Balfron Matters
14 March 2022
Weekly communication for staff
Dear colleagues,
Last week saw the publication of Professor Muir's report, Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education . Some of the recommendations include:
A new exam board - Qualifications Scotland
A new national agency to replace Education Scotland
A new, separate, inspectorate
Parity of esteem for academic & vocational qualifications
I would recommend Mark Priestly blog The Muir Report: reflections & Implications
Now just three weeks left of term, and the major focus is on course completion, revision course choice. Thanks to those of you who have been busy with meetings with pupils and their parents & carers, to support course choice. They are really important both to influence decision making and to reinforce positive relationships with home.
I was pleased to hear Steven's idea of a big inter-house fundraiser on the last Friday afternoon of term. The idea is to create a buzz to finish inter-house and to make money that we can send to charities supporting Ukrainian refugees. It might be worthwhile making this a non-uniform day to maximise the donations. I'm keen to hear your thoughts.
We were gifted a Ukrainian flag and I was pleased to fly it in our grounds and show our support.
As ever, thanks for all you are doing. You make a huge difference. Have a great week.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High School:
Team Meetings
British Science Week
Assemblies
S2/3 FCL interviews
Owen Britton Debate
A massive thanks to Kate Reid and Emma Slavin for planning, organising and delivering a great debate. The motion this year was "This house believes government responses to Covid were more damaging than the virus itself."
What a fantastic, well considered and argued debate it was. It was great to have Linda Britton, Owen's mum there to listen to the teams.
Joining Mrs Slavin and Mrs Boyle as judges were former pupils Julia Anderson and Finn Thompson. It was fabulous to see them and hear that both are doing well at university in their respective courses.
Following a tightly contested competition, Harry Braid (4L2) was the winner.
Staff appointments
Last week we interviewed for a permanent history/modern studies post and for a technician. I am pleased to share that Connell Duffy secured the post after he and others were put through their paces in delivering a lesson and facing both a pupil and staff panel. Mr Shearer will be joining us shortly as a technician. Congratulations to Robert Ferguson who secured a technician's post at his alma mater, Lenzie Academy.
Easter School Update - any more availability?
Availability (not the programme, yet) is in the section below .
If you have some availability and would like to run a session or more please confirm by close of school on Wednesday 16 March. Click into the links below.
Week 1 (4-8 April)
National 5 - https://forms.gle/tqYxBJ5QjZZRYdAB6
Higher - https://forms.gle/pWso2CwvtCNhcx4C6
Advanced Higher - https://forms.gle/Udwq1VbDbYbbvKUw9
Week 2 (11-15 April)
National 5 - https://forms.gle/zXECnrj2myzWNfYF7
Higher - https://forms.gle/NsTow4eJ71htUTaNA
Advanced Higher - https://forms.gle/nwrM1CwXF5R71AiFA
Our Counselling Service
Karin Figlioloni has put together a fantastic counselling environment for our pupils. It is no surprise that she is very busy. The video below is for pupils and staff and shares information about the service.
CPL Corner - Great teaching
Here are some resources that might help give clear instructions , model and scaffold . As the graphic shows, there are many ways to do this that will suit your subject, course or the learners in front of you.
Watch the video, Sequencing concepts and modelling
Listen to the podcast, The Sweet Spot: Explaining & Modelling with Precision
Read, www.teachertoolkit.co.uk/2019/02/10/i-do-we-do-you-do/
Our programme will coincide with updated COVID mitigations. In addition, we will add the following in-house mitigations:
staff remain at the bottom (or top) of the tiered seating - complete paper register
seat pupils with free row between form classes
CO2 monitors at front and back to monitor levels.
If you have items that would be helpful to share in assembly, please let me know. I will be starting with a back-to-basics approach.
Calendar 2021-22
14 March Team Meetings
wb 14 March S3/2 Course Choice
Calendar 2021-22
23 March Leadership Team Meeting
28 March Team meetings
1 April Last day of term
Health & 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.
H&S should always be on your Team Meeting Agendas.
Although it does look like the Covid situation is improving nationally, please ensure that you continue to be aware of – and observe – all Covid guidelines.
The latest information can be found in the Google Staff Shared H&S Folder here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1NzmJ3aMg1bipnSyVTNJin5hukriH7oKs
And also on the Glow Stirling Site here:
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/st/policiesguidelinesandforms/covid-19-guidance/
Useful Links
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Quality Assurance 2021-22 - Classroom Visits
Term 1 Classroom Observations
Our observation pro forma is based on the HGIOS QI, 2.3
Features of highly effective practice are on page 2 along with challenge questions.
Quality Assurance 2021-22
Open Doors Dates
I will be joined by a PT for Open Doors this session as follows:
7 October Expressive Arts L McAllister
19 October English G MacKay
28 October Science N Macquarrie
9 November Health M Skinner
25 November Mod Languages A Barrie
29 November Technologies D Gormal
6 December Social Subjects S Boyle
10 February Maths M Young