Mr Hamilton’s class blogs

Possible S2/S3 timetable

April 12, 2009

Below is a collection of ideas/suggestions regarding a possible timetable structure for S2/S3 (treated as one group) from 2011.  This reflects the joint views of the IT faculty and has not been endorsed by Stirling High School (yet!).  Please add you thoughts.  If you agree it would be great to hear what 12 week courses you could see running for different subject areas.

Points from IT faculty discussion: 

• Work more closely with associated primaries (pupils and staff).  Already have Citizenship/Sports Days however would like to look at more projects across whole school.  Resources (staffing) an issue but could look at study leave time.  
• Current S1/S2 courses currently aligned to SG/Int/H courses – need to move away from this.
• All faculty staff in favour of group/rich task approach.
• Agree that S1/S2 timetable does have contact with too many teachers – need to reduce. [One national report suggested as few as 11 - we felt this was too radical]
• Need to get back to basics with S1.
• What do we want pupils to achieve/gain from our subject if they do not take it in senior school?
• Need for more cross curricular events so that pupils can better understand what and why they are learning.  
• Teach pupils how to learn, active learning, learning to learn, critical skills – staff require training in these areas no longer only subject specific staff development.
• Agreed with many of the points from Learning and Teaching Scotland Report on secondary thinking groups

 Proposal: 

• Friday pm cross curricular for all pupils – could include Eco club, Enterprise groups, School Radio – not just sport.
• S1 Induction Day in August – each pupil setup on school network, folders for all areas, Glow log in etc.  Could also include a team building task.  Not just IT staff involved.  Need for staff to build relationships with S1 pupils.  
• S2/S3 Semester approach – Induction Days at start of each semester – first semester starts in August.  Option choice – 3 semesters per session; 3 elective areas per session – work as mixed S2/S3 groups (draft timetable attached).
• Electives would be a mixture of introduction to courses, intermediate courses, advanced courses, cross-curricular courses, rich task courses.

 S2/3 Proposed schematic 

• Pupils choose new electives every 12 weeks (3 semesters)
• Aligned with the principles of curriculum design -
• Challenge and enjoyment (12 week courses that allow mixed year teaching, beginner courses do not rely on NQ course content);
• Breadth (18 courses allow pupils to cover many curricular areas, inevitably choices will come from all 8 curricular areas);
• Progression (beginner, intermediate and advanced courses available);
• Depth (model allows for pupils to choose progression and depth in the subject areas that interest them);
• Personalisation and choice (pupils choose their electives every 12 weeks – not pupil support);  
• Coherence and relevance (courses need to be written to be alligned with the 4 capacaties)
• Maths, English and PE considered the only core subjects
• Electives include single subjects (at different levels), cross curricular topics, rich tasks
• Friday afternoon – sport and non-sports activities

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: CfE, new timetable.