Course Choices

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Course Choices
making sense of it all
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Options S4 and beyond

• The Options Process is the process by which
  students choose subjects that they wish to take
  further in senior school.

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The Options Process

• Mock Options Assembly 1 Friday 7th January

• Mock Options Forms returned Friday 14th
  January

• Mock Options Assembly 2 - Friday 21st January

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The Options Process continued
February

• Options Beyond 16 booklet issued to students
  at Options Launch Assembly.

• Each student will receive a recommendation for
  each subject by 11th March.

• Course Options application forms submitted one
  week after Options launch on 18th March.

• Guidance staff with the support of Depute Rector
  allocate students to courses.

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Recommendations

• Recommendations are when staff assign a
  particular level of course, for example Higher or
  Intermediate 2 to each student based on prior
  attainment.

Entry requirements

• are set by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
  about the minimum prior qualifications to achieve
  entry onto a course.

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• Entry Requirements

Higher - To gain entry a student needs to have
achieved

• Credit 1 or 2 pass at Standard Grade or

• A or B pass at Intermediate 2

Intermediate 2 To gain entry a student needs to
have achieved

• General 3 or 4 preferably 3 at Standard Grade

• A or B pass at Intermediate 1

Intermediate 1 To gain entry a student needs to
have achieved

• General 4 or 5 at Standard Grade

• Pass at Access 3 level

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Health Warning!

• Places on courses are limited.

• There is strong competition to get onto courses.

• Performance in S4 is vital!

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• Options Criteria

• All students who have a subject recommendation
  from their class teacher, who are already in
  class by June and who have met the course entry
  requirements are first to receive confirmation of
  their place.

• Students who do not meet entry requirements
  can only access a course if there is space
  and Principal Teachers agree and a contract
  outlining short term targets is signed.

• Students who do not meet entry requirements but
  are waiting on an appeal, based on strong
  evidence, must be considered a place. If an
  appeal fails then a contract outlining short term
  targets would apply.

• Criteria 2 above can only be applied if the
  student needs a subject because of a
  realistic career aspiration or to gain access to
  a specific university course.

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Case Study Accessing Higher Physics

• Johnny and Sarah come from a poor background and
  could, potentially, be the first people in their
  families to go to university.

• David, Jack and Melissa claim they need Physics
  to go on to study medicine. David and Jacks
  parents threaten to get a lawyer if they do not
  get onto the course.

• Bill needs Physics to get onto his Engineering
  course at university.

• Janet wants to get onto the course because she
  loves Physics.

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Considering each person from the case study on
the previous slide look at the results above,
including the SQA estimates and identify the
students who would not be able to access Higher
Physics and give reasons for your decision.
Dont forget the maximum number for a practical
class is 20. Best of luck!