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Welcome to S4 Parents

Gordon Boyd: Head of Senior School

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Mr Paul Dean Head of Middle Years

Mrs Heather Berube Head of Year (4A-4F)

Mrs Emma Cherrie Head of Year (4G-4L)

Mrs Claire Murray S3-S6 Progression Coordinator

Mr Richard Travers Deputy Head, Enrichment

Mrs Elodie Robert-Christensen Head of Careers

Introductions

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S4 to S5

Subject Choice Presentation 2025

Paul Dean: Head of Middle Years

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Help you support your child in making informed subject choices
To provide the right amount of quality information to help with subject choices

This presentation will be shared with you via the Digest on Thurs 30 Jan

Subject Choice

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In this presentation:

Provide an overview
Outline the process of making choices
Post-SQA curriculum
Advice and post-school destinations
Enrichment
Signpost:

Curriculum and Exams minisite
Careers minisite

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S3/4

8 certificated subjects

PE, Games, Enrichment, Form Time

and Personal & Social Development

S5

Typically 5

SQA certificated subjects

+ study

S6

Minimum of 3 SQA certificated subjects

+study

S1

18 specialist subjects

S2

18 specialist subjects

Curriculum Overview

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Where are we now?

Nearing the end of the N5 Prelim diet
Coursework and folios are complete or nearing completion
Pupils are meaningfully engaging with revision
Tracking point 2 feedback published on 6 Feb
Departments reviewing prelim performance and considering support and next steps

As part of the Personal & Social Development (PSD) Curriculum, all S4 pupils are aiming to satisfactorily complete the coursework for the SCQF 5 Mental Health and Wellbeing award
This qualification will appear on their SQA certificate
Last year we were the largest presentation group in Scotland

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Subject Choice Process

Curriculum, Subject Choice information and the Subject Choice form is accessed via the Curriculum and Examinations website:

www.gwc.org.uk/c&e

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Every child is supported
Choices are provisional at this stage
Choices should be realistic
Two year journey
There is flexibility for pupils to make changes in the light of results

Key messages

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S4 pupils usually make 5 choices from their existing Curriculum
Some pupils may pick up one or more new subjects
Column structure reflects popular routes through the curriculum
Four or five Highers is, for most, a good number of academic subjects. Six highers is likely to be too much

National 5s timetabled 10 periods, Highers timetabled 10 periods.

What about the Choices?

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What workload can I manage ? This may influence number of subjects and level of study
Do I want to start a “new” subject?
A few pupils consider other qualifications, for example National Progression Awards or School College Partnership

What to Study?

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Opportunity for pupils in S5/S6 to study a course part-time at Edinburgh College, as part of their school curriculum - Vocational Pathway
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at an Edinburgh College campus
Pupils must consult with Careers before completing the SCP application process
Applications for SCP courses open in February (13 Jan - 6 week window)
Contact Ms Paula Melville, Careers Adviser
More information on our Careers website

School College Partnership

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Subject Choice Timeline

January - March

27 January

Parents’

Presentation

24 February

Subject Choice Form Closes

30 January - 24 February

Information Sessions in FLG & Year Meetings.

Ongoing conversations with Careers, Guidance, ASL, Form Tutors and Home

30 January

Subject Choice Form Opens

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March - August

June

Post Exam Curriculum

March-April

Subject choice checking of choices by

Academic Departments, Guidance, Careers, ASL

March

Curriculum Services Timetabling

March-June

Careers, Guidance, ASL remain available for consultation

May

SQA Exam Diet

August

*Revise choices in light of results

Subject Choice Timeline

20/3

Class Sets finalised*

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www.gwc.org.uk/c&e

Departmental information about each subject

Link to start the subject choice process

Choices are submitted online using the pupil's GWC login

Changes can be made online up to 24 Feb, when the form closes

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S5 Column Grid

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S4 into S5 Subject Choices

Before submitting the form:

Make good use of the support available - website, teachers, Form Tutors, Careers, Guidance

When completing the form:

Do let us know if you have specific career aspirations. We will check over your choices and get in touch if we have any questions.

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We are "Bridging the Gap" between S4 and S5 Curriculum
Curriculum Choices largely settled*
Working meaningfully toward chosen S5 courses
Busy, active and varied term

*Some pupils may make changes in August in light of results

Post-Exam Curriculum - from 2 June

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#Aim High - in Lessons

Lessons: 2-13 June & 23 - 26 June
DofE/Careers Employability/YPI
Much of the work is required for next academic session
Expectation to attend and to keep up with missed work (eg. Show, DofE).

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Senior School Production "Legally Blonde" 2-20 June
DofE in Sutherland 3-12 June
Careers Employability Events @ Napier 16-17 June
YPI - Youth Philanthropy Initiative 18-20 June
Sports Afternoon 19 June
Charities Afternoon 25 June
Nominations and voting for Pupil Voice

#Join in…it's a busy term!

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Mr Richard Travers

Curricular Enrichment

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Overarching Principles

Eudamonia - Aristotelian concept of Human flourishing

The Education Endowment Fund defines enrichment as:

"a diverse range of approaches that seek to enrich children's school experience"

Good schools always provide academic and enrichment opportunities

Many of these have a bearing and significance in later life - equal to that of academic qualifications

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Why Curricular Enrichment?

Building life skills
Opportunities that don’t fit in elsewhere
Try something new or develop a current interest
Gain additional qualifications (e.g. TEFL, Disability Sports Leaders)
You get out what you put in!

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Why Curricular Enrichment?

Growing body of evidence to suggest that participation in enrichment activities has a positive impact upon educational attainment

“For employers, formal qualifications are valuable indicators of application, achievement and ability. But businesses are clear that key drivers of success for young people in their working lives are attitudes and attributes such as resilience, enthusiasm, creativity and communication skills.”

Educating for the Modern World: CBI (Nov 2018)

Similarly true for UCAS applications and often the enrichment choices pupils make can have an impact especially when it comes to personal statements.

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Nature of the Courses

Social Action

Enrichment Courses

Activity

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Feb 2025 - Enrichment selection made alongside subject choice
June 2025 - Chance to review all subject and enrichment choices
Summer Holidays - Allocation 1-3
1st Cycle Back - Pupils attend allocated enrichment classes
End of Cycle 1 - Chance to discuss enrichment options with guidance and enrichment support staff
End of Cycle 3 - No further changes to enrichment

Support and advice available from k.everett@gwc.org.uk

Timeline: Enrichment

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Mrs Robert-Christensen

Head of Careers

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Careers team

careers@gwc.org.uk

Meet the Careers team!

We advise, you decide!

Mrs Elodie Robert-Christensen Head of Careers
Ms Paula Melville Careers Advisor
Mrs Alice Duff APT Careers
Mrs Viloshna Ramsamy Careers Administrator

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What is next? Pathways after S4

A range of positive Post school destinations

Gap Year

Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships

International applications

Work

College

Conservatoire

University

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How does the Careers team help pupils prepare for the future?

Contributions to Skills Tracking and Development

S3-S4

S4 Careers conversations with advisers and Careers Place partners

Explore careers and develop skills reflection with Unifrog

Subject choice guidance and scrutiny

Information about post-school destinations

Organisation of employability events

Post exam service and support for leavers

S5-S6 and beyond

Post-result service: subject changes and pathway advice

Support to prepare for the future (careers conversations, information webinars, HE Education Fair, work experience, S5 Futures)

Leaver support: UCAS applications, early applications (Oxbridge, Medicine), Conservatoire, gap years, college, apprenticeships, and transitions to the world of work

Support for S6 transitions and former pupils.

From S4 onwards we become more present in the life of the pupils and support them with their post school destinations

and this started earlier this session with theS4 Careers conversations: a way to start the thinking process for their post school destination. This should inform their subject choices

We will be involved in the Subject Choice process

We have prepared lessons delivered in Form to help pupils explore their strengths, aspirations and to give advice about Subject choices-
We invite pupils to contact us if they want a more individual approach or still have questions. Either by email or by coming to the Pupil support hub
We also help with the scrutiny process that was highlighted by Mr Dean earlier.

Range of information events and activities to help them explore their future pathways and develop a range of transferable employability skills.

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Save the dates

29 January 2025	College and apprenticeship applications- Careers advisor Ms Melville	6pm-7pm
20 February 2025	The UCAS application process at George Watson’s College - Head of Careers Mrs Robert-Christensen	6pm - 7pm
25 March 2025	Applying to Conservatoires, Art and Performing Arts Courses - with Mrs Duff, APT Careers	6pm - 7pm
06 March 2025	Applying to Oxford and Cambridge - Head of Careers Mrs Robert-Christensen	6pm - 7pm
11 March 2025	Applying to Medicine, Vet Medicine and Dentistry - Head of Careers Mrs Robert-Christensen	6pm - 7pm
27 March 2025	Overseas Applications (including the US)-- With a representative from The University Guys	6pm - 7pm

Sign up links via the Parent Digest and recorded links will be sent to all who registered + shared in the following week’s digest

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What is right for Your Child?

There is no "one size fits all".
Depending on a pupil's academic performance and their post-school aspirations this is likely be a combination of National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Courses.

Key Advice for Subject Choice

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N5 Maths is often essential for many courses and future employment
Higher English: if your child is considering not taking it, talk to Careers as this is often an essential qualification
Higher Maths: isn’t an essential subject for many courses. Your child should choose the subjects in which they are the most likely to be successful
Implications of fewer than 5 Highers in S5

The most competitive universities in the UK require 5 Highers in one sitting
Many universities will be very happy to consider grades accrued over the two-years
Four good grades (A/B) is better than five qualifications with mixed results

Qualifications and Pathways

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Some key advice

Choose subjects they like and are good at

Look in detail at the course content

Ask teachers, Heads of Departments, check the information on the curriculum website

Make a two-year plan

There will be more opportunities to seek advice and refine options in S5/6 - keep options open

If you can’t fit everything in in S5, remember there is always S6!

Start thinking seriously about post school destinations

Which post-school destination might your child be interested in?
Do they have specific institutions in mind?
Are there specific subjects that are required and if so at which level?
Which enrichment courses and super-curricular activities enhance a post-school application? (Skills)

Choose subjects they like and they are good at. Quality over quantity ie it is better to gain 2A2B than 5C at higher.
Look in detail at the course content: it is important to check the curriculum website for details about the course: some subjects, while taught by the same department will have very different teaching approaches, form of assessment and content: e.g: courses in Design and Manufacture/ Graphic Communication are or Business Management and Economics. Some are more theoretical than others. Some will rely more on continuous assessments other on the final exam. The best place to check is the curriculum website or to ask teachers and heads of departments
Plan ahead: Now is the time to start thinking about potential post-school destinations: are there specific subjects they need? This also includes thinking about Skills: Although pupils often think that qualifications are the most important element of a job application- and there are often minimum requirements- what makes the difference to employers are often all the other skills and competencies which candidates can demonstrate.” it is therefore important to build a range of skills with their subject choices as well as acsdemic
Think of this as a two years plan: you have 2 years to gain the qualifications you need. One consideration may be N5 maths and whether it is a better idea to take it in S6 rather than in S5 This can also help you to be creative if you’re not quite able to fit all of the subjects you want in one year in the existing column system. Do let us know but there is little flexibility in the system
Discuss and seek advice: Pupils should seek advice from parents friends and family. The answers ay often surprise them, even if at the end of the day they are the one who make the decision. We are also delighted to be contacted by email or even if they pop in in the careers office on pupil support

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Is taking more than 5 Highers a good idea?

Not required:

There is no expectation from even the most competitive universities like Oxford or Cambridge to take more subjects than required by their entry requirements. 5 Highers will make pupils competitive even for the most competitive universities as it demonstrates a breadth of academic ability.

Missing out on enrichment:

Taking more than 5 Highers often means missing on the super-curricular opportunities offered by enrichment. These often do make a big difference in competitive applications.

Our experience shows this is often counterproductive:

It’s important to seriously consider the potential negative impact of such a heavy workload on wellbeing and ability to perform/excel in throughout the session and in the final exams.

S5 is a high stake, compressed year (2 terms of formal study) by the time a pupil realise they are not coping, it is often ‘too late’ and their initial decision has had a negative impact on all of their subjects .

Some exceptions, eg.: a language if you’re bilingual.

We do not recommend taking more than 5 certificate courses in S5. We will discuss with the pupil during Subject Choice Scrutiny.

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Can pupils change their minds?

Pupils should choose the subjects likely to take. There are opportunities to review choices and get advice:

Before timetables are finalised: ask teachers, Heads of Department, Pupil Support team (Careers/Guidance, ASL). Any changes after 20 March will be reflected in August
In June, post SQA exams: based on how individuals feel about their exam performance and on their experience in their new classes
In August, post SQA results: Careers support will be available the week following exam results and at the start of session

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Where to find support and information?

Support

Teachers
Guidance Team
Careers Team
Additional Support for Learning
Family, friends, peers

Information

Subject Teachers and Heads of Department
Curriculum website for Course descriptions and progression pathways
Careers website- dedicated page about subject choice
Unifrog/ Morrisby for links between subjects and career pathways
UCAS and Edinburgh College website for specific entry requirements

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Additional information and advice

Subject Choice on the Curriculum and Examinations website: www.gwc.org.uk/c&e
Form will be open: 30 Jan to 24 Feb, 4pm
University websites/UCAS
College websites
Modern apprenticeships - Skills Development Scotland
Contact us: s4-subject-choice@gwc.org.uk

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Thank You.

We are available for questions in the

Entrance Hall.