Balfron Matters


7 February 2022

Weekly communication for staff

Dear colleagues,

Thanks for pulling the tracking data together in super quick time. It will give a good indication of where we are in relation to patterns of attainment as well as the progress of the current cohorts.

I am concerned by the number of pupils who have already withdrawn from courses and would like to reinforce how important it is that we do our best to keep pupils in. Final decisions lie with the Depute for each House who will discuss with individuals and their parents.

Scotland's win at the weekend reminded me of the Sports Awards in June 2019 when the Calcutta Cup came to Balfron. I have shared a nostalgic picture in the Banner above.

It is always great to share achievements of young people. I thought you might be interested in this short film that stars Cailean Galloway, 2E2. Maximus is a 15 minute film where a young girl tells the story of her brother's fight with cancer - as the gladiator Maximus (Cailean).

Thanks for your hard work and commitment.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High School:

  • S4/5 Information Evening (Tuesday)

  • S4 Parents' Meeting (Thursday)

Project Lead Fortnightly Update

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


Planning for Next Session's S1 pupils - Please support the Flexible Learning Team

I am looking for your help to prepare, in advance, for August's new intake of S1's.


I have been made aware of a larger than usual number of pupils coming to us, for whom mainstream classes are going to prove challenging, if not impossible and it is likely that we will have a number of pupils needing to access Flexible Learning as their main area of learning.


For this reason, I am keen to begin gathering materials from each of the curricular areas, for the first term Aug - Dec and I would be grateful if you could share an outline of the course content for S1 in your subject.


At this point, I would like to invite you to nominate a member of your team to be a Curriculum Link to Flexible Learning. This person would be responsible for collating materials and resources in the first instance, which could then be used by a Support for Learning teacher to adapt / differentiate accordingly, to ensure equity for these pupils in their educational experience.


I have created a folder in the Balfron Staff shared google drive called Flexible Learning Curriculum Links, for materials to be shared according to subject / term.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q19YQ9X3gJ_8T1_dILwlPtU7QrnaDlmJ


I will also prepare trays in B24 for each curricular area which can be used for any hard copies of materials you are able to share.


I will be emailing the probationer teachers separately, to encourage them to give some of their free time to flexible learning for the remainder of this session ( some do already), to foster the ethos of 'shared responsibility' for meeting learners needs. Ideally, next session, if staffing levels permit, it would be good to have some input for these learners from subject teachers also and this is something I have shared with SLT and will be happy to discuss more fully at the next opportunity.


In the meantime, please contact me if you have any questions and thanks for your support.


Lynne McAllister

Digital Extra Fund

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 5th 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.

S4-6 FCLs - Please make your Form Class aware of these opportunities on a regular basis

Ideas for Sharing - Seating Plans

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

National Spotlight on Equity


SNSA - How well do we use the data available to us?

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.

In-service Day Programme



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 S4 Tracking due

10 February S4 Parents Meeting

11 February S5/6 Tracking due


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

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

tba Maths M Young

6 December Social Subjects S Boyle