Dear colleagues,

I hope you had a restful weekend at this busy time. Just four weeks left of this term with a massive focus on supporting our senior phase learners to secure their best 5 qualifications.  For most of S4, this will be best grades at N5s, for others this is five qualifications N2-4.  Thanks to our PTs PS who have reviewed the overview of our least secure learners post prelim, and are working hard with you to pull together evidence of learning so that all pupils have their best learning certificated.  Our priorities for these learners are:

1. Literacy/numeracy, then

2. drive towards 5 qualifications (best possible level)

If you have a learner who has struggled to attend, complete or engage, please link with your PT and the learner's PTPS to make arrangements for support.

To help with this, I was informed on Friday afternoon that of the £6000 that I bid, we have been awarded £2000.  The priority for use of this funding is to support our least secure and most disadvantaged learners.  Given the priorities outlined above, please link with your PTs.  I requested funding so that we can provide backfill/cover to allow more intense working and supported study funding (Saturdays, Easter School). Please have a discussion in your teams with the focus of supporting our least secure.  I will liaise with David and PTs to agree funding allocation and how cover might best be managed.  I am keen to get plans and support moving quickly given the limited time left and appreciate your help with this..

We have our final pedagogy working group after school on Monday to focus on our Plus Ones. Michelle met with working group leads last week to begin planning for the 2025 Pedagogy Festival. There will be some discussion around the format you would like to share your plus one at the Festival on 2nd May.  Here is a link to our Festival Programme and video from last year to provide inspiration!

We have bought the licence for the School App.  I am hoping that this will provide a positive alternative to high profile social media presence that we had developed.  Wati is arranging training for the office and for staff.  If you had made use of Twitter/X and would like to be part to the early training (45-60 minutes) in order to share good news stories, pictures, videos clips please let me or Wati know and I will include you in the first round of training.  The app goes live as soon as the training starts.

And finally, I am so pleased to share that on Friday after much discussion and toing and froing, thanks to The Paul Trust, I was able to raise the order for our brand new new minibus!  I hope that we will have it for the start of the new term. As it is a flexilite model, all who have been MIDAS trained and have a driving license can drive it.   For those interested, this is the spec:

Citroen Enterprise Flexilite - Manual (Pre -Registered 28.02.25 - 74 Plate)

L4H2 (140) with Air Con & Sat Nav

Colour: White

17 seat 1 wheelchair

Manual ramp

Manual side step

I have been in regular contact with Kirsty who manages Fleet at Stirling. They will maintain the minibus for us.  Kirsty is aware that we will have a number of staff who will want to quickly get MIDAS trained.  If you are likely to need use of the minibus, please liaise with David (info) and Jenifer who will organise the training.

Thanks for your hard work and commitment to achievement and attainment at Balfron High.  Every small act makes a massive difference. #buildingfuturestogether #weareBalfron

Have a great week.

Elaine