Class Organisation
We presently offer the following courses:
Credit/General, General/Foundation and Foundation Level .
We have 6 sections in both S3 and S4.
| S3 | Level | S4 | Level |
| Section 31 | Credit/General | Section 41 | Credit/General |
| Section 32 | Credit/General | Section 42 | Credit/General |
| Section 33 | *Credit/General | Section 43 | General/Found |
| Section 34 | General/Found | Section 44 | General/Found |
| Section 35 | General/Found | Section 45 | General/Found |
| Section 36 | Foundation | Section 46 | Foundation |
*Note that most pupils in S3 have actually started their standard grade course at the start of S2 – the exception being the lower ability classes, they start in S3. It is our intention to give as many pupils as (realistically) possible the chance to achieve at Credit level. Furthermore, classes would be expected to complete Unit 1 of either Higher/Int2/Int1 by the end of S4.
Prior Learning
Pupils in S3 and S4 are set in broad band groups in maths according to their ability.
Information from National Test results and continuous class assessment results in S2 are used to allocate pupils to appropriate sections in S3. The Principal Teacher and class teachers monitor the progress of each pupil. If a pupil is deemed to be following a course not appropriate to their needs then the pupil would move section.
Delivering the Curriculum
Our courses follow Standard Grade Guidelines. Our main resources are:
· Maths In Action Books 33 and 43 for Credit/General level.
· Maths In Action Books 32 and 42 for General/Foundation level.
· Maths In Action Plus Books 3 and 4 for Foundation level.
· We have recently introduced the TeeJay Book 3G and 4G resource to target our Lower General/Upper Foundation level pupils to help them to achieve a Grade 4 as Standard Grade.
Staff use appropriate time plans to monitor the pace of each course. Ink exercises are issued to students at regular intervals (usually after 2 chapters of work). The ink exercises for the Standard Grade courses are designed to test both calculator and non-calculator skills and recall knowledge/skills from earlier work covered.
Assessment
Formal assessment takes place at agreed dates (see below). Pupils are continually assessed through ink exercises and class tests. All results are recorded in our S3 and S4 Yearbooks. All assessments have standardised marking schemes to help ensure consistency across the department. The department usually offers Supported Study prior to an assessment period. Pupils are informally assessed on a daily basis by their class teacher’s observations.
| Type of assessment | When/How often? | S3 | S4 |
| Listening to pupils' responses | Day to day | * | * |
| Checking pupils' jotters | Day to day | * | * |
| Ink Exercises | After a chapter of work | * | * |
| S3 Exam | January | * | |
| S3 Exam | May | * | |
| S4 Exam | October | * | |
| Prelim Exam | December | * |
Homework
Often homework is an extension of class work. Furthermore pupils are given an Ink Exercise to complete after each chapter of work.
Pupils in Credit/General classes are expected to spend roughly 30 mins each night on homework.
Pupils in General/Foundation classes are expected to spend roughly 20 mins each night on homework.
Pupils in Foundation classes are expected to spend roughly 15 mins each night on homework.
Recording
Class teachers record results and a copy of these results are entered into our S3 and S4 Yearbooks (our central marks store).
Reporting
Our S3/S4 reports are consistent with the whole school reporting format. Date for reports are as follows:
S3 Review - Late November
S4 Reports - Mid January
S3 Reports - Mid/Late May
Technology
At present our Credit sections in S3 and S4 have the opportunity to use the Texas TI-83 calculator for the duration of the course. There is a further set of Texas TI-83 calculators available for use for other classes. Pupils are issued with consent letters for their parents outlining agreement for usage of the calculators including using a post –dated cheque as a guarantee for the safe return of the equipment.
The department has two TI-83 Teacher’s Versions, two viewsceens and two O.H.P.s with which to use class presentations. In addition, we also have a copy of teacher’s notes for use for such lessons.
Partnership with Parents
Contact with the parents of our S3/S4 pupils usually takes place in any of the following forms:
| Contact with parents of S3/S4 | Date |
| Calculator letter (Credit 1 only) | Late Aug |
| S3 Parent's Evening | Early June |
| S4 Parent's Evening | Early November |
| Section change letter | Usually after an assessment |
| Homework letters | When a pupil continually fails to return homework |
| Telephone conversations | Whenever appropriate |
| Parental interview | Whenever appropriate |
| Comments in pupils' jotters | At any time |
Monitoring and Evaluation
The department uses a variety of techniques and procedures to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our S3/S4 courses.
1. Our S3 and S4 Yearbooks give an overview of pupils’ performance.
2. Departmental discussion and sharing of good practice.
3. Use of time plans to monitor pace of courses.
4. Class visits by Principal Teacher.
5. Analysis of SQA exam results.
6. Use of SQA predictions and G.P.A. to motivate pupils and advise pupils.
7. On going review of courses.
8. Reviews.
9. S3/4 Focus period on learning and teaching.
10. Self evaluation using “How good is our Department?”
11. Use of regular assessment to monitor pupils’ progress.
12. Use of prior knowledge to help determine pupils appropriate course.