Balfron Matters

31 January 2022

Weekly communication for staff

Dear colleagues,

I anticipate a busy and full-on week with the return of our Senior Phase pupils. They will be keen to hear how their prelims have gone and I hope will be motivated to identify and fill gaps that the assessments have diagnosed. Thanks for your hard work in marking and moderating.

I have noted that some of our young people have been slacking a bit and am keen to address that head on.

I plan to hit the ground running with a back to basics message:

uniform
focus on learning (no mobile phones)
respectful behaviour

I will highlight this in a tannoy first thing to set the scene - apologies in advance for the interruption.

Form Class Leaders, please follow up with orange slips where uniform is not to an appropriate standard.

Thanks for your help with all of this.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High School:

Team Meetings
Senior Phase Tracking

Prelim Scores for Tracking

I have completed and uploaded the data sheets for S456 Prelim Scores.

It is in the usual place here:

Balfron Staff Google Shared Drive – 2021-22 Tracking Profile Reports - S456TP3 20222PrelimScoreData

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1HjTrDWXMPr6TkWxMirDPCvHbBDhGyU_1

Where there is only 1 exam paper (eg Chemistry N5) there will only be one row per pupil.

Where there are multiple papers or components (eg Maths Paper 1 & 2), or - as requested - there are multiple components (eg French Reading/Writing/Listening/Talking), I have created multiple rows per pupil.

On each row, you must show only the raw (score /out of) for that paper or component (eg 26/30).

My view is that there should be no percentage scores – if you think differently please let me know where/why.

If we are consistent with this, it should be clearer to parents how well their child is getting on in each element of the course.

I am happy to hear any feedback on the format/additional columns etc. Just let me know.

The Next Step column should relate only to “continue with Final Exam” or “move to National 4” etc

It is not for Next Step individual feedback.

You should report on the levels undertaken in the Prelims, and must not change these.

For almost all pupils, the school policy remains that we expect pupils to complete their courses and sit the final exam.

However – after the data is complete – if it is appropriate for a pupil to change level (etc) you must discuss this fully with the subject PT, parent and pupil. Then you must complete the SQA Request of Level change.

Where a pupil ‘drops’ a subject, they will remain in that class and on that register to work on other subjects.

https://forms.gle/k6Uvcwn4iCgDyXNq8

(The link is also on your desktop, the Glow Launchpad and within the TP spreadsheet)

Request for change of SQA Course/Level

Please use this form to communicate any changes to course or level of SQA presentation. Once completed, a receipt copy of the request will email back to you. As before, the request will require parental consent and you will be emailed to confirm that this has been agreed. Until you receive the follow up email, assume the current level remains in place.

Please do email me if you encounter any difficulties, or want to query anything.

Phil

Request for change of SQA Course/Level

iAchieve - https://achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/course/choose-courses/

We have recently renewed our licence for iAchieve. Please promote the resources to Senior Phase pupils. They are helpful for revision.

Teachers and students who do not already have an account can sign up at https://achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk.

The log in screen is here: https://achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/user-start/?next=/

There is also a tile on the Balfron HS Staff Glow Launchpad (number 11)

When signing up for an ACHIEVE account, students can either

·enter the School Code cyTZemyD,

·or the Class Code which is created when teachers create a class within the program.

Course Choice Videos

Just another quick reminder to please complete your videos for S4 and S5 course choice by the end of this week. Here's a link to the video for Higher Music if you're looking for some last-minute inspiration.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x7O0NmXYV1ySy6H1hd6_sbrqRn6D6g9z/view?usp=sharing

Thanks so much for all of the work that you've done so far. Please remember to save your completed videos into the appropriate folder from the link below

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KgwabTnVxVndRDVElVJcAdFQHKXcfTNt?usp=sharing

Ross Macintosh

Features of Highly effective Digital Learning, Teaching & Assessment

Education Scotland January 2022

This document is hot off the press. It outlines the features of high-quality digital learning experiences for all children and young people. It highlights the importance of highly-skilled staff who work with children, young people and others to ensure digital learning is motivating and meaningful.

The features of highly effective digital practice have been split into the headings planning, teaching, learning and assessment. The challenge questions have been shaped in the form of ‘What this might look like’. These are examples and not an exhaustive list.

Improvement questions for us as a school and for teams:

What are we doing?
How well are we doing it?
What should we do next?

Inservice Day Programme

Thanks to Rachel for our updated School Improvement graphic. It looks great!

Ideas for Sharing - Post prelim target setting

Thanks to Andrew Burns for sharing these resources. It is always great to peek into colleague's ideas and practice.

Andrew is planning to use these resources with N5 Chemistry pupils when they return this week.

I am sure that you all have things that are worth sharing - please do pass them to be included in our CLPL Corner.

Learning, Teaching & Assessment CLPL

There is a wide range of videos available for viewing that are linked to Doug Lemov's 'Teach Like A Champion' book. Click on the link below and select the techniques that you are working on. There are some great video examples of teachers checking for understanding among many other things. We have a couple of copies of the book in the Professional Learning Library.

Health & Wellbeing Offer

This health and wellbeing offer will consist of three 90 minute confidential coaching sessions with no more than six people per group to ensure you receive the quality time you deserve. Find out more and sign up today: http://ow.ly/9xri50HxVwf @knowyoumoreco

Free Training - Health & Wellbeing

Thanks to Karin Figliolini who has brought the follow CLPL opportunities to our attention:

Place2be are offering mental health training again for free

https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-services/services-for-schools/mental-health-champions-foundation-programme/

Children’s mental health training course for schools and teachersThis online course enhances professionals’ understanding of children’s mental health and introduces approaches that foster positive wellbeing in schools.

Parental Engagement and Family Learning Workshops - 3 February

This one hour session is aimed at teachers and school leaders:

Parental Engagement and Family Learning in Forth Valley and West Lothian RIC - Session 1 | Events | News and events | Education Scotland

Outline the differences and synergies between Family Learning and Parental Engagement
Help practitioners to think about how they can capitalise on Parental Engagement and Family Learning to drive forward improvements
Provide delegates with practice examples

Sign up here:

education.gov.scot/education-scotland/news-and-events/events/parental-engagement-and-family-learning-in-forth-valley-and-west-lothian-ric-session-1/

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.

Calendar 2021-22

wb 31 January Team meetings

4 February Senior Phase Tracking due

10 February S4 Parents Meeting

Calendar 2021-22

14 February In-service Day

15 February In-service Day

16 February Holiday

21 February Return to school

20220107143917395_Changes-to-Self-Isolation-Jan-2022 (1).pdf

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

Leadership Team Minutes

SLT Minutes 21-22

Staff supervision rota

Reset Pupil G Suite Password

Prelim schedule (Jan 2021)

Collegiate calendar 21-22

2021-22 school holidays