At Penicuik High School all students in S1 and S2 follow a core curriculum to ensure a broad and balanced experience. The first three years of secondary school are described as the Broad General Education (BGE).  The time students spend in school in S4/5/6 is known as the Senior Phase.

We offer some personalisation and choice for students moving from S2 into S3 to ensure that each student continues with a broad and balanced curriculum but can make some choices related to their interests and career path.  Moving into S3 all students continue the compulsory study of Mathematics and English along with selecting another six subjects from curriculum areas, including one ‘free choice’.  S3 students continue to engage with our core programme of weekly lessons from Physical Education (PE), Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS) and Personal and Social Education (PSE).

Now that we have a combined Senior Phase this gives us the opportunity to offer more courses to S4-S6 students.  In the Senior Phase (S4-S6), students select five courses each year with the only compulsory element being all S4 students are expected to undertake qualifications in English and Mathematics.  Students in the Senior Phase are increasingly benefiting from undertaking a range of qualifications and awards that are delivered by school staff and our partners.  For some students this means that for part of their ‘school week’ they may be learning off campus or remotely via partnerships such as the School College Partnership (SCP) or Foundation Apprenticeships (FA).  Students in the Senior Phase continue to engage with our core programme of weekly lessons from Physical Education (PE), Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS) and Personal and Social Education (PSE).

Some students might be interested in the Edinburgh College Schools College Partnership (SCP) Programme. This is where students can remain at school but study a course at Edinburgh College on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Please click on the link below if you would like to find out further information on SCP.

Edinburgh College – SCP Information

Edinburgh College – School Leavers Information

Some students might be interested in the Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) programme. Please click on the link below for further information on FAs.

Level 6 Foundation Apprenticeship Brochure – This provides information on what Foundation Apprenticeships are and allows you to access the information packs for each individual course.