Tag Archives: Bernera School Handbook

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

Pupil Council

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The constitution of the Pupil Council states that Membership of the Pupil Council “shall be made up of one  representative from P3-P5 and two representatives from P6-7.”

Pupil Council elections have traditionally taken place at the start of the school session in September. All children from Primary 3 – 7 are eligible for nomination to the Pupil Council and all pupils in the school are eligible to vote. As the school roll has dropped markedly over the last 2-3 years pupils have indicated that it is their preference that rather than having an elected Pupil Council who meet regularly, ALL pupils are consulted on matters which would normally come to the attention of the Pupil Council at Assembly times when they are altogether. In this way ALL pupils have the opportunity to be involved in making decisions and discussing school matters with the staff and the processes of engagement are inclusive.

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

Our School Aims

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In Bernera School, we aim: 

¨ To establish a friendly and trusting relationship between home and school.

 ¨ To nurture a tolerant and caring attitude, showing respect and understanding of others.

 ¨ To provide appropriate support to children in all aspects of their learning and wider achievements.

 ¨ To foster a sense of belonging and heritage in the traditions of their local community.

 ¨ To help all children achieve their full potential.

Teaching Staff do their best to ensure pupils benefit from positive learning environments where they feel safe, included and supported. Our pupils are encouraged to work hard and experience success in their learning. Teaching staff use a range of techniques and strategies to reward good work and to encourage and support individual pupils as and when they need it including certificates and awards. All pupils are encouraged to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities and most do – both in and beyond the island of Great Bernera. Our pupils delight in their successes outside of school and are keen to share these at Assembly times with the school community.

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

School Ethos

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Great Bernera is typical of a small island community with strong and passionate community spirit. Being the only school on the island of Great Bernera the school plays a central role and is at the heart of the local  community being situated in the thriving village of Breaclete. The school has worked alongside and in partnership with the Bernera Community Association on a number of projects over many years to work with, support and serve the community.

The school also enjoys very good relationships with the Community Café, Bernera Museum, Bernera School of Highland Dancing and the Bernera Shop. Many individuals working within Bernera are in regular contact with the school and are supportive of our endeavours—as we are of theirs. 

Highland Dancing classes are held in the dance studio on a weekly basis and these have proved very popular with the children, many of whom have gone on to achieve success at dancing competitions across the Western Isles.

The school is also a member of the Get Set Network which was set up to prepare for the London Olympics. The Network has provided our pupils with a greater sense of Local and Global Citizenship as our pupils have      participated in a wide range of activities alongside of schools right across the country.

We seek to instil in our pupils a heart for the local community and to ensure that they grow up in a safe and thriving community to which they are proud to belong and proud to live and work in.

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

Spiritual, Moral and Cultural Values

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Bernera School aims to develop the spiritual, moral, social and cultural values of its pupils, having regard to the values of the community, and guided by the recommendations contained in national and regional guidelines.

Religious Education is an integral part of the curriculum, offering pupils the opportunity to develop their own beliefs, attitudes, moral values and       practices, through a process of personal search discovery and critical    evaluation. Class lessons deal with a variety of issues and children and staff also meet together for a whole school Assembly each week.

Parents who wish to execute their right to withdraw their child from Religious and Moral Education or Religious Observance should put their request in  writing to the Head Teacher. 

Parents can be assured that should they choose to exercise this right, their children will be appropriately supervised by a member of staff elsewhere at such times.

Rev Hugh Stewart of Bernera Church of Scotland serves as School Chaplain to the school and visits the school regularly to take Assembly and conduct acts of Religious Observance. 

A copy of the Religious Observance Policy may be found at:- 

http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/policiesprocedures/documents/policy/Religious%20Observation%20Policy.pdf#

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

Pupil Conduct

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A partnership between the school and parents is required in order to ensure the best possible standard of pupil conduct.  Pupils are expected to set themselves high standards in appearance and behaviour.  School rules are relatively simple and few in number to allow for the smooth running of the school.  The general aim is to produce an atmosphere of friendly co-operation, encouraging respect and consideration for other persons and other property.

Our school rules are linked clearly to the safety of the children and the well being of the school community.  Rules tend to refer to noise and movement within the school in wet or dry weather, agreement on places where games and cycling are not allowed, and awareness of road safety.

Unfortunately, there are times when some of these rules are broken and staff must take action for the benefit of all in the school. A variety of means are used to deal with discipline problems. These may range from verbal admonition to requesting a meeting with parents in order to discuss pupil behaviour, discipline, and/or difficulties. The school seeks to keep parents informed of any problems of this nature and anticipates active co-operation from parents where necessary so that their child and all others in the school will benefit from the educational provision being made.

Our pupils are encouraged to use the Golden Rules as their Behaviour Code

The Golden Rules

 Do be gentle …………………….. Do not hurt anybody

Do be kind and helpful ………… Do not hurt people’s feelings

Do work hard …………………… Do not waste your or other people’s time

Do look after property ………… Do not waste or damage things

Do listen to people …………….. Do not interrupt

Do be honest ……………………. Do not cover up the truth

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

Dealing with Bullying

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The School aims to provide a safe and caring environment for all who enter its doors and in which each child feels valued, confident and secure. A range of issues relating to relationships, tolerance and emotional health are regularly discussed as part of the Health and Wellbeing programme and children are encouraged to discuss any problems, worries or concerns they may have with their teachers and/or other adults in the school as soon as possible.

 Occurrences of bullying will hopefully be minimised if staff, pupils and parents work in partnership to fulfil the recommendations of the Anti-Bullying Policy. Parents should inform the School immediately if they become aware of any incidents of bullying and should keep a written record of any incidents including the date, the  children involved, and what happened. This will help the school to deal with the situation and agree the best way to support the child inside and outside the school. Any instances of bullying will be dealt with in line with the school’s policy on bullying and discipline.

 The school endorses the Comhairle’s Policy relating to Anti-Bullying which can be found here:-

 http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/education/policiesprocedures/documents/policy/Anti-Bullying%20Policy%20-%20Updated%202007.pdf

Section 2 - Parental Involvement in the School

Promotion of Positive Behaviour

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At Bernera School, we believe that each child has a right to the best education which can be provided in a partnership between school, parents and the community. We therefore aim, through strong, consistent and fair management of pupil behaviour, to establish a happy, secure and purposeful environment in which each child may develop his or her full potential. Providing this good learning environment is an important precondition for pupils attaining the highest possible levels of attainment. Every child is therefore asked to conform to the rules of the school and parents are kept informed so that they can support the systems in use.

School staff aim to put the emphasis on praise and reward for good behaviour.  We also seek to involve our pupils in determining rules for their own classrooms and encourage all our pupils to participate fully in the life of the school. 

 Both teaching and non-teaching staff seek to be consistent in their approaches when working with our pupils in and out of the classroom and seek to do all that they can in order to ensure a positive learning environment exists for all pupils.

 Pupils are well motivated in their learning as teaching staff utilise a wide range of techniques, strategies and methods to support learning. Staff work alongside of pupils and encourage pupils to persevere and engage in solution oriented approaches when difficulties arise. Those pupils with additional support needs are supported in their learning by having appropriate learning plans (Action Plans/IEP’s) written up to specifically target areas of difficulty. Parents are encouraged to participate in the review process and to work with the school in meeting the needs of their children. The resulting good relationships which arise, ensure that pupils are aware that home and school work together and such partnership working invariably assists in the promotion of    positive behaviour at home and at school.