27 March 2023: Connect, the body supporting parent councils and other parent groups in schools, has produced some useful guidance for financial regulation.
Money Matters Health Check for Parent Groups
Money Matters Guidelines for Parent Groups
The JGHS parent council will be reviewing these documents, and discussing how the guidance will inform our own handling of parent council financial processes, at the our next meeting on 31 May.
23 March 2023: Connect has just published the spring edition of its termly newsletter Backchat.
This edition includes:
23 March 2023: The SQA has created “Your Exams 2023” – a booklet, which is delivered to schools, colleges and training providers and includes helpful information and rules that your child needs to know before their exams start.
You can find out more on the SQA blog site:
SQA exams 2023 – information for parents and carers
For more information including the exam timetable, prohibited items, exam preparation, SQA apps and tips for on the day visit the SQA Your Exams 2023 website:
22 March 2023: The Scottish Government has launched a new consultation on prescribing the minimum annual number of learning hours in schools.
Prescribing the minimum annual number of learning hours: consultation
This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government’s plans to set a legal minimum number of hours of school education school pupils should receive each year.
Traditionally, Scottish primary schools provide around 25 learning hours per week, and Scottish secondary schools around 27.5 hours per week. However, while local authorities are required to have their schools open for 190 days each year, the number of learning hours is not prescribed.
The Scottish Government is now planning to use the existing provisions in the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 to set the minimum number of learning hours in a school year, and propose to use this power to make regulations later this year.
This consultation is an opportunity for local authorities, parents, children and young people and other stakeholders to provide views and evidence about the potential impact of the implementation of this policy.
Find out more and submit your views
The responses will be used to inform future regulations and non-statutory guidance.
The consultation closes on 13 June 2023.
21 March 2023: Many thanks to those who were able to join us for the James Gillespie’s High School Parent Council meeting on Tuesday 21 March.
The recording of the meeting is now available:
Watch the Parent Council Meeting 21 March 2023 on YouTube
Note of JGHS parent council meeting on 21 March 2023
Updated 19 March 2023: The Scottish Government is carrying out an Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessments, led by Professor Louise Hayward.
Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessments
The Qualifications and Assessment Review brings together ideas to modernise Scottish qualifications and assessments. This means that the new qualifications and assessments will be inclusive of all learners, while meeting the needs of employers, colleges and universities, and Scottish society.
Education – qualifications and assessment review: consultation
Phase One looked the vision and principles, and Phase Two explored options for a new approach to qualifications and assessment in Scotland.
In support of Phase Three a potential new model for qualifications and assessment in Scotland has been developed – the Scottish Diploma of Achievement.
As part of the review process the National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS) and Connect are the gathering views of parents and carers.
Connect will be hosting a live online discussion for parents and carers with Professor Hayward on the new qualifications model.
Places are free, but booking is essential.
Connect and National Parent Forum Scotland have also published a survey for parents and carers to gather views on the proposed Model for Qualifications and Assessment.
The Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment: Phase Three Parent/Carer Survey
The survey is open until early April 2023.
The March newsletter from Connect is also now available.
6 March 2023: The next meeting of the James Gillespies High School Parent Council will be on Tuesday 21 March at 7 pm via MS Teams. The joining link will be circulated by the School in the week of the meeting.
There will be a special focus on science teaching at this meeting, with presentation from the Curriculum Leader Mr Iain Coltart.
There will also be the usual updates from Headteacher Mr McCallum and from Parent Council Chair Sarah Scott, and the opportunity to ask questions via the Q&A panel.
We very much hope that you will be able to join with us
If there are any questions you would like to have addressed, please send them to the Parent Council ahead of the meeting and we will forward them to the School.
Details of the previous Parent Council meeting can be found here:
2 March 2023: The Scottish Government published its latest statistics on school leaver attainment and their initial destinations on 28 February 2023.
The new report provides information on the attainment and destinations of 2021/22 school leavers from Scotland’s publicly funded schools.
It includes information on leavers’ attainment in National Qualifications gained throughout their time at school, and reports on their destinations approximately three months after the end of the school year in October 2022. It also includes statistics on the proportion of leavers who gained vocational (or ‘skills-based’) qualifications.
You can read the newsletter from the Office of the Chief Statistician (ScotStat) or access the summary statistics at the links below:
Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations No. 5: 2023 edition
25 February 2023: The Parent Council would like to say a special thank to all the parents and carers who so generously donated the the 2022 Festive Fundraiser campaign in aid of our Small Sums Fund.
In December, the total raised on ParentPay was £910, which will now all go towards funding a wide range range of staff projects. Past projects have included subscriptions to periodicals, specialist books and equipment for learners with additional support needs, specialist art equipment, and equipment for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
The next round of applications to the Small Sums Fund will be towards the end of this academic year.
You can find out more about the Small Sums Fund and the projects we have funded here:
JGHS Parent Council Small Sums Fund
The Parent Council will also raising money for the Small Sums Fund on the refreshment stalls at the upcoming Spring Fling concerts and other in-school events – so please look out for us!
23 February 2023: The National Parent Forum Scotland (NPFS) have opened a fresh survey for parents and carers across Scotland, to gather and assess views regarding the ongoing industrial action among teaching unions.
As the detail of strike action has changed, the NPFS are asking for follow-up opinions on this issue.
The survey is open until 5 pm on Monday 27 February.
JGHS Parent Council 