Balfron Matters
Monday 14 August 2023
Weekly communication for staff
Dear colleagues,
Welcome back! I hope that you have had a wonderful summer and have managed to recharge the batteries. A special welcome to all of our new staff - we are delighted to have you at Balfron High School.
The SQA results were positive on the whole. Taking a look at breadth and depth:
S6 results were in line previous years although our 5+ at 5 Higher accumulate was down. Where we can, we must make sure that the new S6 are coursed to ensure they leave with the best possible 5 qualifications that they can.
S5 results were back up after last year's drop. The great S4 results from last year converted well to 38% with 5 highers.
S4 results dropped to 67% attaining 5 at level 5 (from 74% last year).
The learning from this lies in ensuring that young people are coursed as appropriately as possible to provide the best chance of success. Now that results are in, it is important to ensure that this is reviewed.
Individual teachers and teams will be keen to analyse last year's results to identify areas that can be improved. The Results Machine has been updated and is a fantastic resource to quickly analyse last year's attainment. It also provides a 3 year overview that is helpful. Please ensure that individual teachers and teams review all of the tabs under 'Comparisons'. Action for everyone:
Component marks. Use for planning for inprovement in courses.
Relative Value. This will show how individuals have done in your course relative to the others that they have completed
I am afraid that I am going to be out of school for a while. A ruptured achilies at the end of the holiday is keeping me off my feet. I have an appointment on Tuesday 22nd that will help inform planning for school, acting opportunities and cover. The SLT will be a person down for the first two weeks, so please give them your full support and understanding. Tracey Patrick has been assigned to support the school so you may see her in the building.
I will be completing the SIP. We have a new format that will allow the whole school and each team to have their plan on one spreadsheet. This will be ready by Monday 21 August and I request that team plans are put onto this format by 22 September. That allows for input over 3 team meetings.
Enjoy the BBQ on Monday afternoon. It will be great to have everyone together again. I am sorry to be missing that and the buzz and excitement of a new term. I wish you all a great start to session.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High:
Mon: Inset 1
Staff BBQ
Tues: Inset 2
Wed: Zanzibar Launch Evening, 6.30pm
S1 Assembly
Thurs: S5/6 Assembly
S3 Assembly
Fri: S4 Assembly
Inservice Day Programme: 14-15 August 2023
Inservice Day Slides
dde93c5b-4cf8-462f-9a9e-28b0cac0b43c.MP4Our Priorities for improvement 2023-24
Increased consistency in Learning & Teaching
Improved Wellbeing & Inclusion of all young people
Increased offer in Curriculum
Increased Attainment & Achievement
Increased influence of Pupil Voice on Improvement
New for session 23/24
Learning & Teaching Working Groups
As highlighted by Michelle at the in service day, all teaching staff will have the opportunity to sign up for a working group of their choice. The working groups are all focussed around learning & teaching - you may recognise the headings as from Quality Indicator 2.3. We have eleven Working Group Lead teachers who will lead their groups to plan, develop and evaluate their professional learning within an area of their interest.
We will celebrate our learning in a Pedagogy Festival, at April In service 2024.
The groups and their leads are as follows:
Climate for Learning - Routines and Relationships for inclusive, productive learning environments - Connor H, Andrew L & Shari L
Digital Technology - Exploring technologies to enhance learning experiences - Dougie S & Cari M
Lesson Structure - What we do and how we keep can doing it even better - Pam G & Fiona F
Meeting Learners Needs - Exploring the practices that make our lessons more accessible - Nicola D & Oonagh M
Formative Assessment - Developing our feedback loops and increasing challenge - Andrew B & Alistair B
Assemblies - August-October 2023
Last week of term at Balfron
When people outside your walls know what you are doing, it gives value to those inside
Photos from the last week of term and summer include:
Our new House Captain Team & their Planning Sessions
Action from our first Footgolf Championship
Sophia and Eve delivering the S2 assembly on the Reading School Challenge
Rohan Marwaha (hockey) and Fergus Brown (golf) competing for Scotland
CLPL Corner
Vocabulary
Many thanks to Nicola who has created a quick read on The Frayer Model for this week's insert.
The Frayer's model is a graphic organiser that helps pupils learn and organise vocabulary across the school. It can be used in any subject.
It helps them target specific vocabulary and apply their knowledge by giving examples, non-examples (antonyms), characteristics and symbols or illustrations.
This is helpful for any word in any subject, but it can be particularly helpful when used to highlight when the same word (for example, 'factor') is used in different ways in different subjects.
Nicola Douglas
CLPL opportunities
Leadership courses for session 23/24
Sign up now!
There are a number of fully funder professional learning programmes available from Education Scotland for next session. Applications are now open. Of particular interest, I wanted to highlight the Educator Leadership Programme (ELP):
Have a look at these enquiry posters from our 2022-23 ELP Cohort: ELP 22/23 | Flickr and our 2021-22 TLP Cohort: TLP 21/22 | Flickr
There is also a wee Blog post that tells you a bit more about the programme. So if these posters or the Blog inspired you then why not join our growing community by signing up here.
For aspiring middle leaders, applications are open to the Aspiring to Middle Leadership course.
For Middle Leaders, applications are currently open for Middle Leaders Leading Change – Education Scotland (Rona Grant) has written about the programme here and for even more inspiration; have a look at her brilliant February Blog post: Middle Leadership Glue (education.gov.scot).
Digital CLPL
always available through the links below
Below is a link to Dougie's Tech Tips Play list. Always worth a look - great tip on getting rid of adverts from presentations using YouTube this week.
External CLPL
BHS Professional Learning Notice board.
Search. Click. Book
Powering up our seniors for successful studying
Study Skills Resources
National weekly study sessions: https://www.e-sgoil.com/
BHS Study techniques website: https://sites.google.com/stirlingschools.net/bhs-study-skills/home
NeLO Learning Spaces: https://www.thinglink.com/card/1421866155961745410
Achieve: https://achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/user-start/?next=/
Teacher's Guide to the BHS Study Planner.webmTeachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
Weekly Study Planner 2022BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
One portal to hold all information
ERP MyPortal.pdfHealth & Wellbeing - Counselling for staff
Did you know counselling is available through Stirling Council?
Employee Counselling is available through our Occupational Health provider, People Asset Management (PAM)
There are a few ways employees can request Counselling.
Stuart Shaw on shaws@stirling.gov.uk
Contact hr@stirling.gov.uk
Call Ann at PAM on 0800 882 4102
If you want some more information about counselling, what to expect or looking for self-help resources then please pop in and see Karin Figliolini or drop her an email.
Useful Links