Course Details

People and Society is a flexible course delivering the units through the use of a wide range of Social Subjects such as History, Modern Studies, Geography and RMPS. Units will have Social Subjects disciplines embedded in them, rather than having discrete units of each.

Course achievement is through successful engagement in class tasks and end of unit assessments. There are no exam requirements for the course.

Aims of the Course

• To develop a range of skills which will enhance opportunities to engage positively in society such as the skill of investigation, comparing, decision-making and independent research

• To develop knowledge and understanding of society and their place in it

• To develop straightforward knowledge of key ideas from across Social Subjects

Course Outline/Units

• Investigating Skills (National 3 or 4): Explorers – In this unit, learners will develop a range of straightforward investigating skills, including choosing suitable sources of information for an investigation, collecting information from sources of different types, and organising information.

• Comparing and Contrasting (National 3 or 4): Medicine Through Time – In this unit, learners will develop straightforward skills of using information to compare and contrast.

• Decision-Making (National 3 or 4): Crime & Punishment – In this unit, learners will develop straightforward skills of using information to make decisions. Pupils will explore a variety of topics such as types of crime, reasons for crime, the purpose of punishment, and then will make a balanced decision on whether to bring the death penalty back to the UK or not.

• Added Value Unit (National 3 or 4): Research Unit – In this unit pupils will pull together many of the skills they have learnt in other units to complete a guided research task. Topics will broadly be of their choosing with teacher input and guidance.

Assessment/Conditions of award

To achieve the National 3 or 4 People and Society course award, learners must pass all the required units, including the Added Value Unit. There is no exam for the course. Meeting course requirements is based on class work and end of unit assessments. These are often based on pass/fail outcomes.

Progression

This course or its units may provide progression to:

• Other qualifications in Social Subjects such a National History, Modern Studies, RMPS, or Geography

• Further study, employment and/or training

Purpose             
The National 5 Skills for Work: Travel and Tourism Course  is an introductory qualification in travel and tourism. It develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes, needed for work in the travel and tourism industry. Learners will develop skills to become effective job-seekers and employees, skills to deal effectively with all aspects of customer care and customer service in travel and tourism, the product knowledge and skills to deal effectively with customer enquiries in relation to travel and tourism in Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom and worldwide. Therefore, learners will develop skills which are transferable for use in everyday working life. At SCQF level 5, the candidate will work alone or with others on tasks with minimum support.

To achieve the award of National 5 Travel and Tourism Skills for Work Course, learners must achieve all the required units as outlined in the course outline. They will be assessed pass/fail within centres. Skills for Work courses are not graded.

Areas of study:

• Employability

• Customer Service

• Scotland

• UK and Worldwide 

Assessment objectives

Assessment across the units of this course will allow learners to demonstrate:

• understanding of the workplace and the employee’s responsibilities, for example good time keeping, attendance, awareness of importance of personal appearance, health and safety, customer care

• self-evaluation skills

• develop customer care and problem-solving skills

• develop skills in relation to promoting products and services

• develop skills to become effective job-seekers and employees in the travel and tourism industry

• a positive and responsible attitude to work and an understanding of the workplace

• developing communication skills

Progression

For pupils achieving certification at National 4 level, progression could be to National 5 in Travel and Tourism. Learners achieving at National 5 level can progress to studying N4/5 Geography and subsequently Higher Geography or other social subject courses or alternately gain employment in the travel and tourism industry or further education. 

Purpose 

This course provides an opportunity for learners to develop their knowledge, understanding of geographical concepts, key ideas and relevant terminology through a wide range of learning experiences: teacher led learning, active learning, co-operative learning, independent study, objective thinking and effective communication. By using the concepts and techniques of geographical analysis, learners will develop a detailed understanding of aspects of the contemporary world and to make sound and reasoned judgements about local, national and global environmental issues. 

Learners will develop an understanding of people, places and environments across the world by studying the three units listed below. Map skills will be taught throughout the course, which also encourages active learning. Students will learn to apply the skills of literacy, numeracy and using graphs. Research skills will be developed by gathering information through fieldwork, then processing, interpreting and presenting that information in a written format.

Course details 

Physical Environments:

Rivers (River Tay)

Weather

Limestone (Yorkshire Dales)

Human Environments:

Urban (Edinburgh & Mumbai)

Population & Development

Rural (Great Plains, USA & Kerala, India)

Global Issues:

Climate Change

Tourism (if covid changes are dropped this would be added again)

Progression

For pupils achieving certification at National 4 level, progression could be to National 5 in Geography or any other Social Subject. Learners achieving at National 5 level can progress to studying Higher Geography or other courses, or into employment or training. Geography skills are very much sought after and valued by many employers.

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to add breadth and depth to the conceptual understanding of physical and human environments and their inter-relationships. It also extends evaluative skills and the range of geographical methods and techniques familiar to students.

Recommended Entry

This is at the discretion of the school, but you would normally be expected to have achieved Nat 5 Geography at grade C or above.

Physical Environments:

Hydrosphere

Atmosphere

Biosphere

Glaciation

Coasts

Human Environments:

Urban (Rio de Janeiro & Glasgow)

Population

Rural (Cairngorms- Glaciated landscape & Sahel-Semi arid landscape)

Global Issues:

Climate Change

Development and Health (if covid changes are dropped this would be added again)

Geographical Skills:

Map skills and interpreting sites and sources to discuss potential impacts e.g. social (people), economic (money/ jobs) and environmental (wildlife and landscape).

Progression

The Higher Geography course is valuable in itself to prepare students more readily to accept the rights and responsibilities of living in a democratic society on a fossil planet and to encourage positive attitudes to other societies and a concern for the world environment.

It is of more practical use in that from the achievement of a Higher course or units in Geography the student may be able to progress to the course or units at Advanced Higher. Students could also progress to a course or units at an appropriate level in another social subject. It is an ideal entrance qualification for many colleges or university courses, either science, arts or commerce based. It is an entrance qualification for many professions and trades at various levels, eg meteorology, local or national government planning, surveying, map making, road and railway courses, armed services and tourism.

Purpose 

History opens up the world of the past for learners. The purpose of History is to provide learners with insights into their own lives and the society in which they live. By examining the past, they discover their heritage as members of the community, a country and a wider world. These purposes will be achieved through successful study of the three units of the Course which cover Scottish, British, European and World contexts in a variety of time periods including Early Modern and Later Modern.

History provides learners with opportunities to acquire and develop the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. 

In History, learners develop their understanding of the world by learning about other people and their values, in different times, places and circumstances. These courses will encourage learners to develop important attitudes, including: an open mind and respect for the values, beliefs and cultures of others; openness to new thinking and ideas, and a sense of responsibility and global citizenship. Through the successful completion of this Course, important skills for learning, life and work are developed. These skills include: researching, understanding and using a range of straightforward information/evidence on historical issues; communicating, by a variety of means, balanced conclusions based on evidence; evaluating a range of straightforward sources of information; and structuring information about important historical themes and events.

Course details 

• Scottish History

The Great War, 1914 -1920

• British History

Changing Britain, 1760-1900

• European and World

Rise of Nazi Germany

Progression

For pupils achieving certification at National 4 level, progression could be to National 5 in History or any other Social Subject. Learners achieving at National 5 level can progress to studying Higher History or other courses, or into employment or training. History skills are valued and positively recognised by many employers.

Purpose

Higher History helps students to understand the society in which they live. It looks at the ways in which important aspects of that society have developed in the past, both nationally and internationally. This historical understanding will in turn assist them in becoming effective contributors to and responsible citizens within that society. The Course is designed to enable students to develop skills in historical understanding and analysis through structured and extended writing and through the interpretation, evaluation and comparison of sources of historical evidence. In addition, candidates are encouraged to take more independent responsibility for their own learning. 

Recommended Entry

This is at the discretion of the school, but you would normally be expected to have achieved Nat 5 History at grade C or above.

Course Details

• Three mandatory 40 hour units, plus 40 hours flexible time.  Each unit has equal weighting.

• The course will be taught at Higher Level though it may be possible to offer assessments at National 5 level for students who have difficulty in completing the units at Higher Level.   

British Topic: Britain 1851 – 1951

Development of the United Kingdom into a modern democracy and the development of the role of the state in the welfare of its citizens. Themes: authority, ideology, and rights

European and World: USA, 1918-1968

Growing tensions in American society, focusing on racial divisions, economic difficulties, the growth of federal powers and the struggle for civil rights. Themes: ideology, identity, and rights.

Scottish Topic: Migration and Empire, 1830-1939

Population movement and social and economic change in Scotland and abroad between 1830 and 1939. Themes: empire, migration, and identity

Students will be taught directly. A range of documentary and visual sources will be used in class as the basis for discussion and interpretation. Research skills are particularly important at Higher Level. 

Assessment of the Higher will be as follows:-

Continuous internal assessment of all aspects of the course.  

To gain the award for the course, students must achieve all the component units, as well as the external assessment.

Students’ final grades will be determined by a mixture of exam and coursework.

Examination Paper: Crusades, Medieval Britain and the Reformation 

Extended Essay (chosen by student) 

A full preliminary exam will be taken by all students.

Progression

From the achievement of a Higher unit or course, students may be able to progress to Advanced Higher in History or to higher education courses in History, humanities and social sciences, law and business administration, media and the arts. Alternatively, students could move on to further education courses including HNC/D courses in arts and social sciences.

Purpose

Modern Studies opens up the world of contemporary society for learners. The purpose of Modern Studies is to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United Kingdom and International contexts. Modern Studies makes an important contribution to the curriculum by drawing on the social sciences of politics, sociology and economics. This course will help create informed and active citizens. Learners will develop skills which are transferable to other areas of study and which they will use in everyday life.

These courses provide learners with opportunities to continue to acquire and develop the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities as well as skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work.

Modern Studies develops in learners a greater understanding of the contemporary world and their place in it. For example, learners’ horizons are extended and they are challenged to look at the world in new ways. Through the skills and content of the course, learners will develop an increased understanding of the democratic political system and social and economic issues throughout the world.

Learners will use a range of sources of evidence which are mostly straightforward but may have some complex features in order to detect and explain bias, exaggeration and selectivity in the use of facts in political contexts which are mostly familiar but may include some aspects which are new. 

Areas of study

Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom

Social Issues in the UK – Crime and Law

International Issues – World Power - USA

Progression

For pupils achieving certification at National 4 level, progression could be to National 5 in Modern Studies or any other Social Subject. Learners achieving at National 5 level can progress to studying Higher Modern Studies or other courses, or into employment or training. Modern Studies skills are valued and positively recognised by many employers.

Purpose

The purpose of Modern Studies is to develop the learner’s knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United Kingdom and international contexts. In these contexts, learners will develop an awareness of the social and political issues they will meet in their lives. This purpose will be achieved through successful study of the three Units. Through this Course, learners will undertake a coherent study of contemporary society with concepts and themes being revisited and built upon across Units. The Course will develop the skills to help learners interpret and participate in the social and political processes they will encounter now and in the future. 

Recommended Entry

This is at the discretion of the school, but you would normally be expected to have achieved Nat 5 Modern studies at Grade C or above.

Course Details

Pupils will study the following units:

Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom

Learners will study aspects of the democratic political system in the United Kingdom including the place of Scotland within this. Throughout this Unit, relevant case studies will be used from either Scotland or the United Kingdom or both Scotland and the United Kingdom. 

Social Issues in the United Kingdom

Learners will study social inequalities in the UK – causes, impact and solutions

International Issues

Learners will study an international country: the socio-economic study of a major world power (USA)

Students will also have to complete an assignment which will be externally marked. The assignment component of the course assessment will have a greater emphasis on the assessment of skills than the question paper.

Assessment of the Higher will be as follows:-

Continuous internal assessment of all aspects of the course.  

To gain the award for the course, students must achieve all the component units, as well as the external assessment.

Students’ final grade will be determined by a mixture of exam and coursework.

Examination paper consisting of 3 sections matching the units chosen for the course

Assignment (chosen by the student)

Progression

Students who are successful in the Higher course could progress to Advanced Higher Modern Studies or to a Higher course in another social subject. Alternatively, students may progress to HNC or HND awards or use the Higher qualification for general entrance to university or to particular degree courses in social sciences such as Politics, Sociology and International Relations or in Public Administration or Law.

Purpose

This course is suitable for pupils in S6 who have successfully completed Higher Modern Studies or History and have an interest in pursuing a career in Law or Law related fields.

Recommended Entry

This is at the discretion of the school, but you would normally be expected to have achieved a Higher qualification in Modern Studies or History.

Course Details

Pupils will study the following units:

Scots Law: An Introduction 

This unit provides you with a broad knowledge and understanding of Scots law including the sources of law and how new law is made. You will learn about the differences between the criminal law and the civil law and about the structure, jurisdiction and appeals of both the civil and the criminal courts. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the system of criminal prosecution in Scotland, about the tribunal system, and about the roles, appointments and responsibilities of the legal profession.

Crime in Society 

This unit enables you to explain what constitutes a crime in Scotland and the main principles involved in prosecution of crime and to explore the nature of crime and its effects on the individual and the community. It encourages you to reflect on crime and become more aware of its implications. 

Progression

Students may progress to HNC or HND awards or use the Level 6 qualification for general entrance to university or to particular degree courses in social sciences such as Politics, Sociology and International Relations or in Public Administration or Law.