Social Studies & RME

Welcome to the faculty of Social Studies and RME. Here you will find information about the staff in this department and the different courses on offer to our young people - our 'Social Butterflies'. Links will take you to information on specific subjects, or feel free to scroll down the page and see the information relating to the department as a whole. 

Social Studies and RME Staff 

Mrs Cadwell - Faculty Head and PT Learning and Teaching (History, Modern Studies and Criminology)

Miss Muir (Geography, Sociology and Criminology)

Mr Campbell (Geography, Modern Studies and Criminology)

Mr Elliot (Administration & IT and Business Management)

Mrs Dorrian - PT DWY (Geography, Barista, Travel & Tourism, Hair & Beauty)

Miss Merrilees (Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies and History)

Mr Weir (Administration & IT and Business Management)

Mr Hay (History)

S1-3 courses fall under the Broad General Education phase of learning and are designed to offer a wide experience of learning to our young people, which they can then continue into S4-6, their Senior Phase. In S1, pupils have a single teacher for the academic year who delivers subject material for Business, Geography, History and Modern Studies. In S2, pupils will rotate within the department and normally have 2 teachers for the academic year, which allows slightly more subject specialist input before selecting their chosen areas for study in S3 as part of the options process.

N3/N4/N5/Higher Administration and IT

 National qualifications in admin focus on three units of study:

Unit 1

Admin practices covers administrative theory such as the role of an admin assistant within an organisation, health and safety legislation and security of people, property and information.

Unit 2

Communication in administration focuses on communication within organisations and how to search for, and present information. In this unit students will develop skills on email, Electronic diary, and PowerPoint.

Unit 3

IT Solutions focuses on skills within Word Processing, Databases and Spreadsheets.  Students learn how to operate features of each programme to carry out admin tasks.

As pupil’s progress throughout N3-Higher, depth of knowledge and complexity of skills increases.

Business Management

S3 Business Management

Pupils focus on two key units - Business in Action where they examine sectors of business and types of companies within. They also look at Influences on Business, both internal and external, as well as how stakeholders can impact the organisation.

Evidence is gathered through classwork and various assessment throughout the year to help guide progression towards National Qualifications.

N3/4 Business

Pupils focus on two key units - Business in Action where they examine sectors of business and types of companies within. They also look at Influences on Business, both internal and external, as well as how stakeholders can impact the organisation.

Pupils will also complete an Added Value Unit where they get to investigate a company of their choice and apply their business knowledge to the project. This is internally assessed.

N5/Higher Business Management

Pupils will focus on 3 key units in National 5 and Higher Business management which are split and taught as 5 units:

Unit 1: Understanding Business

Understanding Business is an introduction into the business world, showing types of companies and how they operate.

Unit 2: Management of Marketing

Management of Marketing looks at how companies raise awareness of their products and entice customers to buy from them with a focus on the different elements of the marketing mix.

Unit 3: Management of Operations

Management of Operations examines the production methods used by the company and looks at how to control stock within the company, as well as how an organisation can ensure quality of what they produce.

Unit 4: Management of People

Management of People focuses on the HR department of an organisation and how they control the people element of a company, looking at different elements of legislation, recruitment and selection.

Unit 5: Management of Finance

Management of finance examines sources of finance available and how a business records and controls money within their firm.

Pupils will complete an assessment at the end of each unit as well as the final exam. Pupils will also have to complete an investigative assignment task on a company of their choice. This assignment is worth 30 marks overall and is externally assessed by SQA.

NPA Business With IT - Level 5/Level 6

This course is currently offered to S5/6 students (or students in S4 studying N5 Business Management and Admin and IT) and combines elements of both the Business Management course, and Admin and IT curriculum. Students enhance their understanding of the business world looking at reasons for businesses to exist and structure themselves, as well as the role of Marketing and Operations departments. In addition, they develop their practical ICT skills by completing elements of the Admin and IT course, including Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, Presentation Software and also electronic communication. 

This course is internally assessed to meet SQA standards, and does not require an external examination.

Pupils will also complete a historical research task into a period of History they have an interest in. They will be required to use a range of Primary and Secondary sources to investigate their chosen topic.  

National 3/4/5 History 

History students in S4 sitting N3/4/5 qualifications will study three different sections. They will study:

• Free At Last: Civil Rights in the USA,

• The Scottish Wars of Independence

• The Making of Modern Britain.

If pupils opt to study History in S5/6, they will study slightly different topics as the N5 course is run in conjunction with Higher History. Pupils will study Migration and Empire, The Making of Modern Britain and Hitler and Nazi Germany.

As part of the N5 course, all pupils will complete an assignment task which contributes to their final grade along with the final exam.

Higher History 

Higher History pupils will study three topics:

• Britain 1851-1951,

• Germany 1815-1939

• Migration and Empire

Pupils will complete two question papers in the final exam. Paper one will require pupils to write two essays in the final exam, one on the British topic and one on the World and European topic. Pupils will then complete a second question paper focusing on Historical interpretation of sources, based on the Migration and Empire topic. Higher History pupils will also be required to complete an assignment task that will be completed in school under exam conditions and sent to SQA for external marking.