S2_S3_ideas

Although the wiki was set up to look at S1 BusEd/ICT, there will be great ideas that will spill into S2/S3.

SHS IT Faculty initial thoughts:

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!).
 * 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
 * || 1  ||  2  ||  3  ||  4  ||  5  ||  6  ||
 * Monday ||||  Maths  ||||  Elective A  ||||  Elective C  ||
 * Tuesday ||||  Elective C  ||||  English  ||||  Elective B  ||
 * Wednesday ||||  Elective A  ||||  Maths  ||||  PE  ||
 * Thursday ||||  Elective B  ||||  Elective C  ||||  Elective A  ||
 * Friday ||||  English  ||||  Elective B  ||||  Extra Curr  ||