This years S4 to S6 Prelims will take place between Mon 2nd Dec 2024 & Thu 19th Dec 2024. Please click below to view the timetable.

S4-6 Assessment TT Dec 2024

Click below to view the latest edition of “The Braidy Times” our new school newsletter.

Dear Parent/Carer,

I hope you are well. Your child has just started S4 and will sit their first group of qualifications this session. This is a very important year for them and what they achieve this year will influence their future choices. We are keen to support them to achieve their full potential and I have already spoken to the whole year group about the importance of good attendance, effort in class and completion of homework. Good attendance is key to achieving this year. Even a pupil with 90% attendance misses 19 days a year which can have a significant impact on the qualifications they can achieve.

As a parent of two teenage girls, I appreciate it can be a challenge supporting your child through this stage in school while coping with the many other demands of parenting teenagers! Children who are supported and encouraged at home have the best chance at achieving good results and I hope to share some information and tips to help with this.

Important dates for the year group are detailed below:

• S4 report issued 24th October

• S4 prelim exams 6th December – 19th December

• S4 Parents Evening 27th January

• S4 tracking report issued 17th March

There are a number of things you can do to support your child this year which are detailed below:

1) Understand the different types of levels and qualifications your child is sitting. This is often very different from the ones we studied at school ourselves. Here is a general summary of the types of qualifications being offered this year in S4:

2) Ensure they are aware of the breakdown of marks in each subject they are studying. Click here for a list of different subjects and the percentage of each part of the exam or course. Pupils need to understand this if they are to going to do well. Teachers will discuss this with them and provide feedback throughout the year to help them understand which areas are strengths for them and how to improve in areas they are finding more challenging.

3) Make sure they complete all assessed coursework on time and to the best of their ability. Preparations for some assessed coursework has already started and if pupils do not try their best at this stage they could end up with significantly lower grades. For example, the assignment for Modern Studies takes place in October and is worth 20% of the overall mark.

4) Encourage them to study regularly at home and to attend study sessions offered at school. Details of these will be shared after the September weekend.

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, please contact their Pupil Support teacher in the first instance. Click here for Pupil Support Info

Thank you very much for your continuing support.

Yours faithfully,

TRACEY MCDERMOTT

Head Teacher

Click the link to view the original letter: S4 Parents Letter September 2024

Every year, we host an ‘Find your talent’ evening to showcase our extra-curricular offer across the school. The event is for both pupils and parents to come along and hear about the benefits of extra-curricular clubs and to sign up for these. Some of the options on offer will be:

• VEX Robotics
• Debate Club
• Computing Club
• Podcast Club
• Music
• Art
• Future Friday
• Mental Health Ambassadors
• Mentors in Violence Prevention
• Futsal
• Table-Tennis
• Trampolining
• Dodgeball
• Fitness
• Dance
• S1 School of Netball

Dear Parent/Carer,

SQA Examinations & Study Leave

Exam preparation is well underway at Braidhurst. Following the Easter break, your son/daughter will be issued with their individual SQA Timetable detailing exactly when their exams will take place. It is important that they check the accuracy of the details provided. If you have any questions, or if corrections need to be made, please contact the school as soon as possible. Pupils, parents and carers are advised to visit the SQA website for useful information:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/100863.12012.html

Courses at Higher level, and most at National 5, have an external exam. This is a compulsory part of the course. All courses at National 4 level are based on internal assessments.

As the SQA exams are run nationally, the date of exams cannot be changed. Some exams will run over bank holidays and in-service days. However, the school will be open on these dates to allow pupils to sit their exams.

Pupils sitting Highers, or one or more National 5 exam, will be on study leave from Monday the 22nd of April inclusive. Pupils must make the most of this opportunity and spend their time preparing for exams. Please note staff are available in school and are always happy to assist pupils. Should your son/daughter wish to attend school to revise – this can be arranged. School policy is that pupils coming into school must wear school uniform, this is also the case when sitting exams.

Pupils following a N3/4 pathway will complete an employability week in Forgewood Community Centre from Monday 29th April to Friday 3rd May. The week prior to this can be used to complete outstanding assessments.

Return to School: Senior pupils will return to school after the exams as follows:

• Thursday the 30th of May there will be an induction for all pupils moving into S5.
• Friday the 31st of May there will be an induction for all pupils moving into S6.

Pupils must attend their induction so that they can be issued with their new timetables and begin lessons.

Should you have any difficulties relating to the SQA Examination Arrangements, or if your child is unwell during the examination period, please contact Ms Kerr.

Yours faithfully

Ms Joanne Kerr

Depute Head Teacher

An upcycled fashion show event ‘Threads’ will take place on Wednesday 28th February 2024 at Forgewood Community Centre.

Doors open at 6.30pm and the show commences at 7pm until 8.30pm.

For more info CLICK HERE