Parental letter
SQA exams 2021
We are now in receipt of all the subject specific guidance from SQA and have been developing a school wide approach to assessing young people in connection with National 5 certification.
This will lead to changes in our Prelim exam schedule and arrangements for exam preparation leave.
Mr Hodgman has been working with staff to create a parental guide to National 5 assessment that we will share with you shortly.
Following this, we will be hosting an online engagement event on 3rd December at 4.30pm to explain the process in more depth and give you a chance to ask questions. Your young person can register you for this through their iPad enabling you to join us on that platform. More details will be sent nearer the time.
As you may already be aware, Higher exams are scheduled to go ahead from 10th May 2021. The timetable has been published and is available at https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/exam-timetable-2021.pdf
Parents Evenings
Thank you for all your responses to our recent consultation on Parents Evenings. As a result of this we have added a ‘next steps’ section to the tracking report to help you see more clearly how your young person can improve. We are also looking to offer a follow up service when tracking reports are issued. Look out for the reply slip that comes with the tracking report and indicate on this if you have subject specific concerns that you would like to discuss. We will then gather the information you need and get back in touch.
Covid-19
You will be aware that the Scottish Government has recently moved the Glasgow City Council area to Tier 4. This has meant that we have had to keep PE outdoors and restrict activities that do not take place in the course of the normal school day.
Remember that at present, you should not attend the school without an appointment. We know that there may be occasions where a face-to-face meeting is essential however, where possible we are trying to keep all correspondence via telephone or email.
Digital Learning
We have strengthened our remote learning arrangements where young people to have been unable to attend school and the iPad rollout has supported us significantly in this. Indeed, we are very close to every single Smithycroft pupil having an iPad in their hand. Pupils are successfully engaging with online materials in class and at home. This has been a tremendous success and although there are still delays especially resolving login details and technical issues, the level of engagement in classes has been very encouraging.
We continue to put plans in place for reporting and resolving hardware issues and have already offered a series of “genius bars” to offer practical tips on how to use. Our next step is to develop our web presence around our digital learning strategy and consult with staff, pupils and parents about what is working well.
Esgoil
A free online learning service is now available nationally through Esgoil – a government backed inititiave based in the Highlands. Senior students are able to access subject specific learning at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level across a arrange of subjects delivered by specialists. Young people can register with their Glow email at http://www.e-sgoil.com/studysupport2020/ and then select the tutorials that they would like to join.
Primary Transition
We have been working with our associated primaries to revamp our induction processes. Initial visits to the primaries are already underway. At this visit, Mr Brown introduces himself to staff and pupils prior to an online “hot seat” event where pupils from all the primaries can ask questions live to both him and I.
In January, we will begin to launch our virtual tours and hopefully be in a position to share our S1 pupil videos sharing their experiences from S1. We are also hoping to be able to share footage of S1 classes in action across the school. Enhanced transition conversations have also already begun with our PT Learning support speaking to Headteachers to identify priority areas for enhanced provision.
Pick up at the end of the school day
A further reminder about pick up. We are conscious that traffic at the gate can be congested and that this is not helped by an inability to car share in the usual way at present. Our first priority is everyone’s health and safety so please continue to be mindful of others and leave as soon as you have collected your young person.
Thanks again for all your support,
Patrick