There seems to be a bit of confusion at national and local level about access to school next week for Senior Phase pupils requiring to complete SQA coursework, portfolio work or practical assessments.

Our current position is:

• Principal Teachers are working with staff to identify pupils that have SQA work to complete, which work can be completed at home, which pupils will require access to the building to complete work and, finally, which pupils require additional support.
• Where this work can be completed at home without pupils being disadvantaged, that will be the preferred option – health and safety remains paramount and we must limit gatherings of significant numbers of pupils.
• Where pupils require to be in school due to resources or course requirements, we will contact them and families directly to arrange when this will happen next week. This will allow us to plan for social distancing measures, health and safety requirements and ensure that we have the correct staff on hand to support pupils.
•  Where pupils require and are entitled to additional support for assessments and/or coursework, we will factor this in to ensure that these entitlements are met and will communicate this with individual families and pupils.

I am aware that this is a slight shift on my communication last night that school will be open as normal for senior pupils to complete work and am now in a position to clarify what this will look like.

Whilst it remains the case that we will be open next week for Senior Phase pupils requiring access to complete SQA coursework, portfolio work and assessments, we are going to co-ordinate this from school level and make contact with pupils and families as and when we require them to be at school over the course of next week and the following week. Where work can be completed from home, departments will guide pupils through the platforms shared with you yesterday. Please do not send your child or young person to school next week if we have not directly contacted them/you. Depute Head Teachers are currently clarifying this with pupils that are present and I would appreciate if you could share the message with Senior Phase pupils currently at home.

Once again, I can re-assure you that no pupil will be disadvantaged throughout this process. We had a brilliant meeting with Mr Johnston and Principal Teachers to co-ordinate our plans for SQA Processes this morning and I have every confidence that pupils will come through this with the qualifications their work and endeavour merits.      
 
I know you will be anxious about this. Please just keep following our guidance and having confidence in our processes whilst reassuring your child and keeping them focused on controlling what they can control. I have received a high volume of communication over the last couple of days and appreciate all the kind words about the staff and the school. We are very much pulling through this together.

I trust that this gives you clarity on our current position. As in previous days, I will keep you updated and communicate any changes to guidance as we proceed.

Thank you
Ryan Miller
Head Teacher