Staff

• Mrs K. Lawrie - Principal Teacher
• Miss P. Airlie
• Mrs L. McCarron
• Mrs C. Blackstock
• Miss J. Craig
• Mrs J. Kazeminia
• Mr B. McDermott
• Miss A. O'Neill
• Mrs G. Douglas
• Mr R. Townsley
• Mrs J. Bradshaw

Download English - Course Timeline - 2009-10

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English Language 5-14

Course Outline
The 5-14 course is undertaken by pupils in S1 classes. This course begins in Primary One and continues through Primary School into Secondary. Pupils are assessed in four main elements:

1. Reading
   Within this element are the following strands: Reading for information, Reading for enjoyment, Reading to reflect on the writer's ideas and craft, Awareness of Genre, Reading aloud, and Knowledge about language.
2. Writing
   Within this element are the following strands: Functional Writing, Personal writing, Imaginative writing, Punctuation and structure, Spelling, Handwriting and presentation, and Knowledge about language.
3. Talking
   Within this element are the following strands: Conveying information, instructions and directions, Talking in groups, Talking about experiences, feelings and opinions, Talking about texts, Audience awareness, and Knowledge about language.
4. Listening
   Within this element are the following strands: Listening for information, instructions and directions, Listening in groups, Listening in order to respond to texts, Awareness of Genre, and Knowledge about language.

In these elements, pupils are assessed on a scale of Level A - Level E. At level A, pupils will display competence in rudimentary skills in these areas whereas those achieving Level E will demonstrate the ability to use more advanced skills.

A program of National Assessments in Reading and Writing takes place in the final term of the session, where selected pupils will be tested at the level deemed appropriate by their class teacher.

English - Standard Grade

Course Outline
The work undertaken throughout S2 and S3 will be dictated by abilities and needs of pupils within each class. The teacher will tailor programmes of study to the demands of the course, focussing on the folio at certain times in the course (particularly in the weeks before the folio deadline in early March of S3), and prioritising exam practice at others. A comprehensive and definitive timescale, therefore, is difficult to outline, but pupils are likely to be involved in the following:

Class work undertaken in Reading
To prepare for the final Close Reading examination, pupils will be exposed to past question papers, learn strategies for analysing close reading passages, and study the types of question likely to appear. Pupils will also study literature in class and, with the support of their class teacher, produce Critical Evaluations or Imaginative Responses for their Standard Grade Folio.

Class work undertaken in Writing
Pupils will prepare for their Timed Writing exam by looking at previous question papers, focussing on appropriate task choice and the specific demands of different kinds of writing (e.g. personal, imaginative, etc.). They will also aim to refine their technical skills, identifying and correcting errors in their own work.. Throughout the year, pupils will also be required write in a number of different styles in order to produce pieces for the writing section of their folio.

Class work undertaken in Talk
Pupils will be asked to prepare and deliver Individual Talks, and contribute regularly and appropriately to Class and Group Discussion.

This two year course starts at the beginning of S2 and is completed by the end of S3. Pupils are assessed in 3 different skills:

• Reading
• Writing
• Talk

Each area counts for a third of the final Standard Grade achieved.
Work assessed in Standard Grade will be placed in one of three bands: Credit, General or Foundation. Within each band, work will be assigned a grade depending on its quality. Grades 1 and 2 are Credit grades and are awarded to the most accomplished pieces of work. Grades 3 and 4 are awarded to work of a more moderate quality which falls into the General category. Work of a Foundation standard will be given a grade 5 or 6. Pieces which do not meet the appropriate standard will be failed with a grade 7.

Folio
Every pupil sitting the Standard Grade course will be required to produce a folio of work. This folio is externally assessed and the grades given constitute part of the final Standard Grade awarded. Pupils who do not complete a folio cannot be awarded a Standard Grade in English. It is, therefore, a very important area of the course.

The folio is split into two sections:

Reading
There are 3 essays in the reading section of the folio. These will usually be Critical Evaluations of pieces of literature. At least two different genres (e.g. prose, drama, poetry, media) must be represented. As an alternative to one of these Critical Evaluations, an Imaginative Response to a piece of literature studied can also be submitted. The piece of literature and its context will serve as a stimulus, and the Imaginative Response will therefore be assessed as a piece of reading.

Writing
There are 2 essays in this section of the folio. One must be of an expressive nature, usually a piece of imaginative or personal writing. The other piece will be transactional, such as a discursive or informative essay.

Final Exam
At the end of S3, pupils will sit examinations in Close Reading and Writing.

Close reading exam
There are 3 Close Reading papers - Credit, General and Foundation - but an individual pupil will sit only two. Every pupil sits the General paper and then, dependent on their level of ability, will sit either the Credit or Foundation paper.

Writing
Every pupil sits the same Writing paper, where they are asked to select a task from an unseen list of around 20, and produce an appropriate piece of writing.

How each skill is assessed:

Reading
This area is assessed in two different ways. Half of the final Reading grade is derived from the Reading section of the folio, which is produced in class and then externally assessed. The S.Q.A. Close Reading exam at the end of S3 accounts for the other half of the final reading grade.

Writing
Again, this area is assessed in two different ways, both contributing equally to the final Writing grade. The Writing section of the folio, which is assessed externally, and the S.Q.A. Timed Writing exam final grade result in the Writing grade awarded.

Talk
Pupils will perform Individual and Group Discussions throughout the year. These will be graded by the class teacher. The teacher will, near the end of the course, submit the final Talk grade to the S.Q.A.

Higher Still (Intermediate 1/Intermediate 2/Higher)

Course Outline
Pupils in S4-S6 will undertake either Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 or Higher courses depending on their level of ability. The structure of these course is similar, meaning that from one year to the next, pupils can transfer skills learned in Intermediate 1 to the more difficult Intermediate 2 course, and then into the Higher course.

These courses are structured into 3 units:

• Language
• Literature
• Personal Study of Literature

Their work is assessed both internally and externally, internal assessments earning the pupils the right to sit the exam, and the externally assessed elements contributing to the final grade attained. Pupils must have passed the internal assessments at a particular level (Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 or Higher) in order to be able to sit an exam at that level.

Language
Within this unit, pupils are assessed both internally and externally.

Internal Assessments

Close Reading
Pupils must pass a Close Reading Assessment taken from the National Assessment Bank (N.A.B.).

• Higher - In a paper worth 30 marks, pupils must achieve 15 marks to pass.
• Intermediate 2 - In a paper worth 30 marks, pupils must achieve 15 marks to pass.
• Intermediate 1 - In a paper worth 30 marks, pupils must achieve 15 marks to pass.

If a pupil fails this assessment at a particular level, they will be given an opportunity to resit. Should they fail the resit, they will undertake a course at a level more suited to their abilities.

Writing
At Higher, Intermediate 2 and Intermediate 1 levels, all pupils must produce a piece of writing under controlled conditions in one of a number of different genres - a reflective essay, an imaginative piece, a persuasive/argumentative essay, or a report.
This essay will be drafted before the final assessment to ensure that sufficient skill in the 4 assessed areas (content, structure, expression and technical accuracy) is evident.

External Assessments

Close Reading
In the May S.Q.A. exam diet, pupils will sit a close reading examination. This accounts for half of the final grade attained.

• Higher - Pupils will answer questions on two passages linked by a theme. The paper is worth 50 marks.
• Intermediate 2 - Pupils will answer questions on one passage. The paper is worth 30 marks.
• Intermediate 1 - Pupils will answer questions on one passage. The paper is worth 30 marks.

Literature
Again, this is assessed both internally and externally.

Internal Assessment

Textual Analysis
Pupils must pass a Textual Analysis assessment from the National Assessment Bank (N.A.B.)

• Higher - In a paper worth 30 marks, pupils must achieve 15 marks to pass.
• Intermediate 2 - In a paper worth 30 marks, pupils must achieve 15 marks to pass.
• Intermediate 1 - In a paper worth 30 marks, pupils must achieve 15 marks to pass.

If a pupil fail this assessment at a particular level, they will be given an opportunity to resit. Should they fail the resit, they will undertake a course at a level more suited to their abilities.

External Assessment
In the May S.Q.A. exam diet, pupils will sit a Critical essay Examination. The marks gained will constitute 50% of the final grade attained.

• Higher - Pupils will write 2 critical essays. Both will be marked out of 25.
• Intermediate 2 - Pupils will write 2 critical essays. Both will be marked out of 25
• Intermediate 1 - Pupils will write 1 critical essay. It will be marked out of 25.

Personal Study of Literature
This will be assessed internally. Pupils will select a text and focus on an area of study within that text. They will produce a written response under controlled conditions, but are allowed to use notes they have compiled (a maximum of two sides of A4 paper).

Higher Still Assessment Times

• Textual Analysis
  this internal assessment in the literature unit will take place in October.
• Close Reading
  part of the language unit, this internal assessment will be undertaken in December.
• Writing
  this will be ongoing, but pupils will sit their final assessment in January. Personal Study of Literature: again, this will be ongoing throughout the year, but final assessment will have taken place by mid-March.