From Monday 15 March, pupils in S4 to S6 who are taking national qualifications will begin their return to school and will have priority for face-to-face lessons. Learning and teaching, whether in school or through remote learning, will continue to enable both teachers and pupils to review and consolidate all learning, before moving on to focus on completing assessment evidence.

The number of assessments which pupils will undertake for qualifications purposes may vary across their subjects. This is due to the nature of individual subjects and how they are taught. Pupils should talk to their teachers if they have any questions about what work will count towards assessment evidence.

With the SQA exams being cancelled this year, teachers will use their professional judgement to decide results at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher based on the marked evidence from pupils’ assessments. These will remain provisional results until all quality assurance checks have been carried out.

To ensure provisional results are fair and credible across the whole of Scotland, quality assurance processes will be applied in two phases:

• In the first instance quality assurance will be carried out by the school, with support from the local authority. This includes discussing and agreeing the marking of pupils’ work across all classes and local schools.
• Alongside this SQA will also carry out quality assurance as support for teachers. For example, reviewing their assessment and marking standards. This is to ensure that when teachers conduct assessments, that national standards are applied reliably and consistently across Scotland.

Schools will submit provisional results to SQA by 25 June.

SQA will not adjust provisional results. It will check for administrative errors that might have happened when schools were sending the quality assured results to SQA. When that check is completed, provisional results will become final.

Pupils will receive their results by post on Tuesday 10 August 2021. They will also receive their results by text and/or email if they decided to sign up for this service at www.mysqa.org.uk.

SQA has created an information booklet outlining ‘What you need to know for 2021 – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher’ qualifications. This includes further details on how results will be arrived at and about the quality assurance process for this year.

The booklet is available to download from the SQA website and will be posted directly to your child w/c 15 March.

You can stay up to date on the 2021 National Qualifications by visiting sqa.org.uk/NQ2021.

Please encourage your child to take part in the Lateral Flow Testing to help us keep Sanquhar Academy open for all learners. Additional information is available through the links below to the Dumfries and Galloway website.

In accordance with the Scottish Government guidance, asymptomatic testing is available for all our senior phase pupils.  A supply of Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) are available from the school and will be made available to all our senior phase pupils.

For more information on the asymptomatic testing programme is available on the Support DG website: SupportDG – Dumfries and Galloway Council – Asymptomatic Testing in Scottish Primary, Secondary and Special Schools, and ELC Providers (dumgal.gov.uk)

More information

There are Frequently Asked Questions on the Support DG website providing more information on the return to schools: SupportDG – Dumfries and Galloway Council – Reopening of schools – Frequently Asked Questions (dumgal.gov.uk)

Hello,

Yesterday parents and carers were sent text messages advising of their child’s allocation of day/s for the 15th March until the Easter Holidays.  We are working hard to ensure that the timetable that will be in place meets the constraints set down by the Scottish Government  within their paperwork issued to schools on the 8th of March.

The following considerations have been taken into account within the revised timetable:

• The need to prioritise pupils in the Senior Phase (S4-S6) as they complete the work that will be vital in helping them to achieve their qualifications and get the grades that they have worked for.
• The need to ensure 2 metre distancing for all staff and learners throughout the school.
• The need to reduce transition points during the school day, reducing the number of contacts on a daily basis.
• The capacity on school transport to ensure physical distancing requirements.

Everyone within the school building will be required to wear face coverings throughout the day unless they are exempt for medical or additional support needs. Lateral flow testing kits are available for all staff and Senior Phase learners these can be collected from the school office.  It is anticipated that pupils will return to school in school uniform with added layers for warmth as appropriate. Windows will be open regardless of the weather to provide ventilation in classrooms.  Physical Education will continue to take place outdoors only, please ensure children come prepared for this if PE is on their timetable.

Pupils will be issued with their new timetable next week, this timetable will remain in place until June 2021.  All learners will attend classes in double period blocks to allow reduction in the number of contacts on a daily basis and the assessment of pupils work towards their qualification’s. Senior Phase learners have been allocated two days in school and BGE (S1 -S3) one day. It is expected that pupils are completing their school work across the remainder of the week by remote learning.  Learners who have a place allocated within the childcare hub will continue to have access to this place until their full time return to in school learning.

During the period of blended learning from the 15 – 26 March 2021 all learners are requested to remain on campus for break and lunchtime to support the community who remain in lockdown.  This will remain the position until the  COVID 19 tier level information for Dumfries and Galloway is released from the Scottish Government.

Senior Phase pupils who are considering leaving or are at the end of S6 will be required to remain in school until the end of June 2021 to complete their qualifications. Exceptional circumstances will be considered please contact your child’s Pupil Support Teacher or Year Head to discuss as required.

It is hoped that all learners will be able to return full time in school education after the Easter Holidays in line with the Scottish Government timeline, as always we await confirmation of this and any changes will be intimated to you in due course.

I look forward to meeting all learners next week.

Hello,

The video attached provides information on the Phased Return for Senior Phase practical subjects, housekeeping for learners in school, remote learning engagement, SQA expectations and blended learning.

 

 

 

 

The National Parent Forum of Scotland are co-hosting webinars with Public Health Scotland on returning to school.

The second webinar will focus on the return to school for children in S4, S5 and S6 and what it means for parents and their child.

 The webinar will cover –

– Who from S4, 5 and 6 will be returning to school and why?

– What will school look like for my child when they return?

– What is being done to keep learners safe – e.g. testing?

– What about assessment and qualifications, how will my child be supported?

You can sign up to attend the webinar here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/returning-to-school-qa-with-public-health-scotland-s4-s6-tickets-141712332401

The remote learning plan for week beginning the 22 Feb until the 19 Mar 2021 is now available. Parent/carers and pupils have been notified of any days that pupils are required to attend school to complete practical elements of their chosen SQA courses.

To access the Remote Learning Plan please click on the link below.

Remote Learning Plan 18.02.21

 

Letter for all parent/carers for Dr Gillian Bryson, Director of Skills, Education and Learning.

20210218 Letter to Parents

Hello everyone,

We have reached the February Holiday.

As you are aware there is a planned return for some senior phase pupils to return to complete practical activities.  The numbers allowed into school in a day are capped at 20.  Senior Phase pupils studying, Practical Woodwork, Graphics, Art, Hospitality, Drama and Administration are able to attend for 1 day per week.  Parents and pupils who are eligible have been lettered to advise of the day/s that they should attend school. Transport arrangements are being put into place by the local authority in line with the normal transport provision for the pupils who will be attending.

All senior phase pupils and staff who will be attending school in person have access to lateral flow COVID 19 testing which can be used twice per week.

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon is due to update parliament on the 16 Feb 21 and confirm if the phased return can go ahead as planned. Following this announcement further details regarding the remote learning plan for Sanquhar Academy pupils will be updated.

I hope that you all have a peaceful and relaxing February holiday.  Thank you all for your continued support, hard work and dedication to ensure that the children and young people continue to progress with their learning at home.

Elaine Hetherington Cree

Headteacher

The letter below is from the Director of Skills, Education and Learning , Dr Gillian Bryson.  It details information for Parent/Carers regarding the planned phased return to schools from 22 February 2021. This letter will also be added to the ‘school bag’ for future reference.

20210211 Letter to Parents