Minutes 4th June 2008
Meeting Minutes – 4th June 2008
Present:
Barry Turner (councillor)
Heather Wallace
Jean Balloch
Malcolm Shaffer
Holly Kilday
Louise Kirkpatrick
Andy Forrest (councillor)
Jackie Harper
Denise McLister
Ann Marshall
Joyce Waugh
Gail Taylor
Ronnie Summers (HT)
Susan Dalglish
Clare Eadie
Eleanor Simpson
Stewart Buchan
John Williamson (councillor)
Katharina Skwara (minute taker)
Apologies:
Steve Williams
Lesley Paterson
Dianne Garvie
Margaret Stewart
1. Apologies
Apologies have been received from Steve Williams, Lesley Paterson, Dianne Garvie and Margaret Stewart.
2. Correspondence
a. Holiday sessions 2009-2010 – email from Judith Sterling/Susan McNaught (12.05.08). Draft proposed dates for the school session 2009/2010 to concur with the Edinburgh session dates for 2009-2010. After a short discussion about the advantages of correlating/corresponding session dates within connecting councils it was decided that Ronnie will contact the council expressing the PC comments.
b. Bouncy Castle – email from Val McIntrye (15.05.08). This is to confirm that the SPTC membership insurance does cover the use of bouncy castles. However, it is important to ensure that there is adequate supervision at all times.
c. Strategic Budget Planning Group representatives - email from Mary Horsburgh (20.05.08). Strategic Budget Planning Group will have their 1st meeting on Tuesday 27 May 2008. The Parent Council representatives are Mrs Helen Pickles, East Linton Parent Council and Dr Neil Jones, Dirleton Parent Council.
d. Risk Assessment Handouts – email from Val McIntyre (28.5.08). Informing that it will be the responsibility of the Parent Council to carry out a risk assessment for any event that they organise prior to the event taking place, such as a Summer Fayre, Disco, Quiz etc. The Health and Safety Implementation Officer, Judith Wood can be contacted for advice and guidance in this respect ( jwood at eastlothian.gov.uk or on 01620 827640)
e. Parent Council Budget 2008/2009 and Public Liability
Insurance – Val McIntyre (28.05.06). Admin and Training Budget allocation for the financial year 2008/2009 is held centrally and should be used to purchase stationery/ photocopying/ postage, etc. The email included a master form for claims, which has been forwarded to the treasurer.
3. Minutes of Last Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting 15.4.2008 were proposed by Stewart Buchan, seconded by Denise McLister and duly adopted by the Parent Council.
4. Matters arising
a. Quality of Cleaning
Ronnie Summers remarked that, even after 2 meetings with the FES, the quality of cleaning has not improved. The situation will continue to be monitored.
5. Health
Health will be a big item on the new curriculum and pupils are showing a greater interest in Health themes. Hence the idea of a Health Interest Group, which could receive support from East Lothian Council, was discussed.
6. Reports
a. Pupil council meeting
Gail Taylor reported back from a very positive pupil council meeting. The issues raised by the pupils were:
I. Quality of cleaning – the pupil council will write a letter about the ongoing problem.
II. Supplies of drinking water – the pupils are keen on having access to free drinking water within the school.
III. Healthy eating – fruit and veg is available in the canteen at competitive prices, and the canteen staff listen to pupils suggestions about provision.
IV. After-school clubs – suggestions by pupils about additional activities are being looked at in terms of provision and health and safety.
V. Uniforms – pupils confirmed that they were happy about the uniforms
b. Fundraising Group
Clare Eadie reported that the car boot sale had brought in £152.60, and the sale of refreshments an additional £99.50. There is now £699.67 in the account. After a short discussion, it was agreed that Ronnie would email a list of suggestions of what the funds could be spent on.
c. Communications Group
Stewart Buchan stated that it would be better if the Parent Forum were contacted via a newsletter, and be encouraged to make suggestions about jargon, which he will then put into a jargon buster glossary. He commented that the website is still a little awkward to navigate and that he will meet up with Ollie to discuss a better arrangement.
7. Head Teacher’s Report
The Head Teacher has a statutory obligation to inform parents:
a. Staffing
Ronnie Summers announced that there would be a History teacher exchange with the US, and that he has 3 impending interviews for various positions. He declared that there would be no permanent appointment to the Guidance vacancy, and that he will only appoint for 1 year. The other posts are for maternity cover and for a job share respectively. Furthermore, the situation with the NQTs is still uncertain as they still can withdraw from the process.
b. Budget
The budget is still not definitive, due to the ongoing uncertainty with the NQTs. Also the school roll will not be finalised until September. There is a £20k overspend from last year’s budget, and hence there will be no budget for maintenance or ICT. Ronnie explained that 95% of the school’s budget is made up of staff costs, and therefore every vacancy has to be carefully reflected upon. Ronnie is also part of the ELC Finance strategic group and feels that the meeting was very productive with a broad ranging discussion.
c. Timetable
The timetable will still need to be reviewed owing to the unstable situation with the budget and NQTs. The Head Teacher explained that the arrangements for S1 and S2 would change; however S3-S6 will stay the same.
d. Exams
Ronnie announced that he was very pleased about the S4 exams, but also remarked that mobile phones are a big problem and that he will consider doing spot checks. This would mean pupils caught with a mobile phone would be withdrawn from the exam, so pupils would need to understand the situation before national exams.
e. Uniform consultation
Approximately 200 parents responded to the consultation with three to one in favour of the proposed changes.The Head Teacher reported that he was very happy with the consultation, and that there had been positive comments in returns. He had tried to address concerns in his newsletter.
f. Visit to Queen Margaret University
Ronnie declared that he and the primary head teachers had a very good meeting with university staff, and that the QMU campus is very impressive. He is very keen to develop links with QMU to give pupils a realistic impression what university life is like.
g. S1 Trip
Ronnie reported that S1 had a very good trip to Loch Lomond, apart from one deliberate damage incident, which is being investigated.
h. SQA Maths exam
Both PC and the Head Teacher raised concern about the recent SQA Maths exam, which appears to have been excessively difficult and included material easier solved by higher standard methodology. Ronnie pointed out that the SQA had already received complaints and that they always sample schools about the exams. This will be raised with them as being an overly harsh exam. The parent council felt that S4 pupils still lacked exam techniques and that this might impact on their confidence and willingness to go forward to further national exams. Ronnie offered to write to the Head of Education about the PCs concerns and PC agreed.
8. School Improvement Plan
The Head Teacher is obliged to inform the PC about the School Improvement Plan and to give the opportunity for suggestions. Items on the 2007/8 plan which have not been fully addressed are IIP – Investors in People because of cost; Corporate Communication because of time and SELS to develop the pupil voice.
For the coming year, the school will focus on two main things – one being A Curriculum for Excellence. Staff have a lot of material to read and digest and start to adapt their courses. Many schools feel at present that they are teaching towards examinations, rather then giving a rounded learning experience. The forthcoming consultation on the examination structure is welcomed. The other focus is on teaching and learning, continuing to address the inconsistencies noted by the Hmie report. We want all classes to be well taught: we see examples of very good practice but not in all classes around the school.
There will continue to be work in building learning communities – both with parents and with the wider community.
Other things are covered in the school as a maintenance agenda to make sure the school runs smoothly and any issues are dealt with.
Ronnie also remarked on the difficult transition between 4th and 5th year and that he is considering allowing older students to speak to 4th year students about their experience as 5th or 6th year students.
After discussion, parents had no significant additions to add to the forthcoming improvement plan.
Prizegiving – the three postholders (Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer would be invited as of right to reception before prizegiving and space would be made for three other members and their partners to be invited. Names to Jean if you wish to come to this and then passed to Ronnie.
9. Meetings format
Jean emailed a consultation document beforehand and reported back on the responses. It was agreed that the Staff room had a friendlier and less formal atmosphere, and that refreshments were welcomed. Points raised were:
a. Minutes - Emailed in advance, individuals check minutes and only bring up points if necessary or action required.
b. Health - idea of getting an interest group up and running and explore support from East Lothian Council.
c. Reports - Updates from interest groups should be a standing item, also included are presentations from school staff/pupils.
d. Head Teacher’s Report – standing item on agenda points should be included as bullet points on agenda in advance.
e. School Improvement Plan – obligation of Head Teacher to keep PC informed.
f. Meetings format – various suggestions have been made and these will be collated and recorded in a separate document.
g. AGM - different venue, refreshments - but people will need to think about structure and contents
h. Suggestions - various suggestions have been made and these will be collated and recorded in a separate document
10. AGM
It was decided that the AGM should take place at a different venue, and dates for meetings in the next term should be set. Jean felt that an AGM in September would give people enough time to prepare for it. Ronnie and Jean would meet to pull arrangements together.It was agreed that a newsletter, prepared by the chair, should be issued to the parent forum in June.
11. AOB
Stewart Buchan will attend the East Lothian Association of Parent Councils meeting on 5.6.08 and asked for 5 good suggestions from every PC. MGS suggestions were:
a. Refreshments
b. Interest groups
c. Comfort, and less formal surroundings
d. Self-reflection
e. Rotating dates i.e. meetings on different days of the week
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