In June 1999 a new system of courses and qualifications was introduced in Scottish schools and Further Education colleges for everyone studying beyond Standard Grade. This new system was called National Qualifications and was designed to bring together the best of Scottish education currently offered in schools and colleges. The aim in designing the new system was to provide opportunity for all students to continue their studies after Standard Grade at a level appropriate to them.

THE STRUCTURE OF NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS COURSES

NQ are designed to let students study at the right level for them, so that the work is interesting and challenging but not so hard that they feel they cannot cope. There are usually five levels of difficulty in any subject and they are all linked. The five levels of study are called: Access, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher.

UNITS

The term 'unit' is the NQ term for what was previously called a module or part of a subject course. Most units are 40 hours long and are assessed by your class teacher. All units passed will be recorded as part of your overall qualifications so that there is always, therefore, a reward for finishing and doing well in classwork. In order to pass the course you must pass all units plus an external exam. However, there is no exam at Access level.

COURSES

Courses, for example 'Intermediate 1 Physics' or 'Higher History' are made up of units, usually a group of three or more. All units which are part of courses will be externally assessed (like Highers and Standard Grades now are) making the pattern of assessment the same for all courses.

SCOTTISH GROUP AWARDS

A group award is made up of courses and units which fit together to make a balanced programme of study. Scottish Group Awards can be undertaken at each of the five levels of courses and can be gained in one year of full time study or built up over a longer period of time. The main reason to do a group award is because it can lead in the broad general direction of a range of career opportunities and to more advanced or specialised programmes in colleges and universities. In order to gain a Scottish Group Award students need to have all five Core Skills.

CORE SKILLS

The five Core Skills are:

• Communication
• Numeracy
• Problem Solving
• Information Technology
• Working with Others.

Most of the core skills are embedded in Standard Grade and NQ courses and the SQA will automatically audit your courses and provide a core skills profile on your certificate.

STANDARD GRADE AND NQ

The NQ levels from Access to Intermediate 2 are approximately as difficult as Foundation, General and Credit at Standard Grade. If you have gained a Credit award at Standard Grade you would normally progress to Higher in that subject, from a General award to Intermediate 2 and from a Foundation award to Intermediate 1. If you are starting a new subject then you would normally start at Intermediate 1 level.

 

SHORT COURSES

All S5 & S6 pupils must undertake study from a wide choice of Short Courses.

SHORT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

During each cycle pupils must choose a different activity for each period. Study the activities on offer and if you wish to do a P.E. Short Course tick the option sheet for cycle 1 or 2. The number of activities on offer will depend on staff available for short course. Options can include:- Soccer August - September Badminton Indoor Football - these will be decided by pupils at the beginning of the cycle. Hockey August - September Basketball Indoor Hockey Netball August - September Fitness Handball Tennis August - September Road Running Trampolining Volleyball

MUSIC MAKING

This course is suitable for Higher candidates as it offers an opportunity to supplement the performance and inventing areas of the course. It would also suit pupils with an amount of playing experience who would welcome the opportunity of developing their skills.

FIGURE & LIFE DRAWING 1

An SQA Module open to all S5/S6 if staffing allows, but compulsory for S5/S6 Intermediate 2, Higher & Higher Still pupils.

PHOTOGRAPHY

An SQA module which introduces students to the operation of a single lens reflex camera, the techniques and processes of black and white film developments, together with enlarging and printing from black and white negatives. This course is restricted to pupils taking Higher Art. It is a 40 hour module running over two consecutive cycles. (Please note that a charge of £10 per pupil per cycle is made towards the cost of photographic material)

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION

This course develops skills in sketching and drawing everyday items in orthographic and pictorial projection using both manual and computer-aided methods. You should, by the end of the course, have achieved one or two units at Intermediate 2 level.

CRAFT

This course is recommended to any pupils who wish to gain an appreciation of materials and useful craft skills. You will develop skills in reading drawings, using marking out tools and a range of hand tools and equipment in either woodwork or metalwork. You should, by the end of the course, have achieved one or two units at Intermediate 2 level.

YOUNG ENTERPRISE

What is a Young Enterprise Company? Civilisation Clash Co., Paper Eclipse 2000, Stationery Plus to name but a few of the recent YES Companies. Would you like the opportunity to be active in a real business enterprise? There is also the chance to attend the YES National Conference in March and, if successful in the local Presentation Evening competition, attend the national finals in Glasgow. Orkney's YES Company represented Scotland at last year's European Trade Fair for Young Enterprise in Malta.

• Young Enterprise is a registered charity in its twelfth year of operation in Orkney.
• Young Enterprise companies are organised on the pattern of a limited company.
• Young Enterprise companies are made up of young people, known as Achievers. All Achievers must be shareholders and are Directors of their Y.E. Company.
• From within your team of Achievers, you elect or appoint a management team, each with responsibility for a particular 'functional' area - e.g. Finance, Personnel. All members of the company will be part of one or more of the Function Teams.

The fun and experience you get out of setting up and running your own company will depend on the energy and effort you put in!

WEB PAGE CONSTRUCTION

A course for keen computer-users - involves artwork, design and layout, creative writing, information gathering and some technical computer stuff. You will be expected to do quite a lot outside class time, and to work as a team.

VOCATIONAL DRAMA

The course will offer an opportunity for senior pupils to develop their Theatre Arts skills. Students will be involved in a variety of stage management and design projects from the initial script right up to performances. Any pupil who wishes to be involved in any form of drama production in the future would find this course beneficial. If there are enough students who would like to put on their own senior school production, this course could also provide them the opportunity to do so.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work Experience can be organised for the Short Course afternoon for one or both cycles. A placement must be organised before opting out of the short course programme. Due to regulations regarding Health & Safety it is essential that pupils considering this option discuss their possible choice of placement in advance with Mr Maclean. When pupils have fixed a starting date for their placement they should see Dr Ireland who will organise transfer out of the short courses.

Your Pastoral Care teacher will help you plan a course of study for S5 and S6 by giving you the information you need about courses; by reviewing your abilities, interests, qualities and previous attainments and achievements; by discussing the options available to you when you leave school. For each NQ course you take you will have an induction programme which will help you become familiar with units and courses and how you will be assessed. You will also have the opportunity to review your overall progress and to develop an action plan for the future.