Our Lady of the Missions Primary School Parent Council
Minutes of Parent Council Meeting
23rd October 2014
Present
G. Boyle, A. Forsyth, C. Jamieson, M- C. Darroch, M. O’Reilly, K. Kelly, C. Bowes, Cllr Waters, J. Heraghty, C. McCudden, G. Bhatti, J. McLachlan, Cllr Fletcher, J. Devlin, L. Garety, M. Cluckie, J. Harkins, P. Hessett, M. Hynes, F. McKean, C. McLaughlin, M. Moore, B. Docherty, G. Devenney, Cllr Robertson, C. Houston
Apologies
J. Taggart, Cllr McAskill, S. Morrison, C. James, E. Holland, R. Spooner
Approval of the Minutes for the AGM (September 2014)
Proposed- J. Heraghty
Seconded- J. McLachlan
Update on Transition
C. Jamieson said that work was continuing within the Junior Department building, with changes continuing to be made, such as the music room being moved downstairs and new carpets being put down. Further work will be required following the knock-through, including internal work for wheelchair access. Father Hill had blessed the building.
The tower is beginning to take shape and D. Leask has given a date of 21st December for the completion of the corridor which links in to the medical room. No date was yet known for when Clark Contracts will leave the site. C. Houston suggested that the work is unlikely to be completed on time and said that this would have an impact on the budget. C. Jamieson said that he had contacted D. Leask to arrange a meeting to discuss the budget. Cllr Waters said that overruns would cost extra money and that things had been added since the original tender. He added that other money had been provided towards the costs of making the work DDA-compliant. Currently there was £70,000 left of the budget, but by the time the work is completed, the figure will likely be closer to £40,000.
A. Forsyth noted that the school’s wishes regarding the use of any underspend should be made known. C. Houston said that an opportunity had been missed now that the weather was changing.
P. Hessett asked about how icy conditions on the stairs between the buildings would be handled. C. Jamieson replied that the upper building has always been made accessible by the janitors so that he did not anticipate any problems. The path that runs up to Glenwood nursery is not cleared by the janitors. C. McCudden said it might be useful to advise parents to use the steps in icy weather.
C. Jamieson noted that the changing weather will affect the movement of children between the buildings
Consultation on Joint-Faith Campus
G. Boyle said that the ERC proposal is to reduce St Cadoc’s primary by one stream (becoming 2 streams) and building a new school in Newton Mearns which would also be 2 streams (one moved from St Cadcos and one completely new stream to reflect housebuilding in the area). This would mean St Ninian’s would have 10 streams feeding directly into the school from cluster schools. The concern is the long-term impact on numbers for St Ninian’s, though it is difficult to judge / dispute the projected figures without more detailed information. St Ninian’s is already a ten-stream school but not all pupils are from the catchment area and there is a proportion of placing requests.
J. Heraghty asked about a contingency plan if the numbers are not right. Cllr Fletcher replied that the numbers have been looked at carefully and that new housing on the Glasgow side has not been included in the calculations. He added that St Ninian’s is big enough on the current model but that migration cannot be predicted. A. Forsyth suggested the numbers would be close to the wire. Cllr Robertson said that the number of placing requests would be reduced to accommodate catchment pupils.
M. Moore referred to the new house-building within the catchment. C. Houston noted that in East Dumbartonshire the predictions were out by over one hundred pupils. Cllr Waters replied that the ERC model is different and that the numbers have always hit close to the predicted figures but that there will always be factors that cannot be predicted.
G. Bhatti referred to the new housing in Newton Mearns and whether St Cadoc’s could accommodate the numbers.
C. McLaughlin said that the council would have a responsibility to provide a denominational education so that if St Ninian’s were to reach its capacity, another school would need to be provided. A. Forsyth asked whether rezoning would be considered. Cllr Robertson replied that the schools are full because they are so successful and that there are currently hundreds of placing requests. G. Boyle said that it was likely that placing requests would become more difficult to secure and that parents should be advised that a second application would need to be made at the end of primary school. C. Jamieson said that it is made clear to parents that a second placing request would require to be made in P7. He added that these second placing requests are usually successful but that there will be fewer successful requests in the future.
M-C. Darroch asked about the percentage of placing requests. G. Boyle said that about 400 of the pupils at St Ninian’s are there through placing requests.
C. Houston asked whether there was any commitment to upgrade the primary schools in line with Section 75 commitments, where money is being spent on additional secondary school places. Cllr Waters said that any money would come from the Education Department budget. Cllr Fletcher referred to the substantial number of placing requests and to the pressure points in denominational schools. He said that if additional places were required, the Catholic Church would need to ask for a new school.
M. O’Reilly asked whether a plan was in place to deal with any over-subscription to St Ninian’s from catchment pupils. Cllr Waters said that a new school would not be built unless there were statistics to prove that it was necessary. Cllr Fletcher said that the decision to build a new school lies with government ministers but that there is a legal responsibility to provide denominational education.
G. Boyle drew attention to the £13.6 million budget for the joint-faith school when no money was available for a new building for OLM. Cllr Robertson said that there had to be a new school where it was needed. Cllr Waters said that the new school will require a large amount of money from ERC’s capital reserves. He added that when a new primary is requested, the condition of the existing building is taken into account. He explained that some of the funding for the new joint-faith school has come from contributions from developers and from the sale of Calderwood Lodge. St Cadoc’s had twelve more catchment pupils than there were places for and additional pupils are anticipated from new housing.
C. Jamieson said that there was only one placing-request for a sibling of pupils in the current P1 but that there are some in the upper school.
G. Boyle referred to the public meeting to be held at Mearns Primary on 29th October. There is also an online survey for residents.
National Parent Forum Report
J. McLachlan spoke about the National Parent Forum which seeks to provide a link between the Government and Parent Councils. A report had recently been produced by the Parent Forum regarding assessing and reporting. The report had been presented at the Scottish Learning Festival. It is available on the Parent Forum website.
A survey had been carried out asking parents’ opinions on what assessment is. C. Jamieson added that discussion on these issues had taken place at headteacher level within the authority. A great deal of positive suggestions had come from East Renfrewshire schools. It is hoped to improve communication with parents regarding pupil progress by using methods other than just the end-of-year report.
Achievements and Successes
G. Boyle spoke about the success of the Lockerbie Manor trip. C. McCudden said that the photos posted on Twitter during the trip would have been welcomed by parents. J. Devlin said that the staff at Lockerbie Manor were very accommodating and that lots of activities were on offer for the children.
M. O’Reilly said that the Rosary Group that had been meeting on Tuesday mornings in October had been a holy and very enjoyable experience for parents and pupils and had been very well attended.
C. McCudden spoke about the 10 Steps programme that some pupils had attended and said that it would be interesting to see how that will be developed in music teaching. C. Jamieson said that this was being developed at national level.
The Primary 4 MacMillan coffee afternoon had been a success and had raised almost £1200.
New after-school activities were being set up by Mr McCann.
The Primary 7 pupils had been participating in the Provost’s Debate with ERC councillors.
Headteacher’s Report
The school is to undergo a Support and Protection Review in the week beginning 17th November. This review will look at school systems and paperwork and will involve a range of professionals, including police, health, social work and psychological services. It will look at how the school ensures the protection of its 850 pupils in a variety of ways. It will be carried out throughout the authority. A questionnaire will be issued to some staff, pupils and parents. A lead officer will write a report.
The PSA has been working hard to organise the Halloween disco and the templates for Christmas cards. Additional support would be very welcome to help in the organisation of school events.
Flu immunisations for the whole school will be carried out on 3rd November. This will be done by nasal spray and a letter will be sent out in advance.
Parents’ evenings will take place on 5th and 6th November. These are a week earlier than usual as a result of the Support and Protection Review.
The school choir will be performing in Clarkston and at senior citizen homes.
Staff and pupils will be preparing for Nativity plays and parties.
C. McCudden asked whether cancelled swimming lessons at Eastwood pool would be rearranged. B. Docherty said that a letter had been sent out for P4s. P5s will have lessons in January.
Cashless catering – It is not currently possible for parents to pay into their child’s account in the Junior Department building, but only in the main building. However, once the link corridor is complete, the systems will be linked up and the machine in the junior department will become operable again. In addition, although it whad been hoped that parents would be able to view their accounts online once ERC systems were improved, we have now been advised the system upgrade will not allow this.
C. Houston asked whether the school would be able to cater for larger numbers once free school meals are introduced. C. Jamieson replied that the authority is currently working on menus and infrastructure and that the school will have two areas to cook and serve food.
Date of next meeting: Thursday 11th December
