Parent Newsletter
HMIe Report
This report is published on 29th August 2006.
I am very pleased that the report recognises many strengths within the school, and particularly the very strong tradition of success in the performing arts. I am also pleased that the report recognises the work that has been done to ensure that all Garnock valley pupils integrate harmoniously into school, and our success in providing support for those pupils who require it.
The school has already started to address the action points raised in the report, and will continue to work hard on these areas.New Staff
I am pleased to say that the school has a full complement of teaching staff at the start of this session. This is the result of a significant number of new teaching staff who started on 15th August. These are: Ms J Thomson (English), Ms C Smith (English), Ms C Kelt (Geography), Ms C Murray (Geography), Ms K Eadie (Mathematics), Mr I Forster (PE), Ms V Mancini (French), Ms K Thornton (Art), Ms L Sim (Art), Ms I McCormick (Art), Mr J White (Chemistry) , Ms F Birch (Chemistry), Mr C Simpson (Pupil Support), Ms J Wilson (Pupil Support), Ms M Cunninghame (Classroom Assistant) and Ms A Harkness (Classroom Assistant). I hope that they will enjoy working in Garnock Academy.School Policy on Rings, necklaces etc.
Pupils should not wear large rings, multi-finger rings, elaborate necklaces, gold chains, large ear rings, name tab necklaces, and so on, to school. This can develop into a bit of a competition between some pupils, and such items are detrimental to health and safety in a number of areas, even when moving about the school on busy stairs and corridors. Please discourage your son or daughter from wearing such items to school. Teachers will ask pupils to remove banned items and put them away out of sight. Repeated requests will lead to punishment exercises being issued.Accommodation Improvements
A second Home Economics kitchen has been totally refurbished to a high standard just before the summer and is now fully in use. Similarly a Technical workshop was completely refurbished and a new Technical ICT room created. These are very welcome improvements to the teaching environment.
Start of Term
Term started for a good number of new S1 pupils on Wednesday 9th August when the “Summer’s Cool” programme started. This is designed to be a fun start for S1 pupils immediately before the term starts, and all who participated appeared to enjoy the experience.
School started properly for all pupils on Wednesday 16th August with 188 new S1 pupils, giving an overall school roll of 1071. This is almost exactly the same number as last session. It is very pleasing to see that all pupils, almost without exception, have managed to follow the improved school dress code as developed last session. Well done to them and their parents for their support. My intention is to maintain this high standard of dress throughout the session, and I will be grateful for your continued support. There are photographs taken around the school on the first day of term, on the school website which can be found at www.garnockacademy.org
Antibullying Hotline
The school runs an anti-bullying hotline each year in September. The telephone number is 07765530173 and this will be operational from 6pm to 8pm from Monday 4th September to Friday 15th September.
This hotline is very useful in preventing problems, and will be repeated later in the year. However, it is not necessary to wait until a hotline is available. If your son or daughter has concerns relating to bullying, please take the matter up as soon as possible with your child’s Guidance teacher in the first instance. Often problems can be prevented if they are acted upon when they first come to light.
Parents’ Evening Dates
Parents’ Evenings for the session are as follows:
S1 - Thursday 22nd March 2007
S2 - Tuesday 14th November 2006
S3 - Wednesday 17th January 2007
S4 - Thursday 22nd February 2007
S5/6 - Wednesday 29th November 2006
P7 Parents - Monday 14th May 2007Exclusion Criteria (circulated in previous years)
Exclusions of pupils from Scottish schools is a subject which has been debated for years. I would like to outline to parents and pupils, in a clear manner, the type of pupil behaviour which is likely to result in exclusion from Garnock Academy. These are the same criteria that have been discussed and agreed with the School Board in past years. These are aimed at improving safety and maximising effective teaching, without disruption. The criteria are:(i) Threatening behaviour or violence towards a member of staff. (Verbal or
non-verbal)
(ii) Obscenity directed at a member of staff. (Verbal or non-verbal)
(iii) Unprovoked assault on another pupil or pupils.
(iv) Persistent, deliberate, disruptive behaviour.
(v) Criminal actions. (Drug taking or selling, theft, arson, carrying weapons, etc.)
(vi) Persistent intimidation of another pupil, or pupils.There may be other exceptional cases depending upon individual circumstances.
In case (v) the Police will be involved and possibly other agencies.
In the other cases, particularly (iii), the Police or other agencies may be involved.
The School Board supports the consequences of accepting these criteria, in the best welfare interests of all pupils and staff in Garnock Academy.
Hopefully the numbers of pupils being excluded from school this session will be minimal.
Summary of School Plan
The major themes of the school plan for 2006/2007 are as follows:Achievement and Attainment
To increase the % of pupils gaining five or more Standard Grade 1 or 2 passes, by the end of S4, in Summer 2007.
(Particularly by developing quality homework regimes, study and parental involvement)Achievement and Attainment
To improve the requirement of “meeting pupil needs” identified in the April 2006 HMIe visit.Values and Citizenship
To raise, across the school, pupil and staff expectations of quality work produced by pupils to the levels achieved by best practice departments, as identified in the April 2006 HMIe visit.Framework for Learning
To improve communications with parents regarding pupil progress.Learning for Life
To develop Enterprise in Education. To review current progress in implementing strategies outlined in “Determined to Succeed”.Maintenance Priorities:
Values and Citizenship
To continue to work on the Assertive Discipine Programme and Promoting Positive Behaviour and to continure developing pupil discipline procedures introduced in May 2006.Learning for Life
To continue to develop a Health Awareness Programme, involving PSE, Biology, HE, PE and the School Meals Service.Inclusion and Equality
To continue the “Summer’s Cool” initiative, trialled August 2004, to improve social integration of incoming S1 pupils.Inclusion and Equality
To prepare departments and staff for the requirements of the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004.Achievement and Attainment
To continue to develop the “Assessment is for Learning” initiative within the 5-14 programme, in conjunction with cluster Primary colleagues.
Please note that the complete school plan can be viewed on the school website under Information for Parents.
Brian McNaught Rector August 2006
Garnock Academy
School Road
Kilbirnie
KA25 7AX5
Telephone:01505 682685
Email: contactus@garnock.n-ayrshire.sch.uk
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