Our Range of School Link Courses for 5th Years and 6th Years
Here is a selection of some of the courses on offer for pupils at some of the High Schools in Skye and Wester Ross. These will start in August. Pupils need to choose from their Timetable Option Columns as supplied by Pupil Support at the school. Courses will only run if numbers are sufficient and staffing and accommodation are available. Each course has places ranging from 8 to 16 pupils. Please check the application section of your chosen subject for accurate place numbers. Pupil Support and the College will be involved in the selection process for these limited places. The application, selection and enrolment process will take place from April to June.
ECDL - IT User I Fashion & Textiles I Digital Media I Early Education and Child Care I Maritime Skills (NEW) I Drama (NEW) I Psychology (NEW)For more information about these subjects and where they are offered, click any link above to be taken to the course descriptor.
ECDL – IT User Course (Plockton and Portree)
We are all computer users, but do you know the half of it? Going to Uni, College or into employment? This qualification is a must for any CV.
Save a lot of time and get technology to do the work for you. This course is highly practical and will teach you how to correctly use application functions and how to carry out everyday tasks properly. The European Driving License (ECDL) comprises of word processing, databases, presentations, spreadsheets, browsing, and emailing.
Qualification and Progression
This course comprises of the ECDL certificate (when you pass all 7 tests) and one mandatory SQA unit to get your fingers up to speed on the keyboard. After achieving these, you have the option to go for ECDL Advanced Word Processing. Successful completion may provide progression onto IT related courses such as full time National Certificates in Digital Media Computing and Administration and Information Technology and into employment.
Timetabling, Teaching and Study
This is a Column Choice course and six periods per school week are allocated to the ECDL – IT User course. Practical skills will be tutored during three periods and one period will be a supervised study session. Attendance is compulsory and it is vital that students make the most of the time when having access to equipment. Ongoing course work, research and revision should be completed during the two other self study periods. Study space will be available in the library and may be negotiated in the learning centre.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are 10 places available in each column. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged. You must already have basic IT skills and be using a computer on a regular basis. On application you will need to complete a short IT skills check and diagnostic test.
Fashion and Textiles (Plockton and Portree)
This is a creative and practical course suitable for anyone interested in fashion and textiles.
You will learn how to produce an item using a commercial pattern, use drawings and materials to develop fashion ideas into finished creations, and be introduced to a wide range of craft skills including felt making, beading and embroidery.
Students will also gain an understanding of the principles underlying the safe and informed use of specialist equipment such as the sewing, embellishing and knitting machine.
There are no exams on this course. Assessment is continuous and based on completion of individual projects.
Qualification and Progression
Successful completion of this course at Intermediate 1, may allow progression into further specialist crafts, fashion and textiles study or into employment within this sector. This may allow progression onto our full time NC Art and Design course.
Timetabling, Teaching and Study
This is a Column Choice course and six periods per school week are allocated to the Fashion and Textiles course. Practical skills will be tutored during three periods in a block on one day with Portree pupils up at the Art Centre on Struan Road and Plockton pupils at Rag, Tag & Textiles in Balmcara. One period will be a supervised study session. Attendance is compulsory. Ongoing course work, research and revision should be completed during the two other self study periods. Study space will be available in each school.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are only 8 places available. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged.
Digital Media Basics (Portree)
Are you a computer user and fascinated by all the creative things you can do digitally - sounds, video, photography, animation, music? Are you interested in further study or employment in these areas?
This course will introduce you to digital media technologies. You will learn how to create and share media and how digital media can be used in the work place. At the same time you will advance your IT skills and learn about presentation, planning. The digital media industry covers a range of sectors which include radio, television/DVD, digital/computer games and software, publishing and websites as well as other sectors which may increase in the light of emerging technology.
As much of the content is creative and practical, it is best suited to students who enjoy experimenting and working things out and are already able to use a computer.
Qualification and Progression
The course comprises of a minimum of three SQA units at Int 1 level covering Still Images, Audio and Video Acquisition. On successful completion you will be awarded with a National Progression Award in Digital Media Basics. This course may provide progression onto other Digital Media and IT related courses such as full time National Certificates in Digital Media Computing or Media Studies and into relevant employment.
Timetabling, Teaching and Study
This is a Column Choice cours and six periods per school week are allocated to the Introduction to Digital Media course. Practical skills will be tutored during three periods and one period will be a supervised study session. Attendance is compulsory and it is vital that students make the most of the time when having access to equipment. Ongoing course work, research and revision should be completed during the two other self study periods. Study space will be available in the library.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are only 8 places available. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged. On application you will need to complete a short IT skills check and diagnostic test.
Early Education and Childcare Int 1 (Gairloch, Plockton and Portree)
This is the column choice course for you if you are keen to learn about working with children in an early education or childcare setting. It is a fun, hands on introduction to the knowledge and skills that are needed to work with children, aged 0-12 years.
Through a range of practical workshops and tutor led sessions you will gain a basic understanding of key milestones in children’s development and learning.
The units you will study are: Play, Child Development, Working in Early Education & Childcare, and Maintenance of a Safe Environment for Children. These units will be delivered through 3 taught lessons and 3 self study periods per week. It is important that you are able to commit to the self study aspect, which usually involves reading and some investigative project work. These units will also help you to develop the skills of team-working, planning, and self evaluation. This course includes a visit to an early education and childcare setting.
Qualification and Progression
Successful completion of this course at Intermediate 1, may allow progression onto other care-related courses such as Early Education and Childcare at Intermediate 2; our full time NC Child, Health and Social Care course, or a work-based SVQ at Level 2.
Timetabling, Teaching and Study
This is a Column Choice course and six periods per school week are allocated to the Early Education and Childcare course. Practical skills will be tutored during three periods in a block and one period will be a supervised study session. Attendance is compulsory. Ongoing course work, research and revision should be completed during the two other self study periods. Study space will be available in the library.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are only 10 places available. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged.
Maritime Skills NEW (under development in Portree)
SQA are launching a new Skills For Work Maritime course in 2010. The College is currently developing a course to start in August 2010, subject to availability of tutors, which will be based on a Maritime theme, and may include one of the new Maritime units.
The course will be very practical but also cover essential theory. The current proposal is to include Day Skipper certification and Powerboat Level 2 as well as a couple of SQA units which will develop skills and attitudes for employability. An IT unit may be included to further strengthen credentials whether seeking employment or further study.
At the time of writing this, the course is very much in development phase and has still to go through the Quality Council and course approval process. Therefore all pupils considering Maritime as an option must make a second choice.
Timetabling, Teaching and Study
This is a Column Choice course and six periods per school week are allocated to the Maritime course. One period per week will be tutored throughout the school year with one supported study session. Day Skipper skills will be time tabled during the double period and may extend into period 6, but will only be run between October and February. Therefore pupils choosing this course will not have as much tutor contact time as other Column Choices and pupils should use these periods for study and catch up in other subjects. Some practical activities may have to happen out with the normal school timetable.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are only 8 places available. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged.
Drama (Gairloch)
This course is for anyone who wants to develop self confidence and performance related skills whilst exploring human psychology through drama.
Through a range of practical workshops and tutor led sessions you will gain an understanding of the various specialist roles within a theatre production team, including; lighting, sound, set, costume and makeup design, stage management, directing and acting.
The units you will study are; Drama Skills, Production Skills and Theatre Production. These units will be delivered through 6 taught lessons per week. The final exam is 50% practical and 50% theory.
The course will help you to develop the transferable skills of team work, leadership, planning, research and evaluation. We hope to include a visit to a theatre for a backstage tour and performance is included as part of this course.
Qualification and Progression
Successful completion of this course at Intermediate 2, may allow progression onto many other Drama related course such as Higher Drama, Advanced Higher Drama, HNC & HND Acting, Technical Theatre, Theatre Costume Interpretation or BA Acting, Theatre Design, Stage Management or Drama.
Timetabling, Teaching and Study
Six periods a week are allocated to the Int 2 Drama course. Due to the practical demands of the course all sessions will be tutor led. The Theatre Production unit requires students to produce a play so a 100% attendance rate is essential. Any absences would have a hugely detrimental impact on the work and final practical exam mark of the whole group. Ongoing course work, research, revision and script learning will be completed both in class and as self study at home.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are 16 places available. And a minimum of 6-8 applicants are needed for this course to run. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged. Applications forms are available from Mr Port, please apply now
Higher Psychology (Ullapool)
Psychology is best defined as ‘the scientific study of the mind and behaviour’ therefore students wishing to study this course, which is at Higher level, should have, aside from a basic interest in human behaviour, a good basic grasp of scientific principles and the ability to analyse and evaluate psychological theories and research studies.
The subject consists of several psychological topics that students should develop a familiar knowledge of during the course. Assessment will involve describing relevant knowledge and, equally importantly, analysing and evaluating this knowledge in terms of its scientific content, practical applications, ethical considerations etc. There is also a requirement to complete one piece of practical coursework, which is also beneficial to learning, as it helps to develop a knowledge and understanding of how psychology functions as a science.
Syllabus
The course consists of three units:
- Understanding the individual (two topics, early socialization and memory)
- Investigating behaviour (one topic, research methods)
- The individual in the social context (two topics, conformity and obedience and intelligence)
Assessment
There is a 2½ hour externally assessed examination, in which students must answer 5 questions each worth 20 marks. The research investigation is worth a further 25 marks (maximum total 125 marks).
There are also National Assessment Bank [NAB] tests at the end of each unit. These are internally assessed, but students must gain at least 50% of the marks for each unit in order to sit the final higher examination.
How to Apply
Entry to this course is by application only. There are 10 places available. And a minimum of 6 applicants are needed for this course to run. Acceptance will be based on your application form and if necessary an interview will be arranged. Applications forms are available from Mr Harrison, please apply now.