Balfron Matters


25 April 2022

Weekly communication for staff

Dear colleagues,

Thanks for your commitment and hard work in preparing our young people for the exam diet. Exam leave starts officially today. Despite that, I know that many of you are continuing work with pupils through meetings and supported study. There is still some funding available for anyone who would like to offer Saturday Supported Study sessions (link below).

A massive thanks to everyone who worked hard to pull together all of the SQA evidence for uplift. I left Phil late on Friday afternoon organising all of the envelopes, meticulously double checking everything was in place - a massive job well done.

This Friday we have an in-service day. First you are invited to the atrium for a staff breakfast. To help Hilary and her team with planning, please complete this breakfast order form by Thursday lunchtime.

We will start the day with our first whole staff meeting in two years. It will be fantastic to have everyone together again in the theatre. Please bring your lap-top. You will get an update from some working groups and be invited to comment and make suggestions that will help shape and influence improvements next session. This will feed into the new 2022-23 plans.


A link to the in-service day programme is on the right.


As part of our Tri-Learning programme, groups of nine will meet at the end of the school day on May 11th. If you have not managed to arrange your visits, please make that a priority.

Have a great week.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High:

  • SQA exam leave

  • Alternative to exam programme starts on Wednesday

  • Friday - In-service Day

Inset April 2022

Alternative to exam leave programme

Working with Clair, David and Heather, Neil Thompson, Aileen Crawford and Emma Harvey, we have devised an alternative to exam leave programme. Pupils in S4 and S5 with fewer than three exams have been targeted for this programme. Six weeks is a massive amount of time away from school for these, our most vulnerable learners.

The purpose of the programme is:

  • to maintain a connection with school and learning

  • to enhance and build on positive relationships

  • to develop skills that will build confidence

  • to develop team building skills

  • to consider career/future options

  • to provide activities that will support pupils who struggle to attend school, to get back into the building

As these pupils mainly are working towards National 4 qualifications, they may have some outstanding work. This is part of their programme. If you would like some time with any of them, please contact Clair, David, Heather or me.

A link to the list and programme is below.

____no prelim leave TT May 22.xlsx

Saturday Supported School Programme


Thanks to those of you who have already shared availability for Saturday sessions. Payment will be made in the same way that was managed for Easter School. The payment for sessions is £ 25.17 per hour. Each session is 2 hours. We used around half of our budget total (£6,400 aprox) for Easter school which leaves us a max of 64 two hour sessions.

  • They will run in mornings only from 10.30-12.30pm

  • If you are keen to offer a session, Check that the date you can offer suits your SQA exam date .

  • Sign up if you are available to offer Saturdays here

BHS Assembly Programme April - May 2022.docx




From wb 25 April - S1-3 assemblies will run in the theatre.


Celebrating success assemblies will kick off the new term.



CPL Corner

Free Mental Health Events for Teachers


Myth Busting Series

Anxiety - 26 May 5pm - https://www.acamh.org/event/myth-busting-anxiety/

Join Chloe Chessell, University of Reading, who specialises in Anxiety, and OCD. Plus join in on the live discussion to answer your questions.


Hearing Voices - 29 June 5pm - https://www.acamh.org/event/myth-busting-hearing-voices/

Dr Sarah Parry, Clinical Psychologist and Practice Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University, who specialises in trauma and children's mental health is our host.


CAMHS around the Campfire informal journal club

Tech delivered CBT for anxiety - 24 May 5pm - https://www.acamh.org/event/camhs-campfire-tech-cbt-anxiety/

Dr. Matti Cervin, Lund University, Sweden, discusses his JCPP paper


Adolescent gender diversity - 28 June 5pm - https://www.acamh.org/event/camhs-campfire-adolescent-gender-diversity/

Assistant Professor Dr. Akhgar Ghassabian, Department of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine to discuss her JCPP paper.



Calendar 2021-22


25 April SQA Exam Leave starts

29 April In-service Day

2 May Holiday

6 May CfE - Social Subjects

11 May Working Groups - Tri-Learning


Calendar 2021-22


13 May S1 Reports completed

CfE - Maths

16 May Team meetings

20 May CfE - Expressive Arts

24 May S3 Humanutopia (all day)

26 May S4 Induction - Being Successful

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.

Useful Links

Supervision Rota 21-22
Reducing+Risks+in+Schools+guidance+-+version+6.1+-+September+2021.pdf
Extra-Curricular Programme 2021-22
BHS SIP & Recovery Plan 202-22.docx
Extra Curricular Poster Times.docx

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.


Classroom Observation 2.3 Learning, Teaching and Assessment.doc

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