S2 into S3 Course Choice 2025-26

In S1 pupils experienced the opportunity to personalise their curriculum through our S2 elective programme.

In December we prepare for a big event in February, when pupils in S2 will make choices about the subjects they will study in S3 and S4 and the qualifications these will bring. 

Qualifications are a bit like master keys.  They can open doors in our future life, unlocking future career pathways.  It's important therefore to go into life with the most appropriate keys (qualifications) for the range of things we might consider now and in the future.

This can be a daunting time as pupils may still be unclear about what they might like to do after school, and what qualifications they might need.  We hope that their experiences of the pathways focused electives will have helped them gain a deeper understanding about the future career pathways they could pursue, as well as ones they are comfortable ruling out!

More information on potential career pathways can be found here

To help inform decisions, it is important for pupils, with the support of their parents/carers, to explore information about what options they could choose

While the ultimate decision as to what subjects a pupil takes should be for that pupil, it is vital that pupils work in partnership with their Teachers and their Principal Teacher of Guidance, but especially in partnership with their Parents/Carers.

Key Resources

There are a wide variety of information sources we would encourage you to explore with your child.  These include:

SDS: Skills Development Scotland have a range of excellent resources to help young people explore their potential future pathways.  A link to this can be found here. 

SDS also have a section specifically for parents and carers that can be found here.  

NPFS: National Parents Forum for Scotland produce a range of guides for parents which aim to demystify the Scottish Educational System.  These individual guides are collectively referred to as their “Nutshell Series”.  The NPFS website can be found here

SCQF Framework: Understanding how one level of study relates to another, and how the current qualifications compare to previous ones (that some parents may have sat) can be tricky.  The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework provides an interactive guide to assist with this which can be found here.  Some qualifications are National qualifications, like National 4 or National 5, others are Level 4 or Level 5 qualifications.  The number always refers to the SQCF level.   Higher Qualifications are Level 6, and Advanced Highers are Level 7.

The Pupil Portal

Family learning is often defined as parents and children learning together’.  We have taken the conscious decision to share pupil specific information you will want to know, and that our young people need to know about the subject choice process within a ‘portal’.  Pupils access this via Glow (the Scottish Schools Digital Intranet).  The current portal is designed to be viewed on a mobile phone, but can also be viewed on a laptop, Chromebook, desktop computer or tablet.  We hope that by working through the portal together young people and their parents can both deepen their understanding about this important stage as well as providing the school with well-considered and wise information around choices and aspirations for the future.

Virtual Options Booklet

The most up-to-date (real time information) about the courses we offer can be found within the portal, however, if parents want to take a look without the assistance of their young person, it is possible to see a snapshot of the information using the link in the website menu or by clicking here 

S3 Virtual Options Booklet

Mock Choice Process

Although pupils will make final choices in February, the first information we need from pupils is linked to the mock choice process in December.

Click here to find out about the mock choice process

Parents/Carers working through this information and the personalised information within the portal if an important investment in your child's future.  Exploring possible pathways, and ultimately submitting their subject choices with the support and blessing of their parents and carers is invaluable in helping young people set their future pathways.

At any stage of the process should your child have any questions they should speak to their PTG (Principal Teacher of Guidance).

At any stage, parents or carers who have questions should contact the school office and the most appropriate person to respond will be in touch as soon as we are able.

Key Dates

Monday 27 October 2025 – Inverurie Careers Event

The Inverurie Campus Careers event will see over 50 ‘stalls’ representing employers, industries, education providers and pathways that are available to our pupils. It is highly recommended that pupils considering their future pathways take advantage and attend this event.  We would encourage parents and their young people to attend as this is an excellent opportunity for family learning (learning together).

Monday 15 December 2025 – Mock Choice process begins (Pupil Assembly)

By looking at what pupils might like to study if there were no constraints, we can design a column structure which will be tailored to the particular wishes of our pupils.  While we understand that there may be differences between this initial information and the final choices pupils make, by including this stage it permits us to design the column structure around the hopes and aspirations of our pupils.  It is therefore important that your child engages with this early on.  Pupils will be supported with this in PSE classes where they will make their mock choices, but should come to class with an idea of the subjects they would like to choose and the order of preference for these.  Any pupil who misses the opportunity to provide mock choices in class will have to complete this at home using the pupil portal before the end of term.

Monday 19 January 2026 – S2 Information Evening 5-6pm (Optional Questions till 7pm)

This information evening is for parents and S2 pupils and will explain the options process, and some of the bigger issues pupils should consider when making choices.  We will share the optimised column structure derived from the mock choice data.  It will include input from Skills Development Scotland and Senior Pupils with opportunities to ask both general questions as well as speaking to your child’s PTG individually. Advance and early booking is essential for this event.

Wednesday 4 February 2026 – S2 Parents Evening

The S2 Parents Evening (in person) is an opportunity to get an update on progress in different curricular areas and explore with teachers their recommendations for progression pathways and, therefore, for subject choice.

Thursday 5 February 2026 – S2 Options Choice opens

After the parents evening we will open the option within the pupil portal for pupils to make their choices.

Friday 20 February 2026 – S2 Options Choice closes

All pupils who provide their options before this date will be treated equally in terms of subject allocation.  Pupils who submit after this date, may be disadvantaged if seeking places in classes which are oversubscribed. 

Thursday 26 February 2026 – Principal teacher of Guidance sign off.

Pupils choices will be subject to a 'sense check' by their PTG.  This is to ensure pupils have chosen wisely given their curricular strengths and weaknesses, and future aspirations.  If concerns are identified with a pupils final options, your child's PTG would be in contact with you as well as your child.

For pupils who for a variety of reasons do not currently attend ‘in person leaning’ on campus, we would still welcome these pupils engaging with the options process.  However, note that later in the process when pupils are allocated to their classes, in the event of a class being oversubscribed places are not reserved for pupils who do not attend.  This does not however apply to pupils who are on adapted timetables.