1. Kilwinning Academy S1 News
September 2010
Welcome to our second S1 Curriculum Bulletin
In our recent visit by school inspectors we were praised for our effective partnership working.
In the report it was noted that parents were asking for more information about how to improve
the education of their youngsters and how to provide more homework support. We are taking
steps to raise attainment in partnership with parents by promoting more active learning. We
hope that this publication is helpful to parents and students in S1 as they start on the next stage
of their educational journey at secondary school.
Art and Design
The Art and English
Pupils will follow the new
D e s i g n Curriculum for Excellence. Our A typical term’s
work will involve:
Department aim will be to provide
delivers an opportunities for them to enjoy a
variety of experiences in Reading, reading and
enjoyable, discussing a novel
Writing, Talking and Listening. in class
achievable and The course is based on the
enjoyment and study of literature making a personal response to the novel
challenging course for all pupils (which may include fiction,
throughout S1. Pupils experience a drama, poetry and the media). group discussion of issues raised in the
Language (grammar and close novel
balance of design, expressive and
reading skills) will also be composition of a piece of extended
critical work with 2D and 3D covered, and a language-based writing
outcomes in a range of materials. homework booklet will be issued.
Pupils are also encouraged to language study
Pupils at the beginning of the enjoy personal reading, and some
school term are issued with time is set aside each week to
sketchbooks which they are promote personal reading.
encouraged to use for homework
and personal development.
Furthermore, the Art department Personal Social & Health Education
The PSHE course at Kilwinning Academy lasts 38 weeks and covers many
supports a wide range of practical different topics and issues that young people may face in their daily lives. The
PSHE course is delivered by form tutors allowing the form tutor to deal with
activities which are enjoyed first-line pastoral care whilst developing their role beyond that of a classroom
throughout the school terms these teacher. PSHE course is divided into varying units with special personal,
social and health inserts which include: careers, nurse, young people, dangers
range from printmaking, pottery, of tobacco and study skills with a library visit.
painting, drawing and designing.
1

2. Home Economics
The aim of the S1 curriculum in Home Economics is to
give pupils a well round experience of all facets of the
subject.
S1/S2 Home Economics course:
Ready Steady Cook Eating For Health
Green Issues Smart Shopping
Ready Steady Sew Design and Make (Fabric and Food)
The Geography Department will
be running a new course for the Design and Make (Fabric) REHIS
S1 group this year. Pupils will Nutrients are Nice
start with an introduction to map
work which will allow them to
gain an understanding of using an During S1, pupils will be introduced to all aspects of safety, hygiene,
atlas, longitude and latitude, and weighing, measuring and basic cookery process techniques. In all areas of
maps on a local, regional and practical cookery, pupils will be expected to follow the departmental rules,
global scale. The pupils will then which means coming prepared with container and food as required.
use this knowledge to complete a Homework will be given on a regular basis and should be completed to a
unit on Ordnance Survey map good standard. Pupils are also given an introduction to basic fabric work,
skills. machine skills and colour theory. Skills are developed through the use of
technology, enabling pupils to carry out a Design and Make problem based
After Christmas pupils will then challenge. Finally in S1 pupils are introduced to the key nutrients, sources
look at weather and climate in and functions through practical cookery to enable them to make the correct
the UK, before moving on to a choices for a healthy lifestyle.
case study of Hurricane Katrina.
At the end of S1 they will finish
their year with a look at rivers in History
Scotland and beyond which will
include an introduction to the At the start of the session the S1 classes will be studying
hydrological cycle. the Viking influence in Scotland. This topic encourages
pupils to look at evidence and draw conclusions about the
impact of Viking raids and settlement on the life and
Throughout the year pupils will culture of Scotland. Pupils will be expected to complete
have the opportunity to work regular homework exercises and carry out work at home.
alone, in pairs, and as part of a From Christmas pupils will be studying the Wars of
group. They will present work to Independence and examining how William Wallace and
their class and will also complete Robert the Bruce contributed to the development of the
an individual weather project. Scottish nation after the death of Alexander III.
French Metro 1 Metro 2
The French course at Kilwinning
Academy is a continuation of the Module 2: Module 1: Personal Description
excellent work which pupils have been Family and Pets and Hobbies (Reading and
doing in associated Primary Schools and Personal Description Writing)
during Primary Six and Primary Seven. (Listening and Reading)
The French course at the Academy Module 2: My Life and Daily
follows the same Metro course and is Routine (Speaking and
Module 3: School (Listening Listening)
divided into four elements (reading, and Writing)
listening, talking and writing) and has Module 3: Family and Friends
associated workbooks which are issued Module 4: Hobbies (Reading (Speaking and Listening)
to all pupils at the beginning of the and Speaking)
school term. There are six modules in Module 4: Food and Drink
Metro 1 and 2 with each module Module 5: House and Area (Speaking and Listening)
containing five individual units, (Reading and Speaking)
covering a wide range of topics. After Module 5: Week in Paris
the end of each topic class assessments Module 6: Holidays (Reading (Speaking and Reading)
take place. and Speaking)
Module 6: Visit to France
(Listening and Writing)
2

3. Maths
Computing The new S1 will be the first to experience the delivery of the Curriculum for
Excellence framework for Mathematics and Numeracy. The underlying
a n d principle of Curriculum for Excellence is that Mathematics equips us with
Business many of the skills required for life, learning and work. Understanding the
part that mathematics plays in almost all aspects of life is crucial. As young
Education people develop these concepts and skills in the department, there will be
The course has continual reinforcement and revisiting in order to maintain progression.
been completely
redesigned for Curriculum for Assessment in Maths will focus on students’ abilities to
Excellence. Between August and work increasingly skilfully with numbers, data and
Christmas pupils will receive an mathematical concepts and processes and use them in a
range of contexts.
introduction to networking and
school computer systems uncluding It is our aim to deliver a varied learning and teaching
safe and responsible use of environment using an ICT suite where all young people
networks. Students will use major will have the opportunity to achieve and progress in their
general purpose packages to learning.
develop skills in presentations, word
processing, databases and
spreadsheets.
Library
After Christmas students will and Resource Centre Religious
work on a project using Education
At the beginning of their first year pupils
their acquired ICT skills complete an Information and Study Skills Course in During S1,
to create a report and association with the English Department during the first p u p i l s
presentation on a term of the school year. This provides a general introduction to receive
major technical Resource Centre layout, arrangement of fiction, non-fiction and o n e
innovation. topic boxes, use of contents and index pages, a brief introduction to period a
encyclopaedias and a look at the Careers Section in the Resource Centre. week of Religious
There will also The Information and Study Skills Course is very much a hands-on, find out Education in which they
be a series of for yourself course, giving pupils a taste of what kind of information can be learn about: What is
l e s s o n s found in a Resource Centre and how they can use this information in their religion? Why believe in
c o n c e r n i n g school work across the curriculum. The aim of the course is to enable pupils to anything? Worldwide
enterprise and tackle research topics All pupils are encouraged to attend the Lunchtime religions and religious
with confidence by developing the basic steps in
information retrieval.
b u s i n e s s Homework Club in the Resource Centre, either to complete class work, to do symbols, dress, beliefs
education. research or for some quiet reading. This provides pupils with the opportunity and worship. Moreover,
to utilise their information handling skills. At all times pupils are encouraged S1 pupils will study an
After Easter the to use both books and ICT resources when doing research. The Resource introduction to
focus turns to Centre supports the ERIC reading programme as operated by the English philosophy, which deals
personal finance Department, by providing a source of varied material to promote
reading. Writing and Story Telling Workshops are arranged with with topics such as: what
organisation and
visiting authors when possible. A Careers Drop-In facility is and why, who am I? God and
planning built
operated by the School Careers Officer. All Departments creation.
around the
RBSMoneySense are aware of support available from the Resource
Centre and opportunities for use are taken up,
initiative. The year finishes as required, across the curriculum.
with an introduction to Support
animation and basic movie The Support Department is
making. an essential department in
helping pupils adjust to life at
Music Department Kilwinning Academy. The Support
Department runs many interval and
In S1 pupils receive two periods of music lunchtime clubs such as the peace room,
and all classes are given a taster course in buddying, homework club, S1 register class
recorder, keyboard, tuned percussion, drum buddy and the anti-bullying council. What is
kit and guitar. The course is divided into more, pupils attending the Support Department
different terms with different topics being will be supported by class and base tutors and
taught in each term. Furthermore, practical pupils can improve their literacy and numeracy
skills, related listening and an inventing skills with educational support packages such
project are also taught and a basic knowledge as: The NESSY Programme, NESSY Finger
Keyboard Skills, Memory Skills,
of notation is reinforced through the use of Education City and revision and
computer software. practice for class tests as well as
class work catch up.
3

4. Science
Physical Education
The importance of engaging in an active lifestyle has never been During S1 follow the
schedule as detailed below:-
of greater importance. The S1 Physical Education curriculum
includes the following activities which pupils will participate in 2 Matter
periods a week: football, hockey, basketball, badminton,
gymnastics, fitness, table tennis, athletics and summer games. Cells and Microbiology
Pupils are expected to being their own kit, otherwise kit will be
provided by P.E. staff. Kit should comprise of a plain t-shirt and Energy
either shorts or tracksuit bottoms.
Elements and Compounds
Should a pupil be unable to take part in P.E. they should still bring
their P.E. kit, accompanied by a note from home explaining their Ecology
reason for non participation in the subject. These pupils will either
be asked to assist with scoring, refereeing, timekeeping or Electricity
complete a written exercise related to the current activity. Pupils
should enjoy P.E… remembering it is like all things in life…you Homework will be set once a week. Parents
only get out what you put in! are expected to sign homework and pupils will
also have a test at the end of each Topic. In
addition to regular set homework, pupils are
The Active Schools Network is a team of Physical Educational expected to spend a significant amount of time
teachers working within the school and the wider community in studying their notes and summary sheets –
Scotland. Their goal is to offer all children and young people the particularly just prior to tests and exams.
motivation and opportunities to get active. In practice, this means
that their job is to increase the number of opportunities for all
children to get engaged in physical activity and sport. Active
Schools Co-ordinator also try to build bridges with sports clubs
and other community organisations, to give pupils a pathway to
continue their participation in sport outside of the school environment. Contacting school
Kilwinning Academy, Dalry Road,
Currently, The Active Schools Network has a number of opportunities for
children to participate in physical activity. Within Kilwinning Academy there Kilwinning KA13 7HD 01294
are a number of activities on offer to all S1 pupils ranging from: dodgeball, 551316
gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball and table-tennis. Activities are normally
held at lunchtime and afterschool and details of these activities can be found on kilwinning@ea.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
the notice boards in the P.E department. www.kilwinning-academy.co.uk
Important Dates
Technical
Craft and Design and Graphic Communication are two facets of the Technical S1 Parents’ Info Evening:
Department and are part of the Art and Design and Technical faculty within Kilwinning Tues 28 Sept, 7 - 9pm
Academy. In S1, pupils will familiarise themselves with Health and Safety procedures in
the workshop and are then introduced to basic hand tools, S1 Parents’ Evening:
machines, processes and materials which will enable students to Tues 8 March, 4.30 - 6.40pm
manufacture a number of artefacts to help solve design problems.
Pupils are also introduced to a wide variety of communication S1 Reports:
skills, Computer Aided Design (Cad), Computer Aided Graphics Interim: start of December
(Cag), and Desktop Publishing (DTP) as well as traditional drawing
board skills. Various rendering techniques are also taught to enable Main report: start of June
pupils to produce presentations and illustrated drawings. Theme Park Trip:
Friday 20 May
4

5. Fridge door Handy Reminder
Sickness absence
First day absent Contact Longer absences
Please phone the school If no word has been Please keep in touch with
office on the first day of received the Pupil school. Work can be
absence giving details of Welfare Officer will provided if necessary.
the reason for absence attempt to contact parents/
and the likely length of guardians by phone or Please contact our Pupil
absence. The school text. Please ensure that Welfare Officer, Mrs K
phone number is you keep contact details Burley.
01294 551316. up-to-date.
Planned absence
Planned absence School procedure Termtime Holidays
If it is expected that your Pupils leaving school for These are usually marked as
son/daughter is planned appointments are unauthorised absences
to be absent for an expected to collect a (truancy) in pupils’ records
expected reason (eg a permission slip from the and are not supported by
doctor’s or dentist’s Pupil Welfare Officer the school or the local
appointment) then a note (front office), to sign out authority.
in advance should be on departure, and to sign
provided. in on return.
Homework Diaries, Uniform High absences can lead to: Timekeeping:
Diaries should be brought to school • Letters sent home asking for The school day starts at
daily and uniform worn. In the event improvement. 8.50am and ends at 3.30pm.
of a problem with uniform pupils
should report to their Year head • Referral to school doctor. Lunch is at 12.45 until
before 8.50am. Pupils losing their • Referral to Children’s Panel. 1.40pm. Pupils are expected
diary should request a replacement • Referral to Attendance to arrive in good time for
from their Guidance teacher. In Committee. school and for classes.
either case a note from home helps.
• Poor job/college references.
Who to contact (issues other than routine absence)
All pupils in Kilwinning Academy are members of a named house. Register class numbers indicate
which house, eg 1A1 is part of Arran house, 1B1 Bute house, 1C1 Cumbrae, and 1D1 Davaar. If you
need to speak to a member of staff about any issues your son/daughter is experiencing, it is best to
contact his/her guidance teacher as soon as possible. If phoning please remember that all guidance staff
have teaching commitments, but messages will be passed on to them and calls returned as soon as
possible.
House: Arran Bute Cumbrae Davaar
Year head: Mr Smith Mr Smith Mrs Cruickshank Mrs Cruickshank
Guidance teacher: Mr Duncan Mr MacArthur
5 Mr McKenzie Mr Scott