Coursing & Pathways

​All coursing of pupils will be in line with assured and consistent tracking of progress throughout the BGE, as well as wider data that supports coursing decisions in ensuring all pupils have the best options to achieve their potential.

S2 into S3​

S3 marks the final year of the Broad General Education phase of Curriculum for Excellence. In the first two years at Ardrossan Academy all pupils have been following a common course. As pupils prepare to move into S3, they have the opportunity to select subjects that they wish to continue to study. This degree of personalisation and choice is structured within curricular areas to maintain the principles of the Broad General Education.
Pupils will continue with English, Maths and a Modern Foreign Language. They will choose one subject from each of four curricular areas: Expressive Arts, Science, Social Subjects and Technology. There are a further one choice to be made from all the available subjects.
All pupils will also be timetabled for “Core” subjects which include PE, RE, PSE and Personal Support Time.

S2 into S3 Course Choice Schedule 2023-24

9 October 2023                 Tracking 1
6 February 2024                Parents' Evening
14 February 2024              Tracking 2
26 February 2024              Options Assembly & Interviews
20 May 2024                     Tracking 3

S3 into S4

S4 marks the start of the Senior Phase of Curriculum for Excellence. In S3, pupils had the opportunity to select subjects that they wished to study. Young people now have a further choice where they will continue with eight of the nine subjects they have been studying onto a qualification at a variety of levels.
Pupils will continue with English and Maths and will choose any other six from their S3 subjects. All pupils will also be timetabled for ‘core’ subjects: PE, RE, PSE and Personal Support Time. 

S3 into S4 Course Choice Schedule 2023-24

9 October 2023             Tracking 1
11 December 2023        Tracking 2
13 December 2023        Parents' Evening
19 December 2023        Options Assembly
8 January 2023              Options Interviews
28 May 2024                 Tracking 3

Senior Phase

The course choice made in March is a provisional choice. However in order to make the best possible start to the courses when the new session’s timetable begins in early June, it is important that pupils consider the options carefully to make the right choice for them.
There will be a chance to finalise the course choice on returning to school in August after pupils have received the results of National Qualification assessment process.
Pupils moving into S5 have the opportunity to choose five subjects to study. In the majority of cases these will be subjects that they have studied in S4 and are taking to the next level of study.
Pupils moving into S6 will have an opportunity to choose four subjects to study. The fifth choice is left blank to allow for a Study column which includes a period of PSE to allow for preparations such as UCAS training.

Senior Phase Course Choice Schedule 2023-24

26 October 2023                 S4/5/6 Tracking 1 
7 November 2023               S4 Parents' Evening
18 December 2023              S4/5/6 Tracking 2
23 January 2024                  S5/6 Parents' Evening 
25 January 2024                  S4 Options Assembly
26 January 2024                  S5 Options Assembly
29 January 2024                  S4/5 Options Meetings 
18 March 2024                    S4/5/6 Tracking 3