St Joseph's Academy – East Ayrshire

Dear Parent/Carer,

One or two parents/carers or pupils have used the school closure engagement survey to ask questions or offer suggestions unrelated to COVID19, school closure or online access.

Please be assured that we are reading all responses. However, in order that we can direct enquiries appropriately, it would be beneficial if any other concerns could be raised via this form or the contact us page on our website:

Kind Regards

Mr Kane

Dear Parents/Carers,

Here are some more fitness tasks to help pupils stay active at home. Click on images to zoom in.

Fitness Monopoly

Frustration Fitness

Dear S2 pupils and parents/carers,

As you know we are in the process of finalising next year’s timetable. You may remember that we have one flexible period in S3. For pupils wishing to study two Modern Languages, this period is used to facilitate delivery of your second chosen language.

Ordinarily, we would have issued an additional option form for this column, and discussed this with you at an assembly. However, the school closure has prevented us from doing so.

If you have not chosen to study a college course, and you do want to take a second language, please complete the form below as soon as you can.  We only need you to add your name to the form.

Kind Regards

Mr Kane

Dear Parents/Carers and Pupils,

We are asking that all pupils complete the following brief survey. This will allow us to direct resources towards those young people who have not yet managed to access Glow. We ask that all pupils take two minutes to complete this form. Parents/Carers can complete the form on behalf of their children.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx…

Kind Regards

Mr Kane

Dear Parents/Carers,

Further to our first FAQ release last week, I would like to provide a further update. In the event that you have a query not addressed in this post, please check last week’s release first. If your query is not addressed there, please use the Contact Us page to raise any concerns.

First FAQ Guidance – https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/stjosephsacademy/2020/03/25/frequently-asked-questions/

Contact Us Page – https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/stjosephsacademy/contact-us/

I hope that you have found online delivery of content to be helpful over the course of the past week. I think there is recognition across our school community of the fact that online delivery cannot reflect the classroom experience. I wish to reiterate the point made last week around all of us maintaining realistic expectations of one another during the school closure period. Nevertheless, staff have worked very hard to upload a wide range of content across Groups, Teams and Google Classrooms and I would like to once again thank colleagues for their efforts.  I would also like to thank you and our pupils for continuing to engage with the content shared via Glow.

Timetable Change

We were originally due to change timetable on the 27th April. Our timetable change date is one of the earliest in Scotland. Most schools change in mid to late May or early June. In the current circumstances, it will not be possible to change timetable on the 27th April, as there is a significant amount of IT work behind the scenes which needs to be accounted for first. During the closure period, the systems we would use are not entirely accessible and it is not possible for the staff who would usually work together on this task to do so remotely.

There is also a need to consider how we setup new online learning groups when unable to synchronise data with the school management system. For this reason, our timetable will not change any earlier than Monday 11th May. Even then, we need to come to a collegiate agreement around whether or not we are in a position to upload enough content for new courses at that point. At the moment, no staff can access the school and the overwhelming majority of our resources are on school servers. For obvious reasons remote access to servers is prioritised for those staff working with vulnerable pupils and for systems critical staff within the local authority.  As I am sure you will understand, there is significant pressure on broadband connections in general at the moment and no school level server is setup to support mass remote access.

In the days prior to closure, staff may have had time to transfer files for the courses currently on offer, but this was not possible for all content or content delivered at the start of a new session.  It should also be noted that we would not ordinarily offer direct teaching to the vast majority of our new S4-S6 during May, as they are usually on study leave. This presents another challenge when trying to set a timetable change date that is realistic for all.

Over Easter, members of the SLT will work on the timetable, and within the constraints that exist, will attempt to upload the relevant data to SEEMIS (our school management system). If we get to that point without further issue, we will be in a position to consult with staff on the viability of going live online in mid-May.  It should be noted that we are considering contingency plans that would allow for access to third party generic resources. Young people would be issued with links and would be encouraged to work on certain parts of courses, but regular uploading of content associated with the early part of courses cannot be guaranteed at this stage. A further update will follow after the Easter break. We are working to find solutions, but as is the case in many industries, there are unique challenges that this closure period presents in terms of logistics and planning for schools.

SCHOLAR Access

Some parents have asked about granting access to SCHOLAR materials. SCHOLAR can be accessed via Glow and is an online learning tool for Maths, English, Science, Modern Languages and Computing. Pupils already studying those subjects can access SCHOLAR at the moment.

After the Easter break we will provide details on how to access SCHOLAR for courses our pupils intend to study next session but are not currently completing. This will perhaps negate some of the issues listed earlier for some of our learners. Doing so beforehand is not necessary, as young people are yet to migrate to new courses and have content to complete that has been issued by their class teacher.

This would allow our current S4 and S5 pupils to access content for some of their new courses. However, it will not allow staff to monitor progress within SCHOLAR. This is not possible until we formally change timetable. There is some uncertainty around providing access to our current S3. Originally, SCHOLAR offered a time limited 28 day access period. We are working to establish if this time limit has been removed for our S3 pupils. If it has been removed, we will also issue S3 with access codes after Easter.  We felt it counter intuitive to allow S3 access only for it to be revoked a short time later.

SQA Estimates

As you know, the SQA released a statement and a FAQ guide this evening.

SQA Statement – https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/stjosephsacademy/2020/04/02/sqa-update-thursday-2nd-april-2020/

SQA FAQ Guide – https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/stjosephsacademy/files/2020/04/SQA-Parent-and-Carer-FAQ-Guide.pdf 

I would like to refer to point 2a in the FAQ guide:

2.a. How will exams be certificated this year?

We are asking teachers and lecturers at schools and colleges across the country to use their
professional judgement, and knowledge of your work, to make an estimate of the grade and
band. This will be based on learners’ demonstrated and inferred attainment of the required
skills, knowledge and understanding for each course at National 5, Higher and Advanced
Higher.

This will provide SQA with the information needed to allow us to adjust estimates where
necessary, to ensure consistency both across the country, and in comparison with previous
years.

We will provide detailed guidance to schools and colleges on how to determine and submit
this estimate information after Easter, and by 20 April 2020.

As a result of the above, we are not in a position to provide any further guidance at this point. In the interim, pupils currently in S4-S6 should continue to engage with the content issued on Glow via their class teachers. We will release more details as they become known later in the month. What we do know is that the date for submission of estimates has changed to May 29th.

S1 Reports

In discussion with the local authority, chair of the Parent Council and professional associations, we have taken the decision to postpone S1 reports which were due to be issued in mid-May. While working from home, teaching staff cannot access the system by which reports are submitted.  It is also the case that much of the assessment data used to inform reports is in school and/or on computer systems we cannot access.  We had considered a manual process, but there is no practical or manageable way to gather and issue 1700 different subject reports without access to the reporting system.

In the event that the school re-opens before summer, we will work to issue reports prior to the summer break and in consultation with all teaching staff. In the event that this is not possible, we will look to move the date of either our S2 Parents’ Evening or S2 reports to earlier in the new academic session pending the approval of our Working Time Agreement for session 2020/21.

Pupil Participation in online learning and access to devices

While we have noticed that a significant number of young people have managed to engage in online learning, we are acutely aware of the fact that some learners have not engaged so far. Can I ask that you check in with your son/daughter to make sure that they have replied to any teacher requests to let staff know that they are online and receiving content. After Easter, we will begin supportive check-ins with those young people we have not heard from via online contact this week.

We are still attempting to make contact with some families of young people we believe are without a device. We hope to have made contact with all by tomorrow and will liaise with individual families directly in relation to how we can get devices to you during the Easter break.

Easter Break

I am sorry if the above post appears to only offer bad news or further uncertainty. However, schools are not immune to the precariousness and difficulty experienced across society. In spite of the above, staff continue to work hard for the benefit of our young people.

We will now begin our Easter break, and I wish all associated with our school a peaceful and restful fortnight. I once again ask for the intercession of St. Joseph to keep you all safe during our time off.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and support.

Kind Regards

Mr Kane

Further to the press release we shared earlier, the SQA has released a FAQ guide for Parents/Carers and Pupils. Please click below to access the FAQ release.

Dear Pupils and Parents/Carers,

The SQA has released an update as follows (original here: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/93777.html):

SQA update on arrangements for quality assurance and the certification of National Courses and Awards – a message to schools and colleges

Thursday 2 April 2020

Introduction

Today, I am providing an update in three key areas. Firstly, what evidence-based judgements we need teachers and lecturers to make about their learners’ grades to help inform certification at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher. Secondly, the marking of National 5 coursework. Finally, details on our approach to the certification of National 2, National 3 and National 4 courses, National Certificates, National Progression Awards, Skills for Work courses, Awards, and free-standing units at SCQF levels 5, 6 and 7.

Estimating grades for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses

We know that schools and colleges have a strong understanding of learners’ performance in National Courses. They also know how each learner compares to other learners within each department or faculty this year, and in previous years.

Given the unique position that we all find ourselves in, and our common goal to ensure that learners’ hard work is rightly and fairly recognised, we need schools and colleges’ help to continue to provide us with estimated grades and bands for all their learners entered for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.

For this session, teachers and lecturers should continue to exercise their professional judgement and estimate a learner’s grade and band based on their demonstrated and inferred attainment of the required skills, knowledge and understanding for each National Course.

There is no requirement to set additional mock or prelim exams or homework tasks for the purpose of determining a learner estimate. Teachers and lecturers are also not required to mark non-question paper components that would have been externally marked by SQA. An estimate is a judgement of a grade and band based on a holistic review of a learner’s performance in the assessment evidence available.

The integrity of the estimates we receive this year is very important as it will provide the core element of the certification process, in the absence of national performance data such as marked question paper and non-question paper components.

Therefore, to assist SQA in the awarding and certification process for 2020, we are taking steps to refine the existing system and ensure it is as fair and robust as possible. Firstly, we will be subdividing each existing band and asking teachers and lecturers to place their learners within these band categories. Secondly, we will be asking teachers and lecturers to rank order their learners within each estimated grade.

This will provide SQA with the information needed to allow us to adjust estimates where necessary, to ensure consistency both across the country and in comparison with previous years. This process may be informed by previous subject and qualification performance at both a national and centre level and prior attainment information where that is available.

We will provide detailed guidance to schools and colleges on how to determine and submit this refined estimate information after Easter, and by 20 April 2020.  In the meantime, we ask that they do not submit estimates to us.

We understand that teachers and lecturers will need time to access evidence and have departmental and faculty discussions, in order to provide this information. We are also conscious that this will be more challenging with school and college closures. We are therefore extending the existing deadline for receiving these estimates to 29 May, from the original date of 24 April.

Any estimates data already received will be processed and shared back to schools and colleges for reference in completing the information we now require.

A free post-results service to ensure that schools and colleges continue to have a mechanism to question any result will be available, with full details to follow.

National 5 coursework

Last week I announced, that due to the latest public health advice on social distancing, we would not be marking coursework for Higher and Advanced Higher courses. I also said that we had already received coursework for a range of National 5 subjects and had contacted National 5 coursework markers to confirm marking arrangements.

While considering the required arrangements, it has become clear that we can no longer proceed with the marking of the National 5 coursework received to date, in a safe and secure manner, that maintains the integrity of national standards.

I know this will be disappointing news to many of you. We have taken this difficult decision to be as fair as possible to all National 5 learners, whilst responding to the real risks to our operations, including current public health guidance, the safe receipt and delivery of coursework materials and difficulties in delivering some of the key processes remotely, which are so central to the work we do each year.

We will not be returning National 5 coursework to schools and colleges, but we hope that the coursework may be used at a later stage, as part of an appeals service.

We also do not require centres to submit marks for internally assessed coursework.

Approach to quality assurance and certification for National 2, National 3 and National 4 courses and free-standing units at SCQF levels 5, 6, and 7

As you will know, National 2, National 3 and National 4 qualifications are made up of units, and an added value unit at National 4, which are internally assessed as pass or fail by the school or college, and externally quality assured by SQA.

Schools and colleges should provide unit results based on either existing evidence from assessments that have already been completed, and/or using their professional judgement of other learner evidence, including their knowledge of their learners, their progress and achievements to date. The results should be submitted to us, in the normal way, by 22 May for schools, and by 1 June for colleges.

Given the current situation, the usual level of external verification is not possible, and we have therefore decided to postpone all remaining planned external verification activity. Schools and colleges have their own quality assurance systems and processes, which should be used to verify the appropriateness of these internal assessment outcomes and certification.

All assessment evidence and the justification of decision-making should be retained until December 2020, so that the decision-making process can be verified by SQA in the future. This arrangement helps us to support the safe and secure certification of our qualifications, whilst recognising the current challenges we all face.

Approach to quality assurance and certification for National Certificates, National Progression Awards, Skills for Work courses, and Awards

We are asking schools, colleges, employers and training providers to provide the results of their internal assessment decisions, where some evidence from the course already exists but further progress is not possible, and/or using their professional judgement of other learner evidence, including their knowledge of their learners, their progress and achievements to date. The results should be submitted to us, in the normal way, reflecting the achievements of learners.

Again, given the current situation, the usual level of external verification is not possible. We will therefore reduce external verification and will undertake a reasonable level of quality assurance remotely, to support the safe and secure delivery of our qualifications, whilst recognising the current challenges we all face. We are working at pace with stakeholders, to agree the appropriate conditions of assessment and quality assurance arrangements for each of these qualifications and awards and will be able to update in the coming days.

Schools, colleges, employers and training providers have their own quality assurance systems and processes, which should be used to verify the appropriateness of these internal assessment outcomes and certification. All assessment evidence should be retained until December 2020. Other activity planned for session 2019-20 will be reviewed and where appropriate moved to academic session 2020-21.

In conclusion

I hope this update is helpful to you. I would like to thank you for your support and your patience during this exceptionally difficult time. I fully appreciate that this is an uncertain time for learners who have worked hard throughout the year and will now, with their families, be worried about what this means for them. By working together, we can ensure that their hard work is rightly and fairly recognised through our qualifications system.

Fiona Robertson

SQA Chief Executive and Scotland’s Chief Examiner

Dear Parents/Carers and Pupils,

For obvious reasons, those without internet access will not see this post but we are confident that we are aware of those pupils without internet access. This post is for families with internet access but no access to a laptop, PC or tablet at home.

This is the final call for any pupil with no access to a laptop, tablet or PC device at home to let us know. I must stress that we are not asking if pupils have a personal device, rather we need to know who has no shared access to any household device at all.

Dear Pupils and Parents/Carers,

Miss Cathie joins our school community this Friday, and will take on responsibility for the Pastoral Care of pupils in Andrew House. As you know, Mrs Burnett and Mrs Marshall had split responsibility for Andrew House pupils when Miss Preece left in mid-February. I would like to thank Mrs Burnett and Mrs Marshall for providing support to Andrew House pupils over the past six weeks.

Miss Cathie joins us from Auchinleck Academy. It is obviously an unusual time to join a new school community and I am sure you will join me in wishing Miss Cathie every success in her time with us.

Once we return from the Easter break, it is highly likely that young people in Andrew House will liaise with Miss Cathie via Glow. In addition, Miss Cathie may make direct contact with some families and young people.

Kind Regards

Mr Kane

Dear Pupils and Parents/Carers,

There is a deadline associated with this post – Deadline Friday 3rd April.

Prior to school closure, we completed all options interviews with our current S2 and S3 pupils. We also completed the overwhelming majority of interviews with S4 and S5 pupils. However, we cannot proceed to generate next session’s timetable without an accurate overview of all options.

For the above reason, we ask that if you know that your son/daughter is currently in S4 or S5 and is leaving school, you confirm that this is their intention by sending us a message via our contact us page – https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/stjosephsacademy/contact-us/ . We are aware of most school leavers and their intended destination but we want to be sure that we have a complete overview.

Similarly, if you are currently in S4 or S5 and know that you are yet to submit your options form or have an interview, can you please send your options to us via the contact us page https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/stjosephsacademy/contact-us/ . We will be calling or emailing all pupils yet to complete options but it would be of great assistance if you could send these in should you already know that they are yet to be completed.

Kind Regards

Mr Kane