The papers for the forthcoming Education, Children and Families Committee meeting on 21st May can be found at the link below. The papers include the Agenda, Previous Minutes and associated material.
The next South Neighbourhood Parent Council meeting is on 24 April at St Thomas of Aquin’s High School.
A copy of the Director’s report and the agenda can be found at the links below.
The presentation given by Karen Prophet, Senior Education Manager (Quality & Curriculum) at the Curriculum for Excellence Secondary Parent Conference held at Tynecastle HS in November 2012 can be found here. The primary focus of the event being ‘The Senior Phase’.
The figures for 2012 state secondary school pre-appeal Standard Grade and Higher exam results across Scotland were published yesterday. They show that Boroughmuir High School came joint first in Scotland with Jordanhill on Highers attainment – 69 per cent of our S4 pupils going on to obtain three or more Highers in S5. This is an increase of 12% from 2011 – a tremendous result!
There was also a modest improvement in our (already extremely high!) Standard Grade attainment this year. 95% of S4 pupils passed 5 or more Standard Grades at Level 4 or above this year (94% in 2011).
Our success in this has already been picked up by the Scotsman / Evening News. You can see their write-up at:
This latest news comes hard on the heels of the recent Sunday Times award (see here ). In recognition of this latter award, Mr Dempster, Mr Hamilton and 4 pupils ( Rory Garbutt (S1), Ruby Munoz(S1), Chris Galloway (Head Boy) and Lucy Singh (Head Girl)) were presented to the full Education Committee meeting at the City Chambers on Tuesday 11th December. Mr Dempster said of this honour: “It was a great occasion and one which we are all hugely proud – one which we will remember for a long time to come”.
CONGRATULATIONS BHS!
And best wishes all for a very happy and peaceful holiday time
We are committed to keeping the new arrangements under review -particularly the potential impact of the reduction in the amount of time available for one-to-one case work. In the meantime, the revised structure from August 13th will be:
Support for Pupil Leaders
Chris Brandie
Fiona Grant
Mary Baker
Fiona Somerville
Support for Learning Leader
Maree Longmore (acting)
One major impact of the change, will be an associated longer-term reduction in the number of school Houses from 6 to 4. This is not a trivial task and the school is currently looking at how best to effect it. It will most likely take at least a year to fully implement. The current 6 Houses will therefore initially continue next session, with some re-allocation of pupils to ‘Guidance Teachers’ to reflect the new staffing arrangements.
Use the subject drop-down menu at www.sqa.org.uk/curriculumforexcellenceto find the documents for each subject.
Find out more about Advanced Higher – www.sqa.org.uk/advancedhigher
Awards
Assessment support
Specimen question papers and other assessment resources for National 2 to National 5 qualifications are being developed and will be available by April 2013.
Assessment materials for Higher will be published by April 2014.
Tel: 0845 213 5122
E-mail: ainsley.conn@sqa.org.uk
Following on from our May Newsletter please find the latest news about Curriculum for Excellence. Curriculum for Excellence Audit
Read the report of the results of the Curriculum for Excellence audit, carried out with each of Scotland’s Local Authorities. The audit was carried out throughout March and April 2012 on progress in preparing for the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence in secondary schools.
Curriculum for Excellence Implementation Plan 2012-13
The plan highlights the key implementation priorities of Curriculum for Excellence for 2012-13. There is also an accompanying letter from Bill Maxwell, Chair of the Curriculum for Excellence Implementation group.
NPFS Newsletter
The latest newsletter from the National Parent Forum of Scotland is available now, please share this with your parent council.
Kind regards
Iain Ellis, Chair NPFS
Most significantly, the revised arrangements include proposals for a re-structuring of the guidance function which, if implemented as currently proposed, will see:
- the current six guidance posts being reduced to 4 PSLs;
– an increase of 20% in individual caseloads – from the current figure of 15 pupils per contact hour to 18 pupils per contact hour;
- the above reduction in posts being achieved by a competitive interview selection process which is to be completed by August; and
- a requirement for the two unsuccessful applicants to move out of guidance and revert to basic grade teaching in their original core subject (with conserved pay).
The Parent Council are very concerned about the potential impact of these changes – both on pupils and staff. In particular, the effect on pupils of increased PSL caseloads and the effect on staff of a very harsh and difficult process – one intended to be implemented within a very short space of time. We have therefore written to Gillian Tee, Director of Children and Families, to express our concerns and to request that even at this late stage, further consideration be given to what might be done to lessen the implications for BHS.
We will of course keep parents informed of any developments. In the meantime, you can see full details of the proposals
Any thoughts or comments would be welcome. Please send them to parentcouncil@boroughmuir.org
