InfoRMATION for all

What is the “Senior Phase”?

The Senior Phase of Curriculum for Excellence encompasses S4 through to S6.  Our S1-3 curriculum provides all students with a Broad General Education, which means that students are ready by S4 for entry into SQA National Qualification courses and many other learning opportunities.

What is the purpose of the Senior Phase?

All Scottish schools have produced a “bespoke” Senior Phase or, in other words, a model designed to meet the needs of each school’s young people in developing their skills for learning, life and work.

There has been much debate across Scotland about the right curricular model that schools should adopt.  An S1-3 Broad General Education, followed by an integrated three year Senior Phase, allows Preston Lodge High School to meet the requirements of Curriculum for Excellence and best meet the learning needs of our students.

We offer a fully integrated S4-6 Senior Phase where classes comprise S4, S5 and S6 students being presented for National 3s, National 4s, National 5s, Highers, Advanced Highers, National Progression Awards and a range of non-SQA courses.

How do we plan what is best for each student?

Much guidance is contained in our chourse choice website.  At this stage students and their families, working with the school, must plan a programme of study for next year whilst thinking about future years.  Specific information for students in S3, S4 or S5 can be found on the following pages.

• Info for S3 students

• Info for S4 students 

• Info for S5 students 

Where can I find out about SQA courses offered by subjects?

All SQA courses are described in Course Choice curricular area pages.

What SQA Qualifications do we offer?

New types of courses available

In a number of our curricular areas it is now possible to select subjects that are not traditional SQA qualifications.  There are three main types of courses available:

Foundation Apprenticeships

Foundation Apprenticeships are two-year programmes available to all S4 and S5 students in East Lothian, subject to entry requirements, but we offer four one year in-school Foundation Apprenticeships, which are fully described in a separate section. The programmes combine a classroom and workplace approach to learning, where students work closely and build relationships with leading employers from thriving industries.  This enables students to gain valuable work experience, and achieve a SCQF level 6 (Higher) qualification while still in school.  More Foundation Apprenticeships are available at Edinburgh College.  Students opting for College Foundation Apprenticeships will travel (provided by East Lothian) on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon to participate in the course, although some of these are at further away campuses, like Granton and Sighthill, and students must make their own travel arrangements. 

Foundation Apprenticeships in East Lothian are:

• Scientific Technologies (Preston Lodge High School and Dunbar Grammar)

• Social Services, Children and Young People (Community Setting with outsourced training provider)

• Accountancy (North Berwick High School)

• Business Skills (Musselburgh Grammar School)

• Software Development (Knox Academy)

One year in-school Foundation Apprenticeships offered at PL are:

• Social Services, Children and Young People 

• Accountancy

• Business Skills 

• Software Development

National Progression Awards

National Progression Awards (NPAs) are short, flexible courses that assess a defined set of skills and knowledge in specialist vocational areas.

They are available at SCQF levels 2 to 6 (see the Learning pathways page for details of SCQF levels) and are often a very positive learning pathway for students who have achieved at National 4 level but who are not yet ready to achieve a full National 5 qualification.

Youth Achievement Awards

Youth Achievement Awards are based upon the level of responsibility a young person takes within a number of ‘challenges’.  A challenge is an activity that a young person intends to do which is either new to them or builds upon their previous achievements.  Young people choose their challenges, and there are four levels of Youth Achievement Awards – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

What non-subject learning opportunities are available?

Colleges, universities and other schools now play an increasing role in providing very meaningful learning opportunities for our Senior Phase students.  A wide range of out-of-school opportunities are open to students.

Many courses are provided by Edinburgh College and/or East Lothian Works.  We also have a number of students participating in Foundation Apprenticeships at other schools.

We offer S6 students, and some S4 and S5 students, opportunities to participate in leadership challenges, and our engagement with the Open University's Young Applicants in Scottish Schools (YAAS) Scheme offers very exciting possibilities for young people in S6.

More information can be found in the non-school courses page.

Leadership Opportunities

We are proud of the leadership opportunities that we offer all of our students at Preston Lodge High School.   S6 students have the most opportunities with commitment to the Prefect System, Library supervision, the House System, Paired Reading, peer support and junior classes offering direct opportunities for the development of leadership skills.  Many other formal and informal opportunities are also available to our S6 students. 

Support for Learning

Support for Learning provision will still be available for students who have previously received assistance (or who now feel they require it) with examinations or particular learning needs.  Students or families should contact Ms Lusk to discuss any issues.

The Learning Zone can provide some experience for senior students who are considering careers working with young people.  Interested seniors will be given the opportunity to assist junior students with their learning.  Ms Lusk will organise peer support programmes for senior students.

The Careers Adviser

Choosing courses can often be difficult. Whether considering staying on at school, going to college, university, entering employment, training or taking up a Modern Apprenticeship our Careers Advisers Eoin Walsh and Deirdre Bell are available to discuss ideas, provide guidance and offer impartial advice.

Students should refer to the Skills Development Scotland site, My World of Work.  Following this, students can arrange to see their Careers Adviser by requesting an appointment through their Guidance Teacher. They are based in the seminar room beside Business Education classrooms.  As well as students requesting appointments themselves, they work closely with Guidance Teachers who make referrals to them and they also offer appointments to S4 and S5 pupils prior to them leaving school.

Eoin holds a breaktime drop-in service.  If pupils have a quick question or would like help in finding information, they should come along to the drop-in session.  No appointment needed.

When not in school, Eoin can be contacted at eoin.walsh@sds.co.uk or mobile 07584 145679 and

Deirdre at deirdre.bell@sds.co.uk or mobile 07881 464643

Curriculum Framework 2023-24

Our S4-6 curriculum framework is detailed below.  Our curriculum is made up of 32 periods of 50-minutes each.

S4

Students personalise their learning by selecting seven subjects at National 4 or National 5 level (4 periods per week). This year it is possible for students to select a Level 6 Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services: Children and Young People as one of their course choices (6 periods per week).

All students continue to learn in core subjects (PE, RE and SE). 

S5 

Students may study up to 5 subjects at Higher level (6 periods per week).

Students may also select National 4 or 5 qualifications (4 periods per week).

This year students may select one of five one year in-school Foundation Apprenticeships as a course choice (6 periods per week)

All students also participate in core SE and an S5 meeting.

S6

Students may study Higher or post-Higher qualifications (up to 6 periods per week).

Students may also select National 4/5 courses (4 periods per week).

This year students may select one of five one year in-school Foundation Apprenticeships as a course choice (6 periods per week)

S6 students also participate in core SE and an S6 meeting.

S4/5/6

All students may participate in the Wider Achievement Opportunities programme (WAO), which provides a broad set of learning opportunities through college courses, foundation apprenticeships and vocational learning.

Participation in one of these programmes counts as one curricular choice for such students, replacing one of their subject choices.

Minimum Coursing Expectations

For each year group of the senior phase we have minimum coursing expectations.  Put simply, this means the number of curricular choices that students need to make.  There are up to seven choices available to each Senior Phase student, and each choice must represent meaningful activity.

Meaningful activity for most students will mean SQA courses.  However, a range of alternative choices can create a more worthwhile curriculum for a number of our young people.  Foundation Apprenticeships, Non-SQA courses, peer support, voluntary work, college courses, health and wellbeing activities and library work, to name but a few, might much better provide good outcomes for some young people.

• In S4 we expect students to make seven curricular choices.

• In S5 we expect students to make between five and seven curricular choices, depending on their level of study.

• In S6 we expect students to make four or five curricular choices, depending on their level of study.  Students participating in two or more Advanced Highers need only make three curricular choices.

We also expect S6 students to make one or more period of commitment to the school and its wider community, and we will finalise a timetable with S6 students which permits them to a maximum of five periods per week in the S6 Common Room.  Any additional time available will be used for study. 

Any exceptions to this pattern of minimum coursing expectations can only be sanctioned by the DHT who is Head of House for a student.  Such exceptions will be based on a clear plan which creates a more worthwhile curriculum for the young person, and better prepares them for next steps.  High-quality learning and breadth of experience will be the key priorities in allowing such exceptions.

Do please get in touch with your child’s Guidance Teacher or Head of House if you would like to discuss minimum coursing expectations further.

Timeline for course choice

S3 Students

S4/5 Students