Course Choices SQA

Upper 1 and Upper 2

In Upper 1 we introduce your child to a broad range of subjects which they will study for their first two years of Upper School. Their timetable will include:

Art & Design / Biology / Chemistry / Classics / English / Geography / History /  two Foreign Languages* / Mathematics / Modern Studies / Music / Personal &  Social Education / Physical Education & Games / Physics / Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies / Computing, Design & Technology / Drama **.

 *After an introduction to all four languages, pupils will opt to study two from French, German, Spanish and Mandarin.

**Computing, Design and Technology and Drama rotate in blocks so that a pupil studies only one of these subjects at a time for approximately 12 weeks.

Upper 3 and Upper 4

Following their first two years of studying a multitude of subjects, your child will get the opportunity to select eight National 5 or GCSE subjects. Their timetable will consist of the following:

• English and Mathematics
• At least one science
•  At least one language
• We advise at least one social subject

Plus three other subjects from the lists below.

Pupils will also have periods of Personal and Social Education, RMPS, Study/Skills and PE/Games in addition to the above choices.

Upper 5

All Upper 5 pupils must choose five subjects to study at Higher Level or at A Level. At this point our pupils will be thinking about university applications and should choose subjects appropriate to what courses they would like to apply for.

All the subjects listed above and others are listed in subject booklets produced annually. It is also possible to sit National 5 in Maths or English as part of these five subjects if these qualifications were not achieved in Upper 4. In addition to these subjects, pupils will be obliged to take part in PE and Games and Personal and Social Education.

Upper 6

Pupils take a minimum of three subjects in Upper 6. This can be a mixture of Advanced Highers, A Levels, Highers and AS Levels.

Upper 6 pupils are also obliged to follow a programme of Games and Civics – a course combining elements of Careers Education, PSE and RMPS.

In U6 the balance shifts from teacher-led classwork to more independent study. U6 pupils will work on projects and dissertations over the year. For those not familiar with the Scottish system, Advanced Highers are as challenging as A Levels.

Beyond the formal teaching of the Albyn Curriculum pupils are expected, as a rule of thumb, to involve themselves in two lunchtime co-curricular activities each week. The majority of pupils participate in music, sport and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, for which we are a registered centre in the UK.