1. Kilwinning Academy S2 News
August 2010
Welcome to our first S2 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 S2 as they start to prepare for their S3 option choices.
Each pupil also has a
Maths notes jotter. The
Our exams last May delivered a introduction of each
good set of results for many of our Each pupil has a Homework Booklet topic includes a
Standard Grade students. 90% containing Homework Exercises for written note of
achieved 5 Standard Grade passes each topic/chapter covered. These explanation and
or more. It is our constant desire exercises should be completed in worked examples
to drive up the level of results and pupils’ homework jotters and are the which each pupil
our Headteacher, Mr Armstrong, minimum homework requirement. should have copied
has met with all Principal Teachers into his or her jotter.
to discuss ways of achieving this.
We have used CATs (Cognitive
Abilities Test) in S1 and S2 to
indicate how we should expect
candidates to perform in their
exams in S4 and experience has
shown that these have proved
quite reliable. We now intend to
set more accurate targets, using
CAT results, to help motivate
pupils. Targets will be discussed
with pupils and shared with
parents. We will also be
continuing to track pupils’
performance against
expectations. Pupils will be
helped to close any gaps through
comments and advice. Clearly, it
is important for pupils to accept
some responsibility for their own
learning and improvement by
acting on their teachers’ advice.
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2. Using a homework diary regularly helps with study planning and can be useful to keep a record of achievements!
Accounting & Finance
English Art & Design and Administration
Pupils who The next two months The class is currently working hard
will be sitting will see our students to complete the theoretical aspects of
the Standard at all levels the course so that the prelim exam
Grade exam in continuing to work that they sit in November/December
2009 are on their expressive will be complete and not have
working on a folio of Writing and units in class and sections omitted. In order to prepare
Reading answers at present. Five preparing for their 5 fully for the prelim examination
pieces of their best work will be sent hour, Expressive homework, based on past papers, is
for external marking in the New Practical Prelim. being issued regularly and pupils
Year. Pupils will have the should find that this, if completed
opportunity to redraft and improve The deadline for completion of their well, prepares
existing work. expressive unit is the Christmas them for any
Holidays, and students should be questions that
Pupils who have already completed nearing completion of their work for they will face in
the Standard Grade course will be the research and investigation stage the prelim or the
working on the component units of of this unit. Development studies are real exam in
the Intermediate level course this also underway, with students trying M a y. The
session. Where appropriate they may out different compositional ideas and p r a c t i c a l
also be working at Higher level. experimenting with a range of media. element of the
They may be asked to complete assessment will
some of this work at home. be done after
Christmas.
S4 Art and Design students will also
French sit a Design Critical prelim which Home Economics
they are currently preparing for in Home Economics (F/G/C):
Standard Grade: class. They will be expected to Preparation for prelim examinations
• Finishing Shopping Topic discuss the work of 2 designers in (written and practical) is well
• Starting Restaurant Topic this exam. underway. Pupils have study notes
in their class folders and jotters,
Evidence required for the completion which will help them prepare for
of these topics: Oral exam and written examinations. Practical
written folio piece. Computing Studies prelim examinations will be
Classes are published 2 weeks prior to the
Both these tests are now well examination. Pupils should be
internal assessments through the encouraged to practice skills and
set by SQA and course and are timing at home. All pupils have been
count towards the overall Grade currently given the opportunity to purchase
therefore it is crucial that pupils working on two text books for their own use. Class
work to their maximum potential. main areas: text books are available for reference
knowledge and in school only.
Pupils also have homework booklets understanding of the use of
on each topic, the deadlines for computers in industrial and
completion being set by their class Hospitality (Intermediate 1): All
commercial activities and the pupils are in the process of
teacher, according to pace. completion of their practical abilities completing the final unit of work:
folders. ‘Organisation of
Intermediate 2:
• NAB exams in Listening and Practical Skills’.
Assessment of the knowledge and Assessment for this
Reading to be completed. These are understanding aspect is covered by
crucial, as pupils cannot be entered will take place
two multiple choice tests; one prior before the
for the exam in May until they have to the October break and one after.
achieved passes in these Units. Christmas Break.
The Computing department will
• The Personal Communication issue interim reports giving the
NAB will also be done by Christmas. Practical prelim
results of these tests prior to prelim examinations will
Again, this is a crucial element to the exemption. The current practical
exam and must be passed before take place in November/December.
work should be complete prior to the Pupils will require to prepare a 2
entry to the exam in May. Christmas break and will be the final
• Redrafts of the written element of course meal within 1.5 hours. This
element of each pupil’s practical will be published 2 weeks prior to
the exam will be completed and this folio. This means that the practical
can be learned off by heart for the the examination. Pupils should be
ability grade (PA) in the prelim encouraged to practice at home to
exam. Don’t waste this report will be an accurate measure of
opportunity! improve their practical skills.
the grade passed onto the exam
board. In the build up to the prelims,
classes will have weekly homework
based on past papers.
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3. Keep track of important assessment dates with a calendar - check exam dates at www.sqa.org.uk
Religious Studies Intermediate 1 Biology pupils are number of websites are available for
The next few weeks will see us working on their final unit, Chemistry revision. Among the best
getting Investigation drafts Biotechnology. Homework is set are BBC Bitesize Revision at
completed. about fortnightly in the form of write www.bbc.co.uk/education/bitesize
on sheets. and Evans2chemweb at
This involves ongoing research into www.evans2chemweb.co.uk
personally selected topic. It is worth All pupils should be spending time
33% of the total grade. First draft on general revision of notes etc. for
due November 20th, final report due forthcoming prelims. Useful Physics
January 29th. All pupils following S revision techniques include mind
Grade RS have folders and mapping, making their own flash The Transport
instructions. Materials are available cards, constructing and labelling topic is
for borrowing as diagrams, working on examples from a l m o s t
required. A letter past papers or revision books or even complete and
will be sent home discussing Biology terms with pupils are due
explaining this in friends and family. Just reading or another end of
detail. Please sign copying from notes is rarely topic test as
and return the tear effective. The BBC Bitesize well as
off slip. Revision materials available on the preparing for
internet (http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/ prelims.
bitesize/) are an excellent aid to Other topics
In Issues of Morality the nature of include studies in Energy and
morality is explored, considering revision for Standard Grade pupils.
what makes an action right or wrong Electronics as well as a look at Space
Pupils will be working on techniques Physics. Pupils will also soon have
and whether morality depends on started a complete course revision
religious authority, tradition, custom, and investigations which are
compulsory if they are to achieve an programme (extra homework!)
self-interest, or its impact on others.
We will look at general principles award in their final exam. Good
Technical
and values from Christianity and attendance is particularly important
Islam. There will also be a closer at this time to avoid missing any of
examination of specific moral issues these practical assessments.
and religious responses arising from: Craft and
• sexual morality: Design: Pupils
freedom and responsibility in should have
relationships between sexes, Chemistry completed their
Design folios by
• the taking of life: Standard Grade
• war, Chemistry pupils the October
• abortion, are currently Holidays. They
• euthanasia. working towards have now begun
completing topic 10 (Making working on Final Projects . They
Electricity) and 11 (Metals) in time will also be studying for the
All pupils will develop evaluation knowledge and understanding exam.
skills thinking through different for the Prelim examination. Each
pupil has been issued with a cd rom Some work for this will be given as
opinions on moral issues, weighing homework.
up the evidence and drawing containing a full set of revision
conclusions. Please see the revision materials and homework exercises
advice on page 4! for the complete Standard Grade Graphic Communication: Pupils
course. These materials can also be should be working on units 4 - 8.
accessed through the school website. this term folio work will be mostly
computer based using D.T.P., C.A.D.
Intermediate 1 Chemistry pupils are and C.A.G. Pupils will also be
currently working on the final two studying for their knowledge and
Biology sections of Unit 2, Fuels and Plastics. interpretation exam in class and
Standard Grade some of this work will be backed up
Biology pupils Each pupil has a set of revision notes
in their class jotter and they are with homework assignments.
are working on
the fourth topic encouraged to take these home for
revision. Homework exercises are Leckie and Leckie have published
of their course, course notes for both Craft and
The Biosphere. set in the form of write on sheets.
Design and Graphic Communication.
Each pupil has a These provide excellent support and
yellow homework Study Guide, With the Prelims fast approaching,
pupils should be spending time give pupils the opportunity to
containing the homework exercises revising past topics. They have been practice skills and work on
for the Topic. These are set at knowledge at home. They are
roughly fortnightly intervals. Pupils shown many revision techniques and
should be using a variety of available in most good bookshops
have notes, summary booklets and and online.
summary pages of the study guide to strategies to aid their revision. Past
help with completion. papers are a good source of questions
to improve exam technique and a
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4. Teachers are always happy to help students who have been absent to catch up with missed work
Geography The next block moves indoors with covered in the course. Where home
Mr Adam’s boys on Basketball, Mrs practice facilities are not available
Over the last few weeks we have Lamont’s girls on Badminton and the music department is at students’
been completing the Settlement unit Miss Lyall’s boys on Fitness. disposal at interval, lunchtime and
and assessment. After the after school.
assessment was completed and The 4th year SGPE pupils now have
returned the pupils undertook a target two practical classes a week and one
setting exercise with their teacher. theory classroom lesson with serious
They all now have two targets agreed preparation beginning for the PE Revision
with their teacher to work on prelim in November. Intensive
between now and the prelims in preparation for
November. A review of these targets prelims should
will take place after that time. now be started.
Using all
All classes are now working on the personally
Natural Regions part of the course produced notes
which includes looking at 4 different and/ or those
regions in the world and produced by
environmental the staff, pupils
issues in these must spend
areas. All classes time committing all topics covered to
will be given memory. The time this takes varies
r e g u l a r
homework to be Music for each pupil - this will be in
addition to normal homework!
completed in Examples of how to streamline
their homework Standard Grade: • All pupils study
2 instruments (Solo 1 – performed to information into manageable
jotter on this personal notes for study have been
topic. an external examiner in early March
2009. • Solo 2 – recorded in class issued by many departments. Pupils
and internally assessed). • All pupils are expected to spend time each
History to complete their own composition. week working through all handouts
Preparations for the prelim exam • All pupils to undertake a listening supplied by departments to produce
have begun. The first 3 topics of paper during SQA exam diet. their own. Parents can check this by
Unit 1c, Changing Life in Scotland asking to see these for each topic.
and Britain, must be covered in class Targets to be achieved before Some parents find it helpful to keep a
prior to the exam: Population, Health Christmas: record of revision progress. Pupils
and Housing. • Pupils should record their Solo should be memorising their notes for
Staff will be instrument ‘bite-size’ tests on mental revision
emphasising to • Completion of and exam answers set by class
pupils that i n d i v i d u a l teachers. Parents can test this by
revision should compositions asking for an explanation of these
be well notes from memory - tick each point
underway. The they mention. Further revision of
first two units of missed items will improve success.
Intermediate 2: As Supported study sessions have now
study: Unit 2b – above except that
Britain at War begun - pupils can benefit from
both instruments are performed to additional study hints and advice
and Unit 3d – the external examiner in early March
Nazi Germany after school. There are still a few
2009 and content and format of places available in most subjects -
should also be listening paper is different.
revised by pupils. The department sign-up forms available from Mrs
would encourage pupils to attend the Cruickshank.
Targets to be achieved before
inquisitor club which provides Christmas:
History quizzes related to factual • Completion of individual Important Dates
revision. For more information see compositions • Prelims begin November
Ms McLean room A1. • Instrumental programmes chosen, • S4 Parents Evening January
approved and at an appropriate stage • SQA Exams begin April
of performance.
PE STUDIES Although the priority is on the above Contacting school
Standard Grade PE pupils have been targets, the Listening and Solo 1
making the best of our wonderful element will still be ongoing in class. Kilwinning Academy, Dalry Road,
end of summer weather and have just It is still expected that pupils Kilwinning KA13 7HD 01294 551316
finished their outdoor block continue revising the Listening
comprising of football and hockey. concepts at home. A very useful contactus@kilwinning.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
They covered tactics and strategies website is www.ltscotland.org.uk.
within a game context. This site provides excellent material www.kilwinning-academy.co.uk
supporting all the Listening concepts
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