January 2017
Dear Parent/Carer,
I very much hope that you
managed to have an enjoyable and relaxing festive break. We are delighted to be
back for what will no doubt be a very busy term.
You will recall from my last
blog that I would update you regarding a significant number of national
changes. Please feel free to make contact with me if you wish to discuss any of
these changes and how they may impact on the school and/or your child.
Key Dates: -
Wednesday
18 January – Course Choice Options Evening for S2-S5 pupils
·
Thursday
19 January – Ogwini Trip Parent Information Evening
·
Monday
23 – Senior Reports issued for S4-6 pupils
·
Thursday
26 January – S3 Parent Consultation Evening
·
Monday 6
February – S3 reports issued
·
Thursday
9 February – Senior Phase Parent Consultation Evening
·
Friday
10 February - S3 Option Choice forms to be returned
·
Monday
13 February – Mid-term break
·
Monday
20 February – pupils return to school
·
Monday
27 February – Formal Assessments – Senior School
Staffing Update
Maths
A letter has been emailed to
all parents regarding the staffing situation in the Maths Department. A copy is
also available on the school website under the updates section. Please contact
the school with any queries regarding this matter.
School of Football
Mr Phil Kidd who runs our
School of Football will be leaving us on Friday 3 February to take up a
full-time Active Sports Co-ordinator post. As a result we are advertising for a
full time teacher of Physical Education who will also lead and co-ordinate the
School of Football. Until we appoint a replacement, we are holding discussions
with the School of Football at the SFA regarding a replacement coach for Mr
Kidd.
Music
Ms Kirsty Hirst will leave us
shortly to begin her maternity leave. We are currently in the process of
recruiting for this post with interviews scheduled for Tuesday 17 January.
Drama
Mrs Emma Whyte will leave us
shortly to begin her maternity leave. We are currently in the process of
recruiting for this post.
Social Subjects
Mrs Stephanie Fogarty will
shortly take up a 1 day a week post in Social Subjects to replace Ms Ashleigh
Kennedy who left to take up a post at James Gillespie’s High School.
Support for Learning
Ms Morven Boyd who currently
works as a PSA in the school has successfully been appointed as Teacher for
Learning, Inclusion and Achievement for 2 days per week.
Course Choice Options
Evening
We very much hope you will be
able to join us on the evening of Wednesday 18 January at our annual options
evening event. Details regarding changes to our curriculum and changes to the
course choice procedure for next session will be provided. The evening is aimed
at pupils in S2-S5 who will be making choices for next session.
The format of the
evening is planned as follows: -
|
5.15pm
|
Doors open
|
|
5.30pm
|
Welcome and
introduction - Mr Hunter, Head Teacher
|
|
5.35pm
|
Presentation on course
choice process - Mr Hutchison, Depute Head Teacher
|
|
5.45pm
|
Opportunity to browse
the coursing marketplace
|
|
7.30pm
|
End of evening
|
A large part of the
evening will be given over to an opportunity to browse the coursing
marketplace. This will be staffed by subject specialists, allowing parents to
ask detailed questions on courses being offered and potential progression
pathways in the subjects.
We will be joined by
representatives from Skills Development Scotland, Edinburgh College, LEAPS and
other business partners who will be available to answer any questions in their specialist areas.
Course choice is a very
important time for all pupils and I do hope that you can join us for this
evening. Working together we can provide the maximum support for all pupils in
choosing the most appropriate pathways towards their future.
Pupil Equity Funding
Pupil Equity Funding will be
issued to schools from the 2017/18 financial year. This is additional
funding which will be allocated to schools and targeted at closing the poverty
related attainment gap. The Scottish Government has committed to this
funding as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge programme for five years
from 2017-18. The Pupil Equity Funding forms part of the £750m Attainment
Scotland Fund. Funding must be used to support children and young people
affected by poverty to achieve their full potential.
Publicly funded
primary, secondary and special schools will receive £1,200 for each pupil in
Primary 1 to S3, or equivalent, who is eligible
and registered for free school meals. The Scottish Government will clearly
indicate the amounts that should be allocated to each individual school, along
with the terms and conditions for its use.
It is very
important that families who are entitled to receive free school meals register
to receive their entitlement. Although eligibility criteria are subject to
change, you can check your eligibility status by contacting the School Office. Free
School Meals application forms are available from the School Office and we are
able to offer assistance to parents/carers who may need help completing the
forms.
SQA Update
You can keep up
to date with proposed changes to SQA matters by visiting www.sqa.org.uk/nqchanges
What are the changes to National courses?
SQA was asked to remove units and unit assessments from National courses
by the Scottish Government. The current course assessment approach requires
candidates to complete internally assessed National units and a course
assessment, which is normally an examination question paper and/or coursework.
The changes to course
assessment will result in one or more of the following: -
- extension of the existing question paper
- extension of the existing item of coursework
- a new question paper
- a new item of coursework
Please note that there
will be no change to the aims, rationale or content of the courses. Only the
assessment arrangements will change along with clarification on content.
When will the changes take effect?
Units and unit assessments will be removed
from National courses as follows: -
- National 5 from 2017-18
- Higher from 2018-2019
- Advanced Higher from 2019-20
Can Recognising Positive Achievement or
‘fallback’ still be used?
Recognising Positive Achievement (RPA)
currently supports candidates who have been unsuccessful at National 5 by
enabling them to achieve National 4 retrospectively. This arrangement will no
longer operate from session 2017-18 onwards as the removal of units from
National 5 courses means that the unitised model - on which RPA is based - will
no longer exist.
The units that are being
removed from National 5 courses will still be available as free-standing units
for schools to use as appropriate.
The Assessment and
National Qualifications (ANQ) Group is discussing the possibility of extending
the current grade scale below grade C in order to recognise a broader range of
learner achievements. We will communicate more information once the change has
been finalised.
There has been recent
press coverage about extension of the grade scale and its impact on standards.
Please be reassured that the standard required to pass a National 5 at Grades A
to C will not change. SQA will still calculate pass rates based on those
candidates who achieve Grades A to C.
Are National 4 courses changing?
There are currently no planned changes to
National 4 courses. However, discussions
continue at the ANQ group. Courses will remain internally assessed on a pass or
fail basis and be subject to our published external verification arrangements. This information is very important for young
people and parents/carers as they consider their subject choices for next
session and more information/discussion can take place through the course
choice process.
Panmure St Ann’s Special School
The City of Edinburgh Council is consulting on
proposals to close Panmure St Ann’s Special School at the end of June 2017. Any
remaining pupils on the school roll will be given places at other schools in
Edinburgh.
Visit
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/panmureconsultation for details of the proposals and to
complete the online consultation survey.
You can also email comments to Panmurestanns.consultation@edinburgh.gov.uk
or write to Alistair Gaw, Acting Executive Director of Communities and
Families, The City of Edinburgh Council, 2/6 Waverley Court, 4 East Market
Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG
Copies of the consultation paper
are also available by calling Children’s Services Business Support on 0131 469
6123.
A public meeting will be held at
the Council’s administrative headquarters at Waverley Court (Room C.47), 4 East
Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG on Monday 6 February from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
The closing date for
the survey and comments is 27 February 2017
