This section aims to facilitate schools to reflect on their current state of preparation for NSS. It is used for schools' reference only and is by no means exhaustive. Schools are encouraged to add and reflect on other school-based concerns.
 
 
Reflection
 Please select as appropriate
Information Materials/
Remarks
Yes/
a concrete plan with details is available

Not Sure/
Details to be formulated
/
Not yet decided

No
I. Learning and Teaching
Curriculum
1 Do we have any plan to facilitate the smooth transition between curriculum at junior secondary level and senior secondary level?
NSS elective subjects
2 Do we have a good understanding of our students’ interests by conducting surveys of our students’ interests, providing “mock NSS subject choices”, etc?
3 Have we decided on the number of NSS elective subjects to be taken by each student? If yes, how many?
___________
4 Do we plan to offer a ‘taster’ programme for S4 students, i.e. students can study more than 3 elective subjects in S4?
5 Do we have any plan to maximize the subject combinations for students?
6 When do we submit our plan to SMC regarding NSS subject combinations to be offered?
  • Suggested time-line: 1st IMC/SMC meeting in 2008/09 s.y.
7 Have we informed parents of the NSS subjects to be offered?
8 Do we plan to offer Combined Science?
9 Do we plan to offer Applied Learning (ApL) courses?
10 Do we plan to offer less popular subjects such as Literature in English, Music by collaborating with other schools?
11 Do we plan to offer other languages such as French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu?
Timetabling arrangement
12 Have we decided whether the NSS timetable will be arranged on the basis of week or cycle?
13 Do we have any plan on the arrangement of the elective parts of Chinese Language and English Language?
14 Do we have any plan on the arrangement of the lessons for the Extended Module 1 & 2 of Mathematics?
15

Do we have any plan on the arrangement for flexible groupings for NSS elective subjects ?

16 Do we provide flexibility in the NSS timetable to accommodate ApL courses?
17 Do we have any plan on the arrangement for Other Learning Experiences?
18 Do we have any plan on reporting students' non-academic performance, e.g. using Student Learning Profile?
19 Do we have any plan on the time-tabling arrangement for the transitional period and the double cohort year?
20 Do we use WebSAMS to construct our school timetable?
21

Do we use other timetabling tools instead of WebSAMS?
If yes, please state the agent:
___________

 [If the answer is yes, is there any school-based review on the effectiveness of the timetabling tool used?]
Learning and teaching strategies
22 Do we have plans to ensure that our learning and teaching strategies would tie in with the NSS curriculum?
Catering for learner diversity
23

Do we have plans to cater for learner diversity (e.g. flexible grouping to cater for students with different abilities, remedial and enhancement programmes)?
If yes, What strategies are adopted?
___________
(Further details will be available in Aug/Sept 08)
Assessment
24

Do we have any plan to align the assessment at junior secondary level with that at senior secondary level?

25 Have we devised plans on administering School-based Assessment across different subjects?
II. Human Resources Management/ Professional Development
26 Do our teachers have the expertise to teach relevant NSS subjects?
27 Have we conducted survey on teachers’ professional development needs?
28 Do our teachers have confidence to teach NSS subjects in general?
29 Do we have any plan on how to deploy suitable teachers to teach Liberal Studies?
30 Do we have any plan on how to deploy/recruit teachers to teach new subjects that suit the needs of our students?
31 Do we have an overall staff development plan/personal development plan for each teacher?
32 Do we have a staff succession plan to pave way for the implementation of NSS in 2009?
33 Do we have plans for our teachers to attend all relevant NSS professional development programmes by 2008/09?
34 Do we have any NSS Co-ordinator/ KLA Co-ordinator /Co-ordinator for specific tasks such as OLE? [If the answer is yes, schools could consider/provide the duty lists of the NSS Co-ordinator/ KLA Co-ordinator/ OLE Co-ordinator]
Use of resources
35 Do we have any plan to optimize the use of teaching space and facilities in school?
36 Do we have any plan on how to make use of the NSS grants for the following:
a) professional development (e.g. using TPPG to release teachers to attend training)
b) provision of diversified curriculum (e.g. making use of Diversity Learning Grant to support the offering of a diversified NSS curriculum)
37 Do we have any plan to make use of community resources?
38 Have we consulted various stakeholders, especially middle managers and teachers regarding the resources allocation plan in school?
III. Communication
39

Have we conveyed information on school NSS curriculum planning to stakeholders such as parents and students through the following:
a) Briefings/ Introduction sessions on NSS subjects
b) Parents-Teachers’ Association
c) School intranet
d) NSS School Information Network of “334 Web Bulletin” of EDB
e) Other methods/channels:
___________
40 Have we informed/explained to parents and students the flexibilities of the university entrance requirements under NSS?
41 Have we provided information about career education (e.g. career pathways) to our students?
42 Have we informed parents and students about the arrangements for repeaters of the last cohort of students under the existing system?
43 Other school-based reflection (for schools' input) [ Schools to reflect on their concerns]