S5 into S6

Parent Information Evening

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January 2025

Welcome to S5 Parents

Gordon Boyd: Head of Senior School

S5 Pupil Support Team

Mrs Fiona Petrie

5A-F - Miss Christy Havers

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5G-L - Miss Bronte MacFarlane

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5A-F - Miss Caitlin Trail

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5G-L - Mr Michael O’Reagan

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S5 to S6

Subject Choice Presentation 2025

Fiona Petrie : Head of Upper Years

Purpose and format of the evening

Purpose

• To provide information to help you support your child with their subject choices

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Format

• Overview and Process
• Making the right choice
• Available for questions in the Entrance Hall

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Overview

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Journey so far

• Broad Curriculum - experiences across the curriculum

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• Pupils exploring what they enjoy

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• Development of key transferable skills

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The Senior Phase - overview

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S3/4

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8 SQA subjects

S5

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Typically 5

SQA subjects

S6

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Minimum of 3 SQA subjects

• CORE

PE, Games, PSD, Religion and Philosophy, Form Time, and an Enrichment course (for S3)

• CORE

PE, Games, PSD, Form Time, Study, Enrichment and Activities

• CORE

Form Time, Study, Enrichmentand Year Meetings

Key messages

• Selecting & focusing on minimum of 3 subjects- this can range from National 5s to Advanced Highers
• There is not “one size fit all curriculum”: It’s the final opportunity in school to get the necessary qualifications for College or University
• Just as Highers, Advanced Highers have final exams
• There will be SQA Assignments which are very important parts of each course
• There are no required choices but we recommend that pupils continue aim for National 5 Maths if they don’t have this yet

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Key messages

• There is plenty of scope for personalisation
• SCQF subjects - no exam
• Subjects that have the option of National 5
• Depicted on the column grid with additional information
• In discussion with Pupil Support and Careers

S6 Column Grid 24/25

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School College Partnership courses

Opportunity for pupils in S5/S6 to study a course part-time at Edinburgh College, as part of their school curriculum.

Courses taught on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, and take place at an Edinburgh College campus.

There are a number of important things to consider before deciding whether an SCP is the right choice for you or your child. We prefer that pupils do not complete the online SCP application process without prior consultation with the school.

Please contact Ms Paula Melville (p.melville@gwc.org.uk ), our Careers Adviser, to discuss on an individual basis.

Applications for SCP courses open mid January for a period of 6 weeks

More information on our website

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Timeline

27 January

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Parents’ Information Evening

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30 January

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Subject Choice Form Opens

30 January to 23 February

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Information sessions in FLG and Year Meetings

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Ongoing conversations with careers, guidance Form Tutors and at home

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24 February

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Subject Choice Form Closes

February

Timeline

February - March

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Subject choice checking

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June

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Opportunity to review choices with advice from Career/ Guidance

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Finalisation of August timetable

March

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Curriculum Services draft June timetable (cutoff 20th March)

March-April

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Subject choice checking

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March-August

February-April

Individual S5 Careers conversations

August

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Post-results Career service available for all pupils.

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The team will endeavour to process these as soon as possible.

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• We are "Bridging the Gap" between S5 and S6 Curriculum
• Curriculum Choices largely settled*
• Cut off 20 March
• Working meaningfully toward chosen S6 courses
• Busy, active and varied term

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

Post-Exam Curriculum

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#Aim High - in Lessons

• Lessons: 12 - 26 June
• Departments will be delivering lessons as normal
• Pupils are expected to attend and to keep up with any missed work (eg. Show, DofE).
• Much of the work covered is required for next year

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• S5 Work Experience 2 - 6 June
• S5 Futures Events 9 - 11 June
• Senior School Production "Legally Blonde" 16 - 18 June
• DofE
• Sports Day
• Nominations and voting for Pupil Voice

#Join in…it's a busy term!

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Process

• All Curriculum and Subject Choice information can be accessed via the Curriculum and Examinations website www.gwc.org.uk/c&e

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Mr Richard Travers

Curricular Enrichment

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 both academic - and enrichment opportunities

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

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

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

Feb 2025 - Enrichment selection with subject choice

June 2025 - Chance to review all subject choices including enrichment

Summer Holidays - Allocation 1-3

1st Cycle Back - Pupils attend allocated classes

End of Cycle 1 - Chance to discuss enrichment options with guidance and enrichment support staff

End of Cycle 2 - No further changes to enrichment

Support available from Ms Everett if required

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Timeline

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Mrs Robert- Christensen

Head of Careers

What is next? Pathways after S4

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A range of positive Post school destinations

University

College

Gap Year

Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships

International applications

Work

Conservatoire

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

In S5: Coming Up

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S5 individual Careers conversations and pathways discussions

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

In S6 and beyond

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Post-result service: subject changes and pathway advice.

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

Support for former pupils

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Save the dates

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

Key advice for subject choice

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What is right for YOUR CHILD?

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1. There is not ONE size fit all.
2. All S6 pupils MUST choose a minimum of three certificate subjects.
3. Depending on the pupil's academic profile and on their post-school aspirations this will be a combination of N5 and Higher and Advanced Higher Courses.

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S6 is an excellent year to mop up the subjects your child needs

• N5 Maths is an essential qualification for many courses and future employment… If your child doesn’t have N5 Maths, they really should retake it
• More Highers (or new Highers?) or Advanced Highers?
• Currency for most Scottish universities 4/6 Highers at A/B by the end of S6.
• Some courses (e.g: Medicine) will require AH but most won’t.
• If your child has a 4/5 Higher grades at A/B they can take 3 AH. Great preparation for independent study at university
• if your child’s results includes C/D grades they might be better retaking a subject or taking a new Higher rather than an AH
• Check whether the university double count a subject at H and AH. Most won’t. Only a few will double count and credit a Higher at A and an AH in the same subject. So taking a new Higher might be a more strategic option than taking an AH.
• Some excellent Scottish universities have more accessible entry requirements and it will be possible to apply with B/C grades , or grades accrued over two-years.
• English universities
• Only the most competitive English universities require 3 AH.
• Many will be very happy to consider a combination of Highers and AH.
• Some English universities even consider UCAS points (ie credit C and D grades at Higher)

Is taking more than 3 AH 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. 3 AH will make pupils competitive even for the most selective universities as it shows a breadth of academic ability.

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Missing on enrichment :

Taking a heavy workload often means missing on the super curricular opportunities offered by enrichment. These often do make a big difference in competitive applications.

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Our experience shows this is 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.

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S6 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 .

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We do not recommend taking more than 3 Advanced Higher or 2 AH and 2 Higher) in S6, a: this would be something we discuss with the pupil when engaging with Subject Choice Scrutiny.

Can pupils change their minds?

Pupils should choose the subjects likely to take- don’t have ‘holders’ slots. There will be opportunities to review choices and get advice

• During the Subject choice period: ask teachers, Heads of Department, Pupil Support team (Careers/Guidance, AsfL)- changes post 20 March will only be reflected in August (not June TT)
• During S5 Careers Conversation: we will review and discuss subject choices with the pupils based on their aspirations
• In June- post exam- based on how individuals feel about their exam performance and on their experience in their new classes (updated TT)
• In August post results: Careers support will be available the week following exam results and at the start of session

Where to find support and information?

Support

• Pupil Support team
• Careers Team:
• Additional Support for Learning
• Family, friends

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Information

• Subject Teachers and Heads of Department
• Curriculum website for Course descriptions and progression pathways
• Careers website
• Unifrog/ Morrisby for links between subjects and career pathways
• UCAS and Edinburgh College website for specific entry requirements
• https://www.apprenticeships.scot/

Thank You,

Staff are available for questions in the

Entrance Hall