Departmental section

continually updated as information becomes available

The menu to the right hand side of this page will guide you through the various school curricular departments. In addition to this an outline of course choice from the Prospectus is below.

Courses Available in the School : The Curriculum

 

We are determined to deliver a curriculum appropriate to the age, ability and aptitude of each of our pupils as well as one that meets their needs and interests. The term curriculum does not just refer to the subjects a pupil takes but to the whole learning experience of the pupil in Armadale Academy. It includes the formally planned programme of courses but also includes other activities, such as clubs, trips, pupil - teacher relationships and any other ways in which the school affects the pupil’s life.

It is of great importance that each pupil, when they leave school, has achieved results in the national examinations which reflect their ability. We will give them every help to achieve this. In addition we hope, through a variety of different opportunities, to broaden their educational experience. Such opportunities might include trips and excursions, Work Experience, Outdoor Education, Enterprise and Community Involvement activities. By such means we hope to allow each of our pupils to achieve their potential within a broad, balanced, relevant and interesting curricular framework.

 

 

 

 

 

Courses in First and Second Years (S1 and S2)

These are years of continuity and progress in subjects studied in the Primary School and adjustment to expectations in secondary school. In S1 and S2 pupils follow a common course consisting of:

 

ENGLISH

MATHEMATICS

SOCIAL SUBJECTS

SCIENCE

FRENCH

ART

MUSIC

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

HOME ECONOMICS

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 

Classes in S1 / S2 are usually arranged on a mixed sex and ability basis. English and Maths, however, will be set by ability early in S1 and others, such as Modern Languages, will be set in S2.

The school intends to start SQA certificate work in English and Maths at the beginning of Second Year and other subjects may also take up this option in subsequent years.

Assessment in First and Second Years.
A system of profile assessment has been introduced for the purpose of assessing pupil’s progress and reporting to parents. Instead of a single mark or grade in a subject, a pupil’s attainment and skills in a number of aspects of the subject are assessed and reported. We hope that this will give a clearer indication of strengths and weaknesses. In turn, this will assist in the decisions that require to be made towards the end of S1 / S2 for the purpose of establishing a pupil’s Standard Grade courses.

Courses Available in Third and Fourth Year (S3 and S4)

The range of course options in S3 / 4 depends on the pupil roll and staff complement and may vary from year to year. In these years all pupils should take:

English, Maths, one of the Sciences, one of the Social Subjects, a Modern Language, a Technology subject and a Creative / Aesthetic subject.

 

Most of these courses are offered at Standard Grade and reflect the national guidelines concerning options at this level. Some courses, in an increasing number of subject areas, are offered at Access 3 / Intermediate 1 levels. These are courses derived from the Higher Still initiative but capable of being completed in S3 / 4. Other courses of this type may be introduced into S3 / 4 in the near future. Certificated courses in SVS and RE and a school-based course in PE are also a compulsory part of the curriculum.

Many subject permutations are possible and timetables will vary greatly between pupils. Pupils may be in different groupings in different subjects. These groupings may depend on a pupil’s ability in a subject and classes may be set to cater for such differences. There are three different levels of course within Standard Grade - Foundation, General and Credit - where Foundation is the basic level, General is most suitable for pupils of average ability and Credit is the most difficult. Pupils can take different subjects at different levels.

Assessment is based on a combination of internal assessment by teachers and national examinations in May / June of Fourth Year. It is the school’s intention to move to presentation in English and Maths at the end of Third Year. Awards are given on a single scale from 1 (the top band) to 7. Pupils who receive a Credit award at 1 or 2 would be expected to go on to Higher in that subject in one or two years. Pupils who receive a General award at 3 or 4 may take a mixture of SQA Intermediate courses and Highers but the latter will probably be over two years. Pupils who achieve at Foundation level may take SQA Intermediate courses in Fifth Year.

In addition to these Standard Grade courses, each pupil in Fourth Year will be offered one week’s Work Experience. The Third Year Option Choice sheet for 2006 / 2007 is shown on the next page.

S3 Option Choices 2008 - 2009

 

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
English	Mathematics	Biology	Art and design	Business Manage.	Business manage.	Biology	Art and Design
		Business Admin	Biology	Craft and design	Chemistry	Bus. Admin	Biology
		Chemistry	Computing	French	Craft and Design	Chemistry	History
		French	Craft and design	Music	Graphic Communication	Graphic Communication	Music
		P.E.	Geography	Physics	Geography	History	PE
		Physics	Home Econ.		Physics	Home Economics	Spanish
			Physics
Legend:	compulsory	Standard Grade at general or credit level	Access Intermediate level	n/a
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H

 

English and Mathematics are studied by all pupils (columns A and B).

All pupils should choose French. French and Spanish may be taken by agreement

All pupils should choose a Science. Two Sciences may be chosen

All pupils should choose a Social Subject. This includes History / Geography / Business Management.

All pupils should choose a Technological Subject unless a second Science is chosen.

All pupils should choose a Creative and Aesthetic Subject unless a second Science is chosen.

 

Important.

 

1. Do not select the same subject twice.

 

2. All pupils must take a technology subject.

Technology subjects include Art / Computing / C&D / Home Economics / Graphic Communication / Business Management / Business Administration.

 

3. All pupils must take a creative / aesthetic subject.

Creative / aesthetic subjects include Art / Craft & Design / Home Economics / Music / P.E.

 

4. The following subjects have restricted presentation levels

General / Credit only Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Home Economics (Shown as S).

Access / Intermediate Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Home Economics (Shown as A / I).

 

• Additional time is allocated for RE, SVS, PSD and core PE.

 

6. The selection of a subject does not guarantee that a class will run in August of S3.

  

Courses Available in Fifth and Sixth Year (S5 and S6)

 

In Fifth Year, students are offered two types of course - Higher Grades and Intermediate Courses. The latter may be offered at different levels of ability. Students may choose courses that consist of various combinations of Highers and Intermediate Courses. As noted previously, students with grades 1 and 2 in a subject from Standard Grade would be expected to take Higher in that subject in one year. Students with lower grades from Standard Grade are advised whether a two year Higher course or an Intermediate Courses would best suit their abilities and needs. It is the school’s intention to enable pupils, who gain Credit at the end of S3 in English and Maths, to undertake a two year Higher course with presentation in S5.

 

Higher Grade exams are certificated, by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Intermediate Courses cover academic and vocational areas of work and are now also certificated by the SQA at different levels.

 

Higher Grade SCE courses are currently offered in :

 

Art & Design, Biology, Business Administration, Business Management, Chemistry, Computing,

Craft & Design, English, French, Geography

Graphical Communication, History, Home Economics,

Human Biology, Information Systems, Maths, Modern Studies, Music, and Physics

 

A wide variety of Intermediate Courses are also available. The levels offered may include Access3, Intermediate 1 or Intermediate 2 in increasing order of difficulty. Some classes may be composite and contain some students doing Higher with others doing Intermediate Courses.

 

In S6, in addition to all the Highers and Intermediate Courses offered in S5, we may offer courses leading to the Advanced Higher. These courses, encouraging specialised and individual study, vary from year to year and are only provided where a viable group can be formed and there is adequate staff time available. To study at Advanced Higher level a good pass must be obtained in S5 in the relevant Higher Grade.

 

To broaden the range of subjects available students are able, by arrangement, to travel to other West Lothian schools and to West Lothian College of Further Education to obtain access to additional courses.

 

The Fifth / Sixth Year Option Choice sheet for 2006 / 2007 is shown on the next page

 

S5 / 6 Option Choices 2008 - 2009 

A	B	C	D	E	F	G
English	Maths	Modern Studies	Maths	History	Enterprise	P.S.D.
P.C.S (E)	Geography	Admin	Biology	Music	I.T
English	Maths	PE	Art	P.C.S {woodwork)	Community Sports
C.C.P	Chemistry	Physics	Care	Practical Cookery	Leader Course
	G.C	Business Management	Biology	Art	R.E
English	Chemistry	French	Maths	Information Studies	Study Skills
Psychology(s6 only)	Geography	Music	Admin	French
	Maths	Physics	PE	History
			Maths	Human Biology
Biology
English	Maths	Music	Chemistry	Art
				Physics
Legend:	Higher only	Advanced Higher	Higher and Inter. 2	Intermediate 1	Intermediate 2	Intermediate 1 and 2

  

Subjects : Admin = Business Administration Bus Man = Business Management

C & D = Craft & Design C.C.P. = Creative Cake Production

G.C. = Graphic Communication Human Biol = Human Biology P.E. = Physical Education P.C.S. = Practical Craft Skills Pr Catering = Practical Cooking P.S.D. = Personal & Social Development

NOTES.

 

1. You must choose one option from each column.

 

2 Do not select the same subject twice.

 

3. Fifth Year should not choose the Study option or AH.

 

4. Sixth Year should choose a minimum of four Subjects. Study option must be chosen if you are not choosing a subject in a particular column.

 

5. The travel column (Column E) allows pupils to opt for courses in other schools and West Lothian College on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. This option can be discussed with your Head of House or with Mrs Birrell.

 

6. The selection of a subject does not guarantee that a class will run in August of S5.