Modern Studies is the study of the world around us politically, socially and economically. We look at current issues and use them to understand the world around us.  Modern Studies has a strong Literacy focus, includes outcomes in Health and Well Being, Citizenship, Numeracy and Employability. Embedded in the course is the development of skills such as communication, teamworking, research and analysis, decision making and reaching conclusions. Pupils do not sit a formal exam in S1-3 but develop the skills needed to confidently sit the SQA exams at S4-6. S1-6 features continual assessment in jotter work and individual and group projects to meet the outcomes of CFE.
S1 - BGE Social Subjects
As part of the Social Subjects course in S1 we study two Modern Studies Units:

• The first is an Introduction to the Media in which we look at the Power and Influence of Newspapers and Advertising and course work includes creating our own Newspaper and Advertising Campaign.
• The second unit is called Our Democracy and is an introduction to what it means to live in a democracy, including human rights, representatives, participation, pressure groups and course work includes creating our own Declaration of Human Rights Poster and completing a research project on a democracy topic of our choice.

S2 - BGE Social Subjects
As part of the Social Subjects course in S2 we study two Modern Studies Units:

• The first is Global Terrorism in which we look at the causes of terrorism and examples of global terrorism and course work builds on the research skills developed in S1 as we create a Newspaper article on a terrorism act and on the media skills developed in S1 as we research, write and film our own News Report. The course includes a visit to Glasgow Airport.
• The second unit is the Developing World and is a comparison study between the UK and several African countries. Coursework includes a study of UN Agency UNICEF and the creation of a flyer and the Developing World Report where pupils build again on their research skills and choose a topic for research.

S3 - BGE Modern Studies
In S3 pupils have chosen Modern Studies as one of their option choices and we study 3 units:

• The first is a World Power Comparison study between the UK and China looking at government, environment and human rights. Course work includes a Human Rights Poster and research project on China.
• The second unit is Democracy in the UK. Pupils look in depth at the structure of Government, work of an MP and Influence of Pressure Groups. The course includes visits from an MP and Councillor and a visit to the UK Houses of Parliament in London. The coursework includes developing pupil opinion in our Participation video project, interview skills with our visitors and a Pressure Groups Study.
• The third unit is Introduction to Crime and Law. Pupils study what we mean by crime, the extent of crime in Scotland and crime prevention campaigns. Coursework includes a survey on Crime in their area and the creation of a Crime Prevention Advert. 

​S4 - National 4/5 Modern Studies
In S4 pupils study three SQA units for their qualification and course work meets the CFE Outcomes for National 4/5 and includes an Added Value Assessment for National 4:

• The first is UK Political Issues: Democracy in Scotland, in which we build on our knowledge of the UK political system and study devolution, local government and influence of Scottish Pressure Groups on decision making. We develop at the skill of identifying selectivity in sources and visit the Scottish Parliament.
• The second unit is Social Issues: Crime and Law, in which we look at reasons for crime, the role of the police and ways to tackle crime, drug and alcohol law and the Criminal Justice System in Scotland. We develop at the skill of decision making and have visits from Police Scotland and HMP Barlinnie and a visit to the Sheriff Court in Paisley.
• The third unit is the International Issues: World Power Study - USA and we look at the political system, social and economic inequalities, immigration in the USA and influence of the USA. We develop the skill of making conclusions.

The National 5 Exam Paper 1 features 9 Knowledge and Understanding questions, 3 Enquiry Skills questions and Paper 2 is an Assignment in the form of pupil led research projects. National 4 has not formal exam. The Assignment at National 4/5 involves the pupil choosing a topic for study and researching the topic using 2 sources and then coming to conclusions about their topic and analysing the sources they used. At national 5 it is worth 20% of the overall mark.
S5/6 Higher Modern Studies

• In S5/6 pupils study three SQA units for their qualification and course work meets the CFE Outcomes for National 6. If studying National 4 or 5 in S5/6 then pupil will study the same course content:
• The first unit is UK Politics: Decision Making in a Devolved Scotland, including devolution, the Additional Members System, power of MSPs, conflict between Holyrood and Westminster and Local Government.
• The second unit is Social Issues: Health and Wealth Inequalities in the UK, including poverty and inequality in wealth and health, inequalities in gender and race and the government policies introduced to reduce these inequalities.
• The third unit is International Issues: China, including the political system, social and economic change and inequalities, human rights and the influence China has on the rest of the world.

The Higher Exam Paper 1 features 3 x Knowledge and Understanding questions (1 x 20 marks essay and 2 x 12 mark essays) and 2 x 8 marks Enquiry Skills questions, which require an extended response and Paper 2 is a research assignment based on a topic chosen by the pupil. The National 6 Assignment involves analysis of a Social Issue using at least 5 sources, the suggestion of 3 options to help the issue, the selection of one of the options and the coming to conclusions about the options and must be written up in a formal report style. This is then written up in exam circumstances and is worth 1/3 of the overall mark.
All National 4/5/6 Course Materials can be found on EDMODO. Pupils join and then get a log in code for the courses.
Supported Study is available on request. Homework support is available every lunchtime.