Wider Achievement

Employability and Life Skills

·         This course is an opportunity for S3 pupils to build skills they will use to navigate everyday life, both in school and beyond it. Pupils will develop communication and social skills as well as a range of practical skills that can be used to support independent living in the future. Activities may include everything from budgeting and basic food preparation to booking appointments and conflict resolution

Sport and Recreation/Physical Health and Fitness

·         This will be a 3 period per week experience where pupils will be offered the chance to attend Nuffield Gym to work with an instructor to learn exercises and techniques to support the development of physical fitness. This will be for double period. The remaining single period will be classroom based within school where the focus will be on learning more about the different factors that contribute towards physical health such as diet and sleep, as well as building upon the theory side of the practical learning undertaken at the gym.

Childcare

·         The childcare course will enable learners to understand child development from pre-birth to 12 years old. It will look at the roles and responsibilities of practitioners, other professionals and parents/carers in contributing to the development of children and young people. Learners will gain knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes that will help them to contribute to the development of children in personal and professional contexts.

Enterprise/Princes Trust

·         Pupils will be working within the Prince's Trust Framework to earn qualifications by completing various enterprise (arts and crafts projects) and community work. Pupils will also focus on developing their confidence in themselves and their learning through a nurturing and fun environment. Focus on building skills around enterprise and employability.

Web Design/Digital Media – Level 5 Units 

Students will cover two Level 5 NPA units.  In the Website Graphics unit, students will learn how to code simple websites using HTML and CSS, with a focus on creating and editing photographs and images to make them more suitable and efficient for online use.  In the Still Images unit, students will learn about image file types, the hardware and software required to take and edit photographs, the basic functions of DSLR cameras, simple image editing techniques and how to create a portfolio website to show off their edits. 

Scottish Studies – Level 4/5 

The Scottish Studies Award provides opportunities for learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of Scotland - its people, languages (such as Scots and Gaelic), society, culture, natural environment and heritage - and to make connections across the curriculum. The Award also provides recognition for learners who choose to make these connections by studying aspects of three subject areas in a Scottish context. The Scottish Studies Award is available at SCQF levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Award has a broad and flexible framework, providing scope for personalisation and choice. This would be suitable for someone who is already studying a Social subject in S3. 

Mental Health Award – Level 5 

The Mental Health Award course focuses on perceptions of mental health, providing information, promoting understanding and equipping learners with positive coping strategies to improve and maintain mental health and wellbeing. With an emphasis on understanding the contributing factors to mental health, the course informs learners of the impact and consequences of a range of factors that are linked with mental health. 

Leadership through Barista skills – Level 5 Units 

Pupils will develop a knowledge of marketing, leadership, customer service and barista skills through our own Harlaw Coffee shop. Pupils will complete an SQA marketing unit, the L5 Barista unit as well as the L5 leadership award. Pupils will be encouraged to volunteer at the coffee shop in addition to their two-period elective which may be first thing in the morning, at break time or at lunchtime. They may also be encouraged to volunteer at parent events such as parents' evenings. 

Mandarin - Beginners 

This would be an introduction to simplified Mandarin for those who are keen to pick up a new language. This might include: simple greetings, dates, food, personal language, aspects of culture, sports and leisure, transactional language such as ordering in shops.  

NPA Sport and Fitness – Team Games – Level 5 

• Unit 1 – Sporting Activity Participation and Performance 

  • The purpose of this unit is for pupils to gain experience twenty hours participation in a chosen team (or) individual sport. Pupils will study appropriate codes of conduct relevant to the sport and complete an evaluation identifying their strengths and weaknesses in relation to their personal performance. 

• Unit 2 – Sports Officiating and Organising 

  • The purpose of this unit is for pupils to demonstrate their ability to organise and officiate tournament matches. Pupils must understand the rules and learn when to apply them correctly and then evaluate how successful the tournament was. 

• Unit 3 – Coaching Development 

  • The purpose of this unit is to develop pupils ability to plan, deliver and evaluate a minimum of FOUR session plans. These sessions should show an awareness of confidentiality with regards to both data and child protection issues. 

Music Performance 

The Music performance elective is a stand-alone unit allowing candidates to develop performance skills on one instrument or voice. It is available from SCQF Level 3 to Level 5 with timings of performances going from 3 minutes at level 3, to 4 minutes at level 5. Candidates will develop a programme of pieces at the appropriate level and maintain a performance diary of developing skills, reviews of performances and next steps. Candidates will have to choose one of their pieces and write a short programme note about the piece, identifying key characteristics and performance directions. 

Music Technology -  Level L3/4/5 

The music technology elective is the unit “Music Technology in Context” and is available from SCQF Level 3 to Level 5. In this elective, candidates will learn the skills required to create, record and edit live music and other types of audio productions. Candidates will create an audiobook, including sound effects and background music, a podcast, a radio broadcast and a live instrumental performance. They will learn to use different recording techniques and equipment effectively to record different types of instruments, sounds and voices. Candidates will also learn to effectively edit sounds using techniques such as reverb and panning, and how to create foley sounds (creation and reproduction of sound effects) for different types of audio productions. 

Creative Writing - Level 5 

This unit allows learners to experiment with a range of writing techniques, planning and drafting and producing written work in different forms. The unit is designed to raise awareness of the creative processes involved in writing, and to highlight how writing can be a valuable tool for self-expression. Learners will develop an awareness of the ways in which language can be used for impact and effect in their own writing. 

Employability and Life Skills 

This course is an opportunity for pupils to build skills they will use to navigate everyday life, both in school and beyond it. Pupils will develop their confidence, communication and social skills as well as a range of practical skills that can be used to support independent living in the future. Sometimes you will learn completely new things and sometimes you will build your skills on things you already know and you will be encouraged to work individually and together with other pupils.  Activities may include: 

• Cooking 

• Budgeting 

• Communicating with others/teamwork 

• Filling in job applications and forms 

• Travel and timetabling 

• Health and well-being 

• Managing emotions 

Work Experience – Level 4/5 

Pupils to undertake a work placement. This provides pupils with the opportunity to get experience in the field or industry they are keen to pursue. They will also gain valuable life and employability skills. Pupils will be able to complete a Work Experience Award at Level 4/5. 

NPA Painting - Level 5 

 This course will develop the learner’s observational and practical skills. Candidates will choose a still life expressive theme (such as ‘Sweet Tooth’ or ‘At the Beach’) and produce high quality observational drawings and paintings responding to this theme, exploring drawing, tonal application, and a variety of painting techniques, to produce a high-quality final painting. This elective is suitable for pupils who have taken Art in S3 and who would like to continue their studies in the subject but cannot continue at N5 due to column constraints and who have achieved Level 3 or 4 in S3 Art & Design.  

NPA Photography: Understanding Photography - Level 4/5 

 The aim of this course is to develop learners’ understanding of photography. Learners will research a range of different genres in photography and learn about a variety of photographic concepts. They will investigate different photographic approaches and will apply their knowledge and understanding by explaining the effects of creative and technical concepts used in photography. This elective is suitable for learners who have an interest in creative subjects such as Art and Photography. 

Community Placements linked with Volunteering/Leadership and Saltire Award 

Pupils choosing this option will be gaining a range of awards around volunteering and leadership link with a community placement within or out with school. 

• Community placement element: Pupils will undertake a community placement which could involve visiting a BGE class on a regular basis to support reading, writing or individual needs. opportunities include placements outside of school, such as the libraries, charities, sports activities, or environmental work. Pupils could then get recognition for this through a volunteering or leadership award. Pupils will also receive a Saltire Award after a minimum of 10 hours has been completed. This is a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the communities across Aberdeen whilst developing a range of skills including communication, leadership, problem-solving and teamworking.

• Leadership element: Pupils develop their transferable skills and experience by leading events. They work with school staff and community partners to learn about practices and procedures required for successful management of events within the school and in our local community. The first unit introduces leadership styles, what good leadership looks like and skills & qualities of effective leaders. The second unit sees pupils plan, organise and lead a real-life event. 

• Volunteering element: Pupils gain units based around their volunteering. Volunteering may include Defenders, Alliance, charity shops, community centres or any appropriate placement. Pupils could do their Duke of Edinburgh volunteering in order to gain this award. Class time is used for planning, recording and evaluating the experience so volunteering is done in the pupils’ own time. 

L5/6 Literacy 

This would be suitable for young people who are choosing not to pursue English into S5 or S6 and have not taken English since S4. This allows young people to leave school with the highest level of literacy. 

L5/6 Numeracy 

This would be suitable for young people who are choosing not to pursue Maths into S5 or S6 and have not taken Maths since S4. This allows young people to leave school with the highest level of numeracy. 

Prefects 

This would involve being attached to Faculties in order to support younger learners or Faculty work as directed. This could involve peer support, paired reading or working on Faculty noticeboards. Pupils could gain a volunteering or Saltire award through their Faculty support. This time could also be used to plan events with the Prefect team and would give the opportunity to gain further awards through leadership. 

Music Performance 

The Music performance elective is a stand-alone unit allowing candidates to develop performance skills on one instrument or voice. It is available from SCQF Level 5 to Level 6 with timings of performances going from 4 minutes at level 5, to 10 minutes at level 6. Candidates will develop a programme of pieces at the appropriate level and maintain a performance diary of developing skills, reviews of performances and next steps. Candidates will have to choose one of their pieces and write a short programme note about the piece, identifying key characteristics and performance directions. 

Mental Health Award 

The Mental Health Award course focuses on perceptions of mental health, providing information, promoting understanding and equipping learners with positive coping strategies to improve and maintain mental health and wellbeing. With an emphasis on understanding the contributing factors to mental health, the course informs learners of the impact and consequences of a range of factors that are linked with mental health. 

RMPS – Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies 

RMPS will no longer be a CORE subject for S5/6 but pupils will be able to select this as an elective instead. This will consist of two units across the year. 

RMPS unit will only be on offer only to S5 

Pupils will study moral issues surrounding the areas of gender and relationships. These will include topics such as the place of marriage in society, gender inequality and discrimination, sexual relationships and LGBT+ issues. Pupils will explore how different religious and non-religious groups respond to the moral issues. They will also discuss their own opinions on the moral issues and support these with reasons. Pupils can work towards a SQA Unit of National 5 or Higher.  

Philosophy 

This is on offer for both S5 and S6 pupils. 

Pupils will be introduced to different moral theories and philosophies to help explain different moral positions in relation to real-life situations. Pupils will explore how different theories can be applied to moral issues. Pupils will develop their own opinions about the theories explored and support these with reasons. Pupils can work towards an SQA Unit at National 5 or Higher.