Month: August 2024

PARENT & CARER UPDATE (WEEK 2)

TELEPHONE LINES

Unfortunately we are still without working telephone lines and cannot take incoming or outgoing calls. This is a matter that is completely outwith the control of the school and sits with Openreach to find a solution to the problem. We are liaising with Council services involved in networks and communications to progress the issue. In the meantime, calls to the school will divert to the school mobile. Staff making outgoing calls may show as “No Caller ID”. The school email address, should you need to get in touch this way, is ealoudoun.ac@eastayrshire.org.uk

S1-6 ASSEMBLIES

Following assemblies last week led by the Senior Leadership Team with each year group on expectations and routines within the School Code – ready, respectful, responsible – I met with each year group to explore our new School Vision and Values. We want all of our young people to be ‘proud to be Loudoun’ and to be learning together and achieving together. I asked young people to consider their best qualities and how our shared school values were important in their lives in school and beyond:

  • KINDNESS – being helpful and always showing care and understanding;
  • DETERMINATION – working hard to overcome barriers and reach goals;
  • EQUALITY – valuing everyone equally, seeing differences as strengths;

Our School Vision and Values were recently developed from extensive consultation with students, parents and carers and staff and we hope to see these being more prominent across the school this Academic Session, particularly through student leadership activity.

STANDARDISED ASSESSMENTS

We will shortly carry out Standardised Assessments this term for all year groups. These take about two to three periods and are completed online, with students fully supported throughout the process with breaks at different stages. They are fully accessible and there is no revision or preparation needed. The assessments are internationally recognised and test a range of reasoning skills in the Cognitive Abilities Testing (CAT) set, as well as Pupil Attitudes to School and Self (PASS). The data from the Standardised Assessments will help us to have a good baseline for each student to better support their progress in learning and wellbeing. Should any parent or carer have any questions about the Standardised Assessments, please speak with Mr Hendry, Depute Head Teacher in the first instance.

IMMUNISATIONS

The School Nursing service will be in school on Monday 9 September 2024 to carry out immunisations for any student who may previously have been absent. Information will be provided separately for any student that is involved.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

An updated copy of the School Calendar for this year is attached, replacing the one from before the Summer Break. There are still a few events we are expecting to add in due course, but hopefully this gives you the information you may need for now.

ANNUAL DATA CHECK

Just a quick reminder that if you have not managed to do so, could the updated Annual Data Check please be with the School Office as soon as possible. It is so important we have the correct details for each student. Many thanks for your support with this.

SUPPORT FOR LEARNING S1 OPEN AFTERNOON

The Support for Learning department are holding an Open Afternoon for S1 students on Tuesday 10 September 2024 between 2.15 p.m. to 3.30 p.m., which has been rescheduled from a date which may have been shared earlier.

It is open to all parents and carers of S1 pupils in the wider school who have been identified at primary school as having Additional Support Needs. Come along and meet members of the staff team and hear about all different types of support that are on offer in Loudoun Academy.

Just come to Main Office for 2.10 p.m. where a member of staff will bring you up to Support Department. Mrs McPike, Principal Teacher of Support for Learning and the team hope to see you there!

Best wishes

David Falconer

Head Teacher

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

As you may know, the transport provider has changed at the start of the Academic Session for students who travel from Priestland, Darvel, Newmilns, Hurlford and Fenwick.

The school is not involved in any way at all in the arrangements, as this is coordinated by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) on behalf of the local authority.

Following a number of queries at the start of the new term, we have sought clarification on pickup times in the morning and have been provided with the information in the link below. I hope this is helpful.

Morning Pickup Bus Times

PARENT & CARER UPDATE (WEEK 1)

RETURN TO SCHOOL

It has been very positive return to the new Academic Session for staff and students alike. It has been a pleasure catching up with everyone and coming back together as a school community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for your very strong support of our School Uniform policy at the start of the new term, which I can absolutely say is the very best we have seen. It makes such a huge difference and really promotes a positive ethos. It is very much appreciated.

ASSEMBLIES

All year groups had assemblies with their Depute Head Teacher this week setting out routines and expectations for the return to school, including the School Code. A quick reminder of stage responsibilities:

  • Ms L Boyd, DHT (Acting) S1/S6
  • Mrs L Egerton, DHT S2/3
  • Mr B Hendry, DHT S4/5
  • Mrs L Whiteside, DHT S1-6 Communication Centre

Next week I look forwards to Head Teacher Assemblies with each year group on how we put our School Values into action and how young people can be further involved in developments for the school moving forwards in lots of different ways.

SQA RESULTS

Congratulations to our students in last year’s S4-6 on receiving their SQA Results. Individually there are many, many successes across students’ courses reflecting both the hard work and commitment of our young people, and indeed, the high quality of delivery and support from the team of staff.

We expect our overall school attainment at S5/6 Higher to be stronger against previous trends, although our S4 overall attainment is less strong but in line with our expectations. A key factor relating at this level has been lower attendance and engagement in certain key groups. Our School Improvement Plan reflects a number of priorities related to this so that we can support our students’ achievement further moving forwards.

Any remaining students who wish to discuss their results, potential Appeals or change of coursing should speak to their Principal Teacher of Pupil Support or Principal Teacher of Communication Centre in the first instance.

ANNUAL DATA CHECK

It is vital at the start of the new Academic Session we have the correct information on our system for students. All pupils have been issued with the Annual Data Check form, which should be completed by parents or carers and returned via students to the School Office early next week. Many thanks for your assistance with this critical work.

HEALTH CARE PLANNING

It is important in this process that the school has an updated picture of students’ individual medical needs. In many cases, conditions are often well-managed and students are able to take steps independently to meet their healthcare needs. If you need to keep medicines in the school for your child, we need your parental permission to administer these and a form can be obtained through the School Office.

For some children and young people with more serious conditions, we may need additional planning in place should they take unwell and a Health Care Plan would be required so everyone is clear on the right steps to take. Please speak with the School Office in the first instance if you think this may apply.

SUMMER REFURBISHMENT WORKS

As you may know, our hotly anticipated refurbishment of the two Dinner Halls has been completed, with very positive feedback from young people. The halls are fresh, modern and bright, with an increase in overall seating capacity too.

We are working with the Catering Team on the best model of service to meet demand, but it has been great to see how well the halls have been used already. A new pre-order system will also come onstream in the Autumn with more information to come in due course. This will reduce queuing further. We will continue to work with the student leadership group involved in the design process to customise the new dinner halls further in the coming months.

We also had additional refurbishments works commissioned for the second floor to create a Faculty of Support for Learning and Wellbeing, which included a refresh to The Snug. The new rooms are looking great and have already been very well used.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

Tempest Photography will be in school this Wednesday, 28 August 2024 all day for School Photographs for S1, S3 and S6 students. Should any parent or carer with a child or young person in this year group wish to have a family photo with a sibling in another year group, please let the School Office know by the end of the day on Tuesday so we can try to accommodate this in the planning.

Best wishes

David Falconer

Head Teacher

SQA RESULTS

Key Information

SQA Results will be delivered electronically after 08:00 if pupil have registered for MySQA. Royal Mail will deliver paper certificates inline with local delivery times. Mr Hendry will be in school this morning to assist if results have not been delivered as expected. Please contact the school office on 01563 820061. Further information can be found on the SQA website – Results day support – SQA

Jennifer Robertson our SDS Career’s Adviser has asked that the message below is also shared. Please get in touch if you require any help with future destinations or advice on the next steps.

SQA results support – Skills Development Scotland

Received your SQA results and need some support? Your career service is here to help Whatever your results, you have options. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) delivers Scotland’s career service. SDS provide support to learners, and their parents and carers, at what can be an uncertain time. Help on results day The SDS Results Helpline number is 0808 100 8000. This helpline goes live at 8am on results day, Tuesday 6 August until 5pm, Friday 9 August 2024. You can talk to SDS’s expert careers advisers about course vacancies at colleges and universities, Confirmation and Clearing, and get advice about Foundation, Modern, and Graduate Apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering, or staying on at school.

SDS careers advisers are at the end of the phone to help young people and their parents and carers. There’s also lots of results support on Scotland’s career website, My World of Work – it’s packed with advice, information and resources. If you would prefer to speak to someone in person, you can visit an SDS centre or community venue to talk to a careers adviser about your results and next steps. No appointment is necessary. Find out what’s close to you at skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/contact-us