St Andrew’s High School

St Andrew’s High School

S4 Parents’ Information Evening

Monday 26th October, 2015

God our Father,

We ask for your guidance and support for all who journey through St Andrew’s High School.

Help us to make our school a place of wisdom and peace so that the light of Christ may shine forth from our school community to the world around us.

May we follow in the footsteps of our patron Andrew who befriended Jesus and gave his life to the teaching of Your Word.

Amen.

School Prayer

S4 Parents’ Information Evening

Monday 26th October, 2015

Welcome & Opening Remarks on behalf of HT : Mr D Cluckie, DHT

Presentations: Assessment Overview – Mr P Elder, DHT (SQA Coordinator) Good Habits and Expectations – Ms K Taggart, DHT ( Year Head, S4) Skills Development Scotland (SDS) - Mrs S Thomas Parent Council – Mrs N Barlow & Mr B Cassidy (PT, RME)

Workshops: Various – Named Departments : Mr D Cluckie

National Courses & Qualifications

From August 2015 : presentation in 7 subjects

Two Levels : National 4 & National 5

National 4 : Series of Unit Assessments

( Pass / Fail only); no final exam in May.

National 5 : Unit Assessments (Pass / Fail) plus a final exam in May ( graded Band 1 to 9).

Both National 4 and National 5 courses include the National 4 Added Value Unit.

S4 Parents’ Information EveningMonday 26th October, 2015

By Easter 2016, S4 will fall into in 3 categories

Those following all National 5 courses

Those following a combination of National 5 & National 4 courses

Those following all National 4 courses (small numbers)

Stay in touch !

Senior Phase Choices Information Evening Monday 29th February 2016

School website www.st-andrewshigh.n-Lanark.sch.uk

Twitter feeds @StAndrewsHS

Mr Paul Elder

SQA Assessment Overview

National Courses & Qualifications

At the beginning of S4, all pupils are entered to the SQA for presentation at National 5 level in their subjects.

Pupil performance in class, homework / study and in unit assessments will determine their final presentation level in April / May

National 3

Assessed through Unit assessments only.

Unit assessments are marked internally by the teacher (pass or fail)

Pupils need to pass all Units to achieve the qualification.

No final exam in May Potential Pathway : N3 in S4 to N4 in S5

Assessment Summary

National 4

Three units + Added Value Unit = Course Award

3 Unit Assessments ( Pass / Fail ). Marked by staff.

No final exam in May.

National 4 courses contain an Added Value Unit.

(marked by staff)

National 4

Ongoing Formative Assessment

Unit Assessments (Summative)

Unit Assessments Pass / Fail only

No final exam in May

Potential Pathway : N4 in S4 / N5 in S5 / Higher in S6

Assessment Summary

National 5

Three Units + Course Assessment = Course Award

Usually 3 Unit Assessments. (Pass / Fail.)

Marked by staff.

Coursework assessment = e.g. Portfolio + Final exam

(Final exam graded Band 1 to 9). Both marked by SQA.

National 5 Grades

Bands 1 & 2 = A pass

Bands 3 & 4 = B pass

Bands 5 & 6 = C pass

Band 7 = D award

Bands 8 & 9 = No Award

(eligible for Recognising Positive Achievement.)

Assessment methods

There are seven approved assessment methods that may be used for both Unit and Course assessment:

Assignment Case study Practical activity Performance Portfolio Project Question Paper / Tests

Learners who receive a 'Fail' or 'No Award' result at N5

Learners who receive a 'Fail' or 'No Award' result will still receive recognition for any Units they have passed within the Course.

These Units will appear on the detailed Record of Attainment section of their Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC)

Recognising Positive Achievement

A candidate who receives a band 8 or 9 (No Award) in a National 5 Course assessment will be able to gain a National 4 Course, providing the following requirements are met:

Pupil has passed all the internally-assessed Units at National 5

Pupil has passed the National 4 Added Value Unit / N5 Course assignment

The candidate has passed a Literacy/Numeracy Unit at National 4 or National 5 — this is an additional condition that applies to English and Mathematics

Further Information

www.sqa.org.uk

www.parentforumscotland.uk

‘Nationals in a Nutshell’

www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nationalqualifications/

www.st-andrewshigh.n-lanark.sch.uk

Ms Katie Taggart

Good Habits and Expectations

Our Expectations

Good Timekeeping & High levels of Attendance

Good Planning of Assessments & Re-assessments

Pupil Resilience & Perseverance

High Parental Expectations of child’s performance

Expectations :Target Setting & Tracking / Monitoring

All pupils agree a Negotiated Target in each subject at

the start of S4

All pupils are capable of sustaining good progress throughout S4, shown by their Working Grade

By the end of S4, most Pupils should achieve their original negotiated target as their final SQA Award

S4 Monitoring and Tracking Interviews Setting SMART Targets(Small, measurable, achievable, realistic, timescale)

Spring 2016 pupils will undertake 7 National Qualifications

30 Weeks until SQA Examinations.Maintaining A positive attitude is key to achievement. “I CAN DO”….

Pupil Voice

Mrs S Thomas

Skills Development Scotland

Shona ThomasCareers AdviserSt Andrew’s High School

Options after S4

• Stay on for S5

• College (NC/NQ)

• Modern Apprenticeship

• Activity Agreement

• Employability Fund

Parent Council

Mrs N Barlow Mr B Cassidy

St Andrew’s High School Parent Council

YOUR PARENT COUNCIL

NEEDS YOU!

Parent Forum v

Parent Council

Time commitmentToo ‘teachery’ and formalHelped out at primary school

It’s a closed shop

THE MYTHS

The Positives

Opportunity to have your voice heard

The more you know the more you can support your child

Build relationships and a community

Involved in fundraising and social events

FINALLY…

A decent cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit!

NEXT MEETING

Monday 2nd November 2015

at 7:00pm

You will be made most welcome!