The document summarizes plans for curriculum changes at the Community School of Auchterarder to meet new exam requirements. Key points include: - Scotland is transitioning to a new exam structure with National 4/5 qualifications replacing Standard Grades by 2014. - The school aims to provide a broad general education through S3 and allow personalization starting in S2 to focus on student interests. - An Achievement Programme is being introduced with activities one afternoon per week to complement the traditional curriculum. - Parent and student input is sought on the proposed changes through feedback opportunities at the meeting.

1. The Community school of
Auchterarder
Parental Curriculum Consultation

2. This evening
A look at the new exam structure
What your children will be studying S1 - S3
What your children will be studying S4 - S6
What developments have been made
Where we need your input
Communication update

3. National position
Schools around country doing this very thing
Fine-tuning their curriculum to meet demands of CfE
Not every school is doing the same

4. New Exams
What do they mean?
Current qualifications New qualifications
Advanced Higher Advanced Higher
Higher Higher
SG Credit / Int.2 National 5
SG General / Int.1 National 4
SG Foundation /Access 3 National 3

5. New Exams
New qualifications
Advanced Higher
Higher
National 5
National 4
National 3

6. Timeline
2013 - last ever Standard Grades
2014 - first ever National 4s & 5s
What about Int.1 & Int.2?
Still available for two years
Can still do these in S5/6
Departments decide about these
Highers remaining the same

7. The new structure
S6
S6
S5
S5 Senior
Phase
S4
S4
S3
S3
Broad
S2
S2 General
S1 Education
S1

8. The new structure
Broad
General
Education S1/2 Common Course
S3
S3 End S2 Personalisation
S3 Still BGE but with focus
S2
S2
Christmas S3 - National
courses
S1
S1 Presented for exams end S4

9. The new structure
Senior
Phase
S6
S6 National exams at end S4
Highers end of S5
S5
S5
Advanced Highers & Highers
end of S6
S4
S4

10. The position of TCSoA

11. How Many will they sit?
S3/4: same as S3 do currently:
7 subjects in S3 & S4
S5/6: same as they do currently:
5 subjects in S5 & S6

12. What about course choices?
Personalise their courses at end of S2, but still
Broad General Education
(engaging in the Experiences & Outcomes of related subjects)
Around Christmas of S3:
Locked into National courses subjects
Presented for National exams at the end of S4
Full course choice at end of S4 & S5 as normal

13. Common questions
Will choices be same?
Yes, choices will be based on pupil demand as normal
Can they still sit 3 sciences in S3/4?
Yes, pending demand - but not recommended
This proves problematic in providing Curriculum for Excellence ethos of Broad General
Education
Can they opt out of languages?
Yes, but not recommended
This proves problematic in providing Curriculum for Excellence ethos of Broad General
Education

14. Broad
S1-S2 Courses General
Education
Common course covering all eight curricular areas

15. S1-S3 Courses
Personalisation
Choose to focus more on certain areas
By Christmas, on new National 4 & 5 courses

16. what stays the same?
Rigour, pace & challenge
Focus on high attainment
Maximising the positive outcomes for your children
Good, solid teaching staff
Excellent access to all supports
Keeping what works best

17. So what’s different?
We must ensure:
More than an exam machine
Pupils complete a S3 profile
Our pupils must meet the four capacities

18. The four capacities
Not just this one

19. So what’s different?
We must ensure:
Our pupils must learn through the four contexts
for learning:
Curriculum and subjects
Ethos & life of the school
Interdisciplinary Learning
Opportunities for Personal Achievement

20. what’s New then?
What are we planning?
Achievement Programme
One afternoon per week of Wider Achievement
Activities not found in traditional curriculum
Designed to better round their learning

21. Like What?
Outdoor learning
Conversational Spanish
Forensic Science
School Show
Sport Leadership
Mandarin Chinese
First Aid for all
Intergenerational Work

22. Who in school?
Initially P6 - S6
Provide more opportunities for working across
sectors
Pulling the school together as one
University & college admissions looking for this
now

23. WHAT RESEARCH HAVE WE
DONE?
Consulted all staff: primary & secondary
Listened to concerns & suggestions
Listened to parental feedback of open questions
Close consultations with PKC Education
Other PKC schools doing similar
Other schools nationwide - Larbert High
Visiting Drummond Community High

24. Next step is to consult you & your children

25. IN A NUT SHELL
We’ve listened to suggestions
We’ve understood the demands of CfE
We’ve looked at other models for months
We’ve consulted all the right people, educationally
Now looking for parent & pupil input

26. HOW CAN YOU INPUT?
Some already have - and we listened
Keen to hear your feedback on this model
Can you contribute at these times?
Can you suggest achievement activities?
Sticky Post-its
Video room

27. A reminder of why

28. The four capacities

29. Four contexts of learning
Curriculum and subjects
Ethos & life of the school
Interdisciplinary Learning
Opportunities for Personal Achievement

30. THE FEELING ABOUT THIS
92% of staff returned a positive preference
Huge opportunities for exciting new experiences
Solve a number of curricular issues
Keeping the best of what we have
and adding to it
not losing sight of the importance of curricular
attainment

31. QUESTIONS?
?

32. COMMUNICATIONS
Default communication is now email
Twitter feed now live @TheCSoA
Facebook page nearing launch
TCSoA iPhone & Android app nearing testing phase
Open suggestion box on website
Website due for rebuild

33. What we've looked at
The new exam structure
What your children will be studying S1 - S3
What your children will be studying S4 - S6
Our Achievement Programme
Where we need your input
Communication update

34. Where to get more info
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone
This presentation will go school website soon

35. Thank you for your support

36. The Community school of
Auchterarder
Parental Curriculum Consultation