S2 into S3: General information
Introduction
S3 is the final year of our Broad General Education and it is the first real opportunity students have to specialise, by picking the courses that they wish to study.
You can find full details of our curriculum structure in the appendices.
At Preston Lodge High School we have designed an S3 curriculum that is a vibrant conclusion to the S1-3 Broad General Education. In S3 all students will continue to study a number of subjects from each of eight Curricular Areas whilst being able to personalise, or choose, a number of courses. This site describes our approach to S3, and provides clear guidance to help families through the choices all S2 students must now make.
This section of the course choice website provides support for S2 students and their parents/carers about making good learning choices for S3 and beyond. S3 is the final year of our Broad General Education and it is, in many ways, a transition year to our Senior Phase. The choices that students make in S3 will have a bearing on the choices that they make for our Senior Phase, so it is essential that all families work through this site and make certain that they understand the choices available.
What is the purpose of the S3 curriculum?
In our S3 curriculum we allow all students to experience the key principles of Curriculum for Excellence. Namely:
challenge and enjoyment
breadth
progression
depth
personalisation and choice
coherence
relevance
We ensure that all students continue to experience a Broad General Education, but we also allow a great deal of personalisation, or choice.
Each Curricular Area will take a different approach to personalisation. In many Curricular Areas students have to make a choice. These areas are displayed in a table on the curriculum structure page. In Social Studies, for example, students will experience a common course in S1 and S2 but will select one subject in S3.
Individual Curricular Areas make their own decisions about how students can best meet CfE experiences and outcomes, whilst specialising appropriately.
Timeline of important dates
Weeks beginning 8, 15, 22 and 29 January
PSE lessons focus on My World of Work – Pathway Planning: 4 lessons identify strengths, skills, abilities, likes, dislikes and future hopes.
Week beginning 5 February
Skills Development Scotland (Careers) class sessions in PSE time to encourage early thinking about career pathways
Friday 9 February: Course choice information available on school website
Week beginning 19 February
Tuesday 20 February: Parents’ Options Event 7.00pm
Tuesday 20 February: Students’ Options Event: small group assemblies – students out of class for 1 or 2 periods.
Subject input delivered when S2 classes attend each Curricular Area as part of their normal timetable. Key information and presentations from these sessions will be available on the course choice website
Skills Development Scotland (Careers) class sessions in PSE time continue
Week beginning 26 February
Students offered appointment slots in PSE class to discuss individual choices. Dummy run forms completed at course choice interviews and taken home to discuss with parents/carers.
Week beginning 4 March
Appointments in PSE classes continue
Week beginning 11 March
Appointments in PSE classes continue
Thursday 14 March: Calum Stewart emails course choice form to student edubuzz accounts.
Week beginning 18 March
Tuesday 19 March: Deadline for electronic course choice form to be completed
