Category Archives: Whole School News

Nursery and childcare 2023/2024

Apply now for nursery and childcare places starting in August 2023.

Are you a parent or carer of a 3 to 5 year old? Do you know someone who is? 1,140 hours of free early learning is available to all children aged three to five years old, as well as some two-year-olds.

Parents/Carers of children who will be 3 between 1 March 2023 and 29 February 2024 should apply now.

Applications must be received by Friday 10 March.

Further information on how to apply can be found on our website.

S2 Options Evening

Dear parents/carers,

I am delighted to invite you to the S2 Options Evening which will take place on Thursday 2nd March from 7pm till 8pm.  I am aware that many of you have not yet had the opportunity to visit the school because of Covid restrictions and this is an opportunity for you to meet me and the staff before your children select their subjects the following week.  S2 reports will be issued to pupils on Monday 27th February to give you an update on their progress.

On the evening there will be a short presentation on the different types of qualifications we offer and the pathways they can lead to beyond school for your children.  Staff will be available from different subject departments to talk to you about the courses they offer.

This is an important stage for your child and they are making subject choices which will impact on the qualifications they are likely to achieve in S4, 5 and 6. There have been many changes to the types of qualifications offered in schools in recent years and there is a wider variety of pathways available than ever before. We are keen to discuss these with you to help your child make the best options choices for their future.

An additional input will be offered to parents with children in the SFA programme and School of Football to explain their option pathways as these differ due to training commitments.

Pupils can attend the evening with you if they wish but you are also welcome to come on your own.   Our S6 pupils and a member of staff will be available to help supervise younger children if you require during the presentation.

I look forward to meeting you at the event and welcoming you to the school.

Yours faithfully,

Tracey McDermott

Christmas Doors Competition 2022

Huge thank you to everyone who took part in the ‘Christmas Doors 2 Doorsteps’ this year.  There is currently over 25 doors that are beautifully decorated! Fab way to spread Christmas cheer around the school.

We sent fabulous judges from S1-6 from each house around the whole school and the house captains managed to total the scores on the doors. Each door was judged on creativity, effort and theme and I would like to announce the winners of 2022:

1st Place : Miss Watson

2nd Place: Mr Reynolds

3rd Place: Mr Brandon

4th Place: Miss Crolla

5th Place: Mrs McDermott

Congratulations and thank you to our winners, and to you all for your effort this year!

Miss Young

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Industrial Action Update

Dear parent/carer,

Following recent industrial action by teacher unions, I am writing to inform you that the teacher unions, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA), the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes (AHDS) intend to carry out further industrial action over the national pay offer and their members plan to strike in January 2023.

The dates that will affect our school are:

Wednesday 11 January 2023 (secondary schools and ASN schools)

  • All secondary schools and secondary additional support needs (ASN) schools will be closed to pupils.

Please note that all primary schools and early years establishments will remain open to staff and pupils.

Thursday 19 January 2023 (57 term-time school-based nursery classes, primary, ASN and secondary schools)

  • All primary, secondary and ASN schools will be closed to pupils.
  • All 57 term-time, school-based nursery classes will also be closed to pupils.

Please note, as above, the 23 family learning centres and 23 full-time nurseries will remain open.

I am getting in touch with you directly as the impact of the industrial action may mean that you will need to consider additional childcare arrangements over these dates.

As the school will be closed to pupils on Wednesday 11 January and Thursday 19 January 2023, there will not be any school meal provision on site, and there will not be any school transport, breakfast clubs or school crossing patrols.

Families in receipt of free school meals on the basis of low income will be reimbursed via a direct payment to bank accounts or via Paypoint voucher to postal addresses which may take up to five working days.

As you will understand, this is a situation that may be subject to change and I will inform you at the first opportunity if there are further changes to the school day.

Please visit the council’s website with the most up to date information on www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/industrial-action

Regards,

Tracey McDermott

Head Teacher

Braidhurst High School

Parent Letter – January Industrial Action

Industrial Action Jan 2023

Dear parent/carer,

Following recent industrial action by teacher unions, I am writing to inform you that the teacher unions, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) and the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes (AHDS) intend to carry out further industrial action over the national pay offer and their members plan to strike in January 2023. The dates are:

  • Tuesday 10 January (primary schools, primary additional support needs (ASN) schools only although Redburn and Glencryan as through-schools are included and the 57-term time school-based nursery classes)
  • Wednesday 11 January (secondary and secondary ASN schools)
  • Thursday 19 January (57 term time school-based nursery classes, primary, ASN and secondary schools)

I wanted to get in touch with you directly as the impact of the industrial action may mean that you will need to consider additional childcare arrangements on these dates.

Head teachers will be in contact again before early learning establishments and schools finish for the winter holiday to clarify the impact on individual centres and schools.

Please visit the council’s website with the most up to date information at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/industrial-action

Regards,

Derek Brown

Deputy Chief Executive

North Lanarkshire Council

Industrial Action

Dear parent/carer,

As you may be aware, two of the teacher unions, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), intend to carry out industrial action over the national pay offer and their members plan to strike on Wednesday 7 December 2022.

I wanted to get in touch with you directly as the impact of the industrial action may mean that you will need to consider additional childcare arrangements on that day.

We have made an assessment on the impact this will have on our school and due to capacity and resourcing issues the school will be closed to pupils on Wednesday 7 December 2022.

S4 pupils sitting prelim exams in Geography, Modern Studies or Business Management on Wednesday morning should attend school to sit their exams.  Further details will be issued to them on Monday.

As the school facilities will be closed to children and young people, there will not be any school meal provision on site, and there will not be any school transport, breakfast clubs or school crossing patrols on Wednesday 7 December 2022.

We will be contact next week regarding online learning for pupils.

Families in receipt of free school meals on the basis of low income will be reimbursed via a direct payment to bank accounts or via Paypoint voucher to postal addresses which may take up to five working days.

As you will understand, this is a situation that may be subject to change and I will inform you at the first opportunity if there are further changes to the school day.

Please visit the council’s website with the most up to date information on www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/industrial-action.

Regards,

Mrs McDermott

Head Teacher