Dear colleagues,

Many thanks to Clair, the languages team and young people for the activities, tannoys and events that contributed to a great languages week.  Well done to the young people who shared messages with the school in foreign languages. It was really impressive. Many young people spoke positively about the link with Cantabria, very much enjoying the connection with Spanish pupils. In the evaluation 92% of those involved stated that their confidence speaking Spanish had increased as a result.  94% fed back that they would like more opportunities to speak Spanish.  Thanks to Rebecca for sharing evaluation results and pictures (below).

This week the Health & Safety Committee are meeting to update and amend our critical incident planning. This will include planning protocol should we require to lockdown.

Prelim Evaluation

This year we condensed the prelim diet to minimise time away from class.  I appreciate that this meant that we used new, shorter papers in most cases.  It is important that we get everyone's views on this.  If you haven't already, please complete Phil's survey.

Attainment Matters

I have been meeting with PTs to review team prelim results and to discuss interventions that we can put in place to maximise learners' attainment in SQA exams.  I have shared an overview of the current S5 and S6 prior attainment from last session's Insight.  It provides a useful flag for progression.   I found it interesting to compare our annual attainment data with Stirling and East Dunbartonshire schools. Here is the link: Our Attainment Story 

Post prelim tracking shows that our breadth and depth is currently:

S4: 5+@level 5 - 49% (83% are doing 5+ N5 courses)

5+level 5 - 2024 final results 61%

S5: 5+@level 6 - 15% (50% are doing 5+ Highers)

5+level 6 - 2024 final results 35%

Every learner's progress is important and we continue to drive for 5 best qualifications:

• There are 10 pupils (7%)  in S5 doing N3-N5 courses only.

• There are  20 pupils (15%) in S5 doing 1 Higher

• There are 37 pupils (28%) in S5 doing 3 Highers

It is important that we do all that we can to keep learners in courses, particularly in S5 where there is no fall back position to recognise attainment.

Interventions Matter

We have 6 school weeks before the Easter holiday. to maximise intervention and support for young people.  I have made a bid to the local authority for funding to provide cover for targeted support and funding for supported study masterclasses.  The focus of the funding is to target our pupils who are PEF, SIMD 1-6, Care Experienced and Young Carers. I will let you know as soon as I am told if the bid has been successful.  

Action required in the mean time:

S4-6 FCLs please review the overall position with individual pupils in your form class.  Here is an overview of their results. You can see a breakdown for each individual on the tabs 'S4 ON - OFF' and 'S56 ON-OFF'

• • Do they have a study timetable?

  • Do they know how to study? BHS Study Techniques

  • Flashcards and timetables available at Form Class pigeon holes (medical room) 

  • Direct your Form classes to the Head Prefect study pop-ups in the theatre this week.

Class Teachers please check who in your class is in our four target groups:

1. TSP1 (Equity and Poverty related): Learners who are Senior Phase and FSM/FME and/or in SIMD Vigintile 1-6

2. TSP2 (Low Attainers): Learners who are likely to have low attainment in the current year or already has a pattern of low attainment from prior years.

3. TSP3 (Drive for Five): Learners in S4 who are at risk of not achieving 5 SQA qualifications at Level 3 or 4 or 5.

4. TSP4 (Leave with Five): Learners in S6 who have not yet achieved 5 Highers, but have achieved 3 or 4 and it is possible to achieve the five by the end of S6.

Impactful classroom interventions:

• Collaborative learning approaches (+ 5 months)

• Feedback - Feedback - Feedback (+6 months) *see resources and info on in-house CLPL * 3 sessions planned in March

• Targeted Homework  (+5 months)

• Metacognitive Approaches (+ 7 months)

• Small Group Tuition (+4 months) 

Thanks again for your professionalism and hard work at this busy and focused time. It will make a massive difference. #buildingfuturestogether

Elaine