles, tv reports and documentaries, and warfare. Pupils should be revising from their notes
and their own experience. Next, drawing on class resources, regularly, using mindmaps, and highlighting/summarising
they show how using technology raises religious and moral different topics. Question answering practice will usually
questions. Finally, they are expected to write a report on their be set for homework at the end of topics. The class will
choice of technology explaining the issues raised by it. There is be starting a study of Islam soon; watching TV news/
normally no homework associated with core RE unless class current affairs programmes or reading good quality
tasks are incomplete. newspapers will be helpful.
Art & Design Craft & Design Graphic Communication
Pupils will be developing drawing Pupils will design and make a range of Pupils will work through units 1-4 of the
skills in a range of media such as models which will give them a sound course. Various technical drawing lessons
pencil, colour pencils, pastels, and skills base from which to design their will develop both their skills and
paints, There will also be the final projects. Practical skills will be knowledge of graphic communication.
opportunity to work in three developed through working in the
dimensions and to work in workshops with wood and metal. Each Hand rendering and computer aided
developing their visual awareness in model will be preceded by a design folio drawing will be explored while pupils will
the design and expressive areas. develop a knowledge and understanding of
Visual concepts such as pattern, which takes pupils through the design
form, colour and shape are process helping them develop their terms techniques and symbols associated
developed as well as discussing ideas knowledge and understanding of their with industry practice. Techniques vary
about the Design Process of research, own models’ (aesthetics and function). from pictorial illustration to quite functional
development and considering Looking at models on the market, and
solutions to a design problem. Some technical drawings. These get more
of the work done in S3 will be also looking at ‘high end’ designers of challenging as the units progress. In
carried forward into the final units for international repute will help broaden computer work pupils will work on the
S4. Pupils can use their sketch book/ pupils’ ideas and understanding of
homework jotters to practice skills design issues. Gaining an understanding production of graphs, using a library of
and to collect information for their of manufacturing processes is also a images and producing their own displays.
design units. Understanding, major part of the course and pupils will Advertising techniques, packaging and
appreciation and creativity can also be looking at the manufacture of plastics basic construction drawing are all part of
be inspired through personal as well as wood and metal products. It is the course. Looking at technical drawings
research. This is achieved by looking
at artists and designers work. intended that pupils build up their such as building plans, graphs, adverts,
Examples of design in shops knowledge of working terms and are posters, commercially packaged products
magazines and at home can be able to recognise tools and understand and magazine layouts can help pupils
looked at and thought about in terms how they should be used. Safety in the
of how good they look and how well workshops is of course a major issue understand the importance of the graphic
they work as well as looking at and pupils are expected to behave techniques they are learning, in their own
internationally renowned Art & sensibly and responsibly at all times. lives and the world of work.
Design.
Modern Languages
Intermediate 1
Standard Grade Those doing this fast-track course follow the following
Those doing ‘S’ Grade have speaking and writing themes : Lifestyles, Education and Work, The Wider
World, The World of Work. NABS in Speaking,
assessments which are both required by SQA. These count Listening, Reading and Writing are done at the end of
towards overall S4 grade, so are of great importance. each theme. Students must pass the NABS to be
Speaking Tasks: allowed to sit the external exam in May. The speaking
exam is done before the Easter break and is recorded to
Interview about Self, Family, House and Home area. be sent to SQA.
Role-play about Cinema / Sports’ Centre. The writing exam consists of four sections on personal
Short talk on School and Future Plans. language and can be redrafted and learned off by heart
for the external exam. It is crucial that this is done -
Writing Folio Tasks: otherwise wasted marks!!
Write a personal letter to introduce yourself to a new By November - NABS in Reading. Personal & Social
penfriend telling them about yourself, family, house and Language, Practice in Speaking for Oral. Writing prep
home area. for CV. NABS - completed by Easter: Transactional
Language, Language in Work
Prepare an e-mail in French, to your friend, telling them
about your interests and how you spend the weekends. As all these themes are inter-related the assessment is
Write a report, in French, on your school day and subjects on-going with practice in each skill: Reading,
etc. Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
2

3. Music PE
The importance of engaging in an active lifestyle has never been of greater
Solo 1/ Solo 2 importance. The S3 Physical Education curriculum comprises of Core PE
for everyone- this is a choice of activities which pupils will participate in 2
All pupils’ study 2 instruments in periods a week and Standard Grade PE/Intermediate 1 performance/Access
Standard Grade. By the end of 3 which some pupils have chosen as a subject. In Core PE pupils will have a
S3, pupils should be ready to choice of 5 activities for each block-covering a range of sports and
record their Solo 2 instrument. recreational activities. These include: indoor and outdoor football, hockey,
Once this is recorded, pupils can basketball, badminton, dance, fitness suite, table tennis, aerobics, self
then fully concentrate on their defence, gymnastics, rugby, athletics and summer games.
Solo 1 ready for the final exam in Standard Grade PE comprises of 3 periods a week in which pupils work
S4. towards gaining a practical performance grade and to sitting a written exam.
Standard Grade activities are football/hockey, fitness, gymnastics, basketball
Listening and badminton. Some pupils have elected for only the practical performance
element of Intermediate 1 PE/Access 3-this comprises of 3 periods per week
By the end of S3 pupils will have in a range of activities.
completed the following Pupils are expected to bring their own kit, otherwise kit will be provided by
Listening topics: Instruments of P.E. staff. Kit should comprise of a plain dark t-shirt and either shorts or
the Orchestra, Scottish Music, tracksuit bottoms-No football tops allowed. Should a pupil
Musical Styles be injured, they should still bring kit
accompanied with a note from home to
Physics explain their reason for not taking
At the end of each topic, pupils
will be assessed on the part. These pupils will either be
Those who have chosen physics will asked to assist with scoring,
concepts covered. At the already know and be appreciating the refereeing, timekeeping or
end of S3 pupils will be importance of physics within our 21st century complete a written
given an SQA General world. The courses provide knowledge and skills which exercise related to the
Listening paper to sit. will help those who study it to enjoy and understand modern current activity. Pupils
life and play a full part in it. should enjoy P.E…
Inventing
Pupils are required In the Standard Grade course pupils have started into topics on
to compose a Telecommunications or Health Physics. They will also study Using
Electricity and start a topic on Transport within S3 and then they have Chemistry
piece of music. topics on Electronics, Energy Matters and Space Physics to look forward to
This is ongoing in S4. Homework is outlined in the booklet given to pupils and takes a All our pupils have
throughout S3/ variety of forms, including the expectation of learning work as each topic started their
S4. progresses. At the end of each topic there is a test which checks on the Chemistry course
knowledge and understanding gained as well as the problem solving skills by studying what
practiced. Some practical skills are assessed during topics but pupils will also
Biology have to complete 2 investigations later in the year and/or into S4. chemical reactions
are and how to
Standard Grade The Intermediate 1 and Access 3 course has started with a study of control them.
pupils are Radiations. During S3 they will also look at Telecommunications and Each pupil will have
working on the Practical Electricity before moving on to Sound and Music, Movement
first topic of their and Electronics in S4. For each topic there is a knowledge and a set of revision notes
c o u r s e , problem solving skills test and some practical assessment of an in their class jotter and
Investigating Cells. activity. Both of these have to be passed to be awarded that they are encouraged to
Each pupil has unit, and all six units have to be passed to gain the course use these for revision and
homework sheets with award. There is no final SQA exam at Access 3 level. to help complete
exercises for the Topic. homework exercises.
These are set at roughly All pupils will have a more formal S3
fortnightly intervals. Pupils exam around Easter and the We recently developed a CD
have their notes and summary which pupils will be issued with
booklets to help with completion. prelim exams in S4.
Around the middle of September shortly. This contains a full set of
pupils sat a test to assess their progress in t h e revision notes, homework exercises
first two sub-units. This is used to set targets to allow pupils to and links to useful websites. It is
achieve maximum potential. hoped that this will encourage
students to complete work at home to
Intermediate 1 Biology pupils are working on their first Unit, Healthy their full potential and to provide
Bodies. Homework is set about fortnightly in the form of write on them with the tools necessary to
sheets. undertake independent learning.
The Homework sheets, summary notes and Powerpoint presentations
used in the course are available to download from ‘Glow’. Pupils will
soon be shown how to access and use ‘Glow’. Dates for your diary
Pupils will be working on techniques and investigations which are S3 Parents Evening: 9 November
compulsory if they are to achieve an award in their final exam. Good Exams: 22 March - 1 April
attendance is particularly important to avoid missing any of these Reports: mid May
practical assessments.
3

4. Computing Studies Administration
The course divides into logical blocks of work, each one of which is The pupils are currently working on
assessed by written class exams, practical class tests, or both. ‘Organisation of Departments’ which will
be complete and a class assessment taken
Overview:
by the end of September. The classes
Aug - Dec: Computer Systems, assessed by exam in December and will then progress onto key functions of
Software Development, assessed by practical tasks issued at regular departments, office layout, safe working
stages. practices and procedures, reception, mail
handling, purpose of filing, filing
Jan: Databases, Feb: Word processing, Mar: Spreadsheets, all
methods, and security of information.
assessed in the last 2 periods of unit through a practical assessment
and then a 1 period exam. Most sections will have an end of unit
test, unless time pressure requires that
The S3 exams will then give an opportunity for the pupils to show
some consolidation is achieved by
that they have retained all the work up to this point. The remaining
homework rather than tests.
time in the year will be spent completing their coursework folio by
doing an extended (10 hour) project. Any remaining time will
be spent on rounding up the other commonly used
applications like multimedia authorware, presentations and
web development.
IT
Business Management
Accounting & Finance
The pupils are currently working on
The class has just sat a balance sheet test and have completed it ‘Business in Contemporary Society' which
to a high standard. They will now progress onto trading, profit will be completed and assessed by the end of
and loss accounts which will be completed and assessed by the September. The classes will then progress
October holidays. onto marketing, business information,
operations, business enterprise, and decision
making.
After the October break work will continue with consolidated
Each section will have an end of unit test and
final accounts of a sole trader, ledger accounts, petty cash
when pupils are judged to be ready a national
statements, and account of ‘not for profit’ organizations.
assessment bank item will be used for
Each one of the units work ends with a class test. certification purposes.
Home Economics Hospitality Intermediate 1 Lifeskills
Standard Grade This course introduces the student to This is a school based course
skills used in the hospitality industry. which pupils study one period per
This is a two year course which is week .
broken down into a number of units The course is designed to allow for the
which provides variety and short term development of knowledge and skills in The basis of the course is to equip
goals for pupils. Throughout the basic food preparation techniques while our students with Lifeskills which
identifying equipment and food they require to be effective citizens.
course these units offer choice to suit preparation terms. The student will also
individual interest and expertise. gain knowledge of the principles The course includes studying
Some examples of units are:- health and diet, money
associated with a range of cookery
Food in your body, Shops and processes. management, accidents and
Shopping, A Testing Time, Beating emergency procedures for dealing
This is a practical course and students are with medical emergencies and
the Bugs, Clothes for the Family expected to be responsible individuals consumer issues. Many of the
Assessment is ongoing throughout the and come prepared for lesson. areas are supported by outside
course. Pupils will be awarded grades speakers.
for each of the three aspects of the The units assessed in S3 and S4 are:-
course: Knowledge and In S3 the students are presented for
Introduction to Food Preparation Accident and Emergency
Understanding, Handling Techniques. Introduction to Cookery Procedures which is an external
Information, and Practical and Processes, Food hygiene for the assessment.
Organisational Skills Hospitality industry, Organisation of
Homework accompanies each unit to Practical Skills. All students have the opportunity
enhance learning and achievement. to participate in Heartstart training
There is a 1.5 hour exam at the end of S4. at the end of the S3 course.
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