Balfron Matters

Now that Prelims are over, we are looking to reform the group and support pupils with their results. With that in mind, our Tuesday after school sessions will focus on wellbeing activities for the next two weeks. On the 22nd of February we are hoping to take the group to the Xsite, used to called Xscape, for some bouncing and bowling activities. This will be an after-school activity which aims to build connections between the pupils and staff, in the hope that they will engage with the group going forward.

We will also be analysing the Prelim data and approaching new pupils about joining the group. Could you please therefore use the google 'Attainment Concern Form' to highlight any pupil you are concerned about:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Q913ytYOO1TbrvQnDpAHxj9swEq1qohGorSfhOKsS20/edit?usp=sharing

Additionally, here is a reminder of the pupils on the group to aid any conversations about next steps:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/193PvGN_UvzkAIo3rEbNt3EU4Qw_g9nbnMq_mO_117qI/edit?usp=sharing

Does anyone fancy running a coding or lego club? Do let me know and I will help with a funding application, Elaine. Here are the details:

Digital Xtra Fund opens its seventh round of grant awards to enable young people engage in Tech through extracurricular activities.

We are delighted to inform you that Digital Xtra Fund has launched this year’s Round VII (2022/23) Grant Awards, with the aim to increase the number and diversity of young people learning key digital skills. The year 2022 also marks the 5^th anniversary of the Fund, since it became a Scottish charity. Till date, the Fund has awarded 102 grants totalling £725,000 helping schools and educational organisations engage nearly 45,000 young people, which includes the recently awarded 22 grants to help schools and organisations engage another 7,292 young people during the 2021/22 academic year.

Whether you are just starting out with a new coding club or participating in a global competition such as FIRST® LEGO® League, Digital Xtra Fund is keen to support any exciting and stimulating extra-curricular activities that appeal to young people. Supported activities must be delivered between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 and delivered entirely in Scotland. Activities must also focus on engaging young people aged 16 and under. Applications are welcome from UK-registered companies, charities, chartered bodies, local authorities, schools, colleges, or universities actively involved in the provision of computing education or digital technology related activities, especially for audiences from excluded groups or backgrounds (such as pupils from areas of high deprivation and/or rural isolation, girls and young women and/or minority groups). Eligible organisations can apply for grants from a minimum of £500 to a maximum of £5,000.

This year, applicants will be required to submit their applications via online form found on the Digital Xtra Fund website. To help applicants with the grant application, Digital Xtra Fund will also be delivering 2 webinars while the funding is open. The final deadline for submissions of the grant application is Tuesday 5 April 2022 at 15:00. To find out more about eligibility criteria, online application and details about the webinars, please visit: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/apply/. Please find attached a flyer with relevant links and important dates for your reference.

Not withstanding the restrictions that Covid has brought, have you thought about the psychology behind the way you set up your classroom?

Scottish National Standardised Assessment Update: Learning Progress Report

From the 31 January 2022, a new SNSA report, the Learning Progress Report, will be available for users to access. The report provides diagnostic information about the progress made by individual learners, or cohorts of learners, against the concepts and skills assessed within the SNSA. When used within the context of wider assessment evidence, the report will help teachers and schools consider individual and group learning journeys since their last presentation at the SNSA.

The report can be generated for learners who have completed assessments in any of the relevant stages; P1, P4, P7 and S3, and will include all assessments for the selected learners from the current academic year, and from earlier years. This means, for example, that a Reading report generated for learners currently in Primary 5, will include the Reading (or Literacy at P1) assessments completed by those learners in Primary 1 and Primary 4.

Visit the SNSA Learning Progress Report help page for more information on how the Learning Progress Report differs from other SNSA reports, instructions on generating and downloading the report, as well as guidance on interpreting the data.