Dear colleagues,

All of a sudden there are only four weeks left of term.  That was quick!  Thanks for your enthusiasm and professionalism at sessions with Mark Burns last week.  I hope that you and your team enjoyed the session and got something helpful from it.  We invested heavily in these workshops, so I am keen to capture your evaluation and the immediate impact of the sessions.  Please could you all take one minute to complete this short Professional Learning Evaluation. Thank you!

As a follow-up Michelle has compiled a helpful range of Feedback resources to help support our next steps.  There are links to them below in our Pedagogy Corner. There are many resources and Michelle has ranked #1 the EEF resource, 'Teacher Feedback to Improve Learning'.

Learning, Teaching & Assessment - The Moderation Cycle

Linking to our professional learning and preparing to provide high quality assessment data for the new tracking system, we spent some time at the leadership team meeting reviewing the Moderation Cycle. I have asked PTs to discuss the slides at your team meeting and complete a return to help Phil and I accurately understand how confident we all are in relation to the moderation cycle.  The feedback provided will help shape the input and provide focus for our improvement.  To help influence our thinking and prepare us for inspection, I shared with PTs some of the questions that are asked linked to evaluation of this theme during inspections.

Raising Attainment & Achievement - next steps

It has been great to receive requests for targeted Supported Study aimed to provide early support for those who are likely to struggle.  Just a reminder that class teachers should keep a closer eye on those highlighted (red, amber or blue) in this spreadsheet.

Again, if you would like to make use of out of school support, liaise with your PT and they can complete the Supported Study Request Form outlining the plan and target pupils. Thanks in advance for offering sessions.  The pay rate for after school hours sessions is £25 per hour.

We have another busy week ahead with team meetings and the Outstanding Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening. Thanks in advance to Claire and the Office staff who have been working hard to prepare for the cermony - it is looking like a great night. Our keynote speaker is former pupil and Head Girl Erin McKee.  Erin is currently working as Special Advisor to the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney.  In addition to subject award winners we will acknowledge twenty-nine S4 pupils who acheived straight As at N5 and nineteen who achieved five straight As at Higher.  All staff are welcome to attend the ceremony - please confirm with Claire Appelquist to reserve your seat.

It may be of interest to know that we had one successful priority appeal out of four.  BMcC now has been upgraded to a C in Higher Business which is great for her. We wait for news of the general appeals and will update you when we hear.

Balfron High is in a trio with Dunblane and McLaren High Schools for VSE.  Claire Appelquist, Michelle Skinner, Elaine Johnstone and I will be out at Dunblane on Wednesday/Thursday working as part of the VSE Team.  The focus is QIs 2.3 and 3.2.  It will be great to see practice at Dunblane High School.  I am sure we will see some great practice and get some interesting ideas to share.

Thanks again for your hard work and professionalism.  Have another great week.

Elaine