Category Archives: Headteacher Blog

I hope you are safe and well

Hello everyone I hope that you are all safe and well and that your families are all safe and well too.

Today marks the start of the summer term with 10 school weeks until the official start of the summer recess.

None of us know when we will work together again under normal circumstances. I thank all of our pupils, our families and my colleagues for all that Is being done during our time in lockdown.

It is important that we all continue to follow the advice that we have been given to stay safe at this time.

The summer term has started, I want to encourage all of our pupils to continue to connect with the Learning resources available on:

Show My Homework, the school website and via the web links issued by staff on Twitter.  There is a “pinned” tweet on the schools twitter account. Please use the email address below for support with Show my Homework or for general enquiries;

school_office@airdie.n-Lanark.sch.uk

Please also look after your  mental health and well-being. We have signposted Resources on Twitter. We all need support at this time and connecting with these resources might help.

SQA are due to update us today on the processes that we will use to support course awards for S4 to S6 pupils. Please keep up to date  via the SQA website.

Stay safe and take care

kindest regards

 

Mr Anderson

Headteacher

 

 

LGBT SILVER CHARTER AWARD

I’m absolutely delighted to inform everyone that Airdrie Academy has been awarded the LGBT Youth Scotland Silver Charter Award in recognition of the commitment we have made to LGBT inclusive education.

Only 12 other schools in Scotland have achieved this award and I would like to thank to all staff and pupils who were involved in making this happen. I would especially like to thank Mrs Murphy for her invaluable leadership of the PNP Group “Pride not Prejudice”, all members of the LGBT working group and our S6 LGBT ambassadors (Lucie Clark, Morgan Brand and Erin Swan) who were the catalysts for change and have been such a credit to the school.

As you may be aware our initial target in the School Improvement Plan was to achieve Bronze status, so to achieve Silver is wonderful news. LGBT Youth Scotland have used us as an “excellent” example school for our LGBT inclusion work – we will receive full feedback soon

By raising awareness we demonstrate to pupils and staff that they are all valued, included and supported no matter what gender or orientation they identify as. It also makes it clear to everyone that equality and diversity is at the heart our our ethos in Airdrie Academy.

A huge well done to everyone and a special thank you to Miss Masterson who has led the school to this success.

Now we “GO FOR GOLD”

many thanks

Mr Anderson

 

Parents Nights Surveys for session 2018/19

Many many thanks to all parents and carers for taking the time at parents evenings to complete our surveys. we value your feedback and use this to help us plan our improvements. We value your opinions and we respond to them.

The collated survey parents evening info for all parents evenings in session 2018/19 is below;

Overall this is a very positive picture and shows the strong partnerships that we very ,much value with our pupils and their families. We will continue to look at other ways to capture parents and carers opinions, listen to your views and take them into account.

Many thanks

Mr Anderson

AVERAGE FOR ALL PARENTAL SURVEYS 2018/19
Strongly agree / agree Disagree/Strongly disagree % D/SD Don’t Know Total responses
Q1 The school helps my child to be more confident. 254 90.39 17 6.05 10 281
Q2 My child enjoys learning at school. 264 96.00 9 3.27 2 275
Q3 My child’s learning is progressing well. 267 96.39 7 2.53 3 277
Q4 My child is encouraged and stretched to work to the best of their ability 265 95.67 8 2.89 4 277
Q5 The school keeps me well informed about my child’s progress. 255 91.40 19 6.81 5 279
Q6 My child feels safe at school. 247 95.37 8 3.09 4 259
Q7 My child is treated fairly at school. 242 94.53 10 3.91 4 256
Q8 I feel staff really know my child as an individual and support them well 240 94.12 10 3.92 5 255
Q9 My child benefits from school clubs and activities provided outside the classroom 168 68.02 57 23.08 22 247
Q10 The school asks for my views. 185 70.34 59 22.43 19 263
Q11 The school takes my views into account. 162 65.06 62 24.90 25 249
Q12 The school is well led. 244 95.69 8 3.14 3 255
Q13 Overall, I am happy with the school. 244 96.83 7 2.78 1.00 252.00

S3 Parents Evening Survey

Please find below the collated survey feedback that parents / carers kindly completed at our S3 parents evening yesterday. Very positive messages across this information. We value your feedback and always look to see what we can do to improve the service and support that wee provide to pupils and their families. All of the parents evenings surveys are collated and the overall picture will be posted on this blog and shared with staff.

many thanks

Mr Anderson

s3 parental data
Strongly agree / agree Disagree/Strongly disagree % D/SD Don’t Know/NA Total responses
Q1 S3 has fully prepared my child for their S4 subjects 42 100.00 0 0.00 0 42
Q2 The school helps my child to be more confident. 38 90.48 3 7.14 1 42
Q3 My child enjoys learning at school. 41 97.62 0 0.00 1 42
Q4 My child’s learning is progressing well. 41 97.62 1 2.38 0 42
Q5 My child is encouraged and stretched to work to the best of their ability 42 100.00 0 0.00 0 42
Q6 The school keeps me well informed about my child’s progress. 39 92.86 3 7.14 0 42
Q7 My child feels safe at school. 34 94.44 2 5.56 0 36
Q8 My child is treated fairly at school. 34 94.44 2 5.56 0 36
Q9 I feel staff really know my child as an individual and support them well 34 94.44 1 2.78 1 36
Q10 My child benefits from school clubs and activities provided outside the classroom 22 61.11 7 19.44 8 36
Q11 The school asks for my views. 28 77.78 7 19.44 2 36
Q12 The school takes my views into account. 26 72.22 4 11.11 6 36
Q13 The school is well led. 36 100.00 0 0.00 0 36
Q14 Overall, I am happy with the school. 36 100.00 0 0.00 0 36

MSYP Elections 2019

  • MSYP 2019 Elections

 

    • The Scottish Youth Parliament voting is open NOW and we have two candidates who have put themselves forward for this role – Kayleigh Dart and Eve Smith, both S5 pupils. The girls have been working incredibly hard to raise awareness about their campaign and more information can be found on at https://elections.syp.org.uk/elections/2/constituency/27/ . Pupils will be given the opportunity to vote on Friday the 19th and Monday the 25th of March – all they need is their Young Scots card. However, if they have misplaced this, we can help them get logged on as it is important that our young people use their right to vote for issues that matter to them.
  • Good luck to all involved.

 

 

S2 Parent / Carer Survey Feedback

many thanks to all of the parents and carers who attended our recent S2 Parents evening. Thank you for completing our satisfaction surveys. The collated information is shown below. We value your opinions and always read every response. We value our partnership working with you and aiming for the very best for all of our young people.

Thank You

s2 parental data
Strongly agree / agree Disagree/Strongly disagree % D/SD Don’t Know Total responses
Q1 The school helps my child to be more confident. 45 93.75 1 2.08 2 48
Q2 My child enjoys learning at school. 47 97.92 1 2.08 0 48
Q3 My child’s learning is progressing well. 48 100.00 0 0.00 0 48
Q4 My child is encouraged and stretched to work to the best of their ability 45 93.75 1 2.08 2 48
Q5 The school keeps me well informed about my child’s progress. 40 83.33 6 12.50 2 48
Q6 My child feels safe at school. 41 93.18 1 2.27 2 44
Q7 My child is treated fairly at school. 43 97.73 1 2.27 0 44
Q8 I feel staff really know my child as an individual and support them well 42 95.45 2 4.55 0 44
Q9 My child benefits from school clubs and activities provided outside the classroom 33 75.00 7 15.91 2 44
Q10 The school asks for my views. 31 70.45 8 18.18 5 44
Q11 The school takes my views into account. 24 64.86 10 27.03 8 37
Q12 The school is well led. 43 97.73 0 0.00 0 44
Q13 Overall, I am happy with the school. 38 86.36 1 2.27 0 44

S5/6 PARENTS EVENING SURVEY

We value and act on your feedback . Please find below the collated survey information from last weeks S5/6 parents evening.

Very positive messages but as ever we will always look to improve using the opinions of pupils parents staff and partners.

Teamwork

s5/6 parental data
Strongly agree / agree Disagree/Strongly disagree % D/SD Don’t Know Total responses N/ A
Q1 The school helps my child to be more confident. 52 92.86 4 7.14 0 56 0
Q2 My child enjoys learning at school. 54 96.43 2 3.57 0 56 0
Q3 My child’s learning is progressing well. 53 94.64 3 5.36 0 56 0
Q4 My child is encouraged and stretched to work to the best of their ability 55 96.49 2 3.51 0 57 0
Q5 The school keeps me well informed about my child’s progress. 53 94.64 4 7.14 0 56 0
Q6 My child feels safe at school. 49 100.00 0 0.00 0 49 0
Q7 My child is treated fairly at school. 49 100.00 0 0.00 0 49 0
Q8 I feel staff really know my child as an individual and support them well 47 100.00 0 0.00 1 47 0
Q9 My child benefits from school clubs and activities provided outside the classroom 28 57.14 10 20.41 4 49 7
Q10 The school asks for my views. 36 83.72 10 23.26 1 43 0
Q11 The school takes my views into account. 33 68.75 8 16.67 5 48 2
Q12 The school is well led. 47 95.92 1 2.04 1 49 0
Q13 Overall, I am happy with the school. 49 100.00 1 2.04 0 49 0

Purple Friday FEBRUARY 22nd 2019

We are working towards our LGBT Charter status and our aim this year is to achieve our Bronze Award. Pupils and staff have all been involved in leading this important aspect of our inclusion work.

I am delighted with the hard work and commitment of all in the school and the way in which this has been embraced.

On Friday 22nd February we will have a dress down day with the option of wearing an item of purple clothing. All proceeds will be donated to LGBT Youth Scotland.

 

Developing the Young workforce

A range of business partners have kindly given of their time to visit the school yesterday and today and talk with pupils about their careers.

Pupils have been involved in a range of employer activities which will all help to aid their subject choices and career pathways.

Well Done to Mr Lawson and all of the staff involved in leading these two employer engagement days.

 

 

S4 Parents Evening

We are always keen to hear your views and take on board what you say. Very grateful to all parents and carers who attended, despite the winter conditions. Thanks to all parents and carers who completed surveys at the S4 parents evening last night.

Very pleased to see the positive feedback that we received. We value your opinions, suggestions and ideas. If there are any ideas that you have to help us to help you to have your views heard please get in touch. All of the survey information from parental, pupil and staff surveys is collated and used to help us to plan for the future. Our partnership with you matters to us. We believe in the “you said, we did” approach.

many thanks

The collated feedback is shown below;

s4 parental data
Strongly agree / agree  % SA/A Disagree/Strongly disagree % D/SD Don’t Know Total responses N/A
Q1 The school helps my child to be more confident. 28 84.85 5 15.15 2 33
Q2 My child enjoys learning at school. 30 90.91 3 9.09 0 33
Q3 My child’s learning is progressing well. 32 96.97 1 3.03 0 33
Q4 My child is encouraged and stretched to work to the best of their ability 31 93.94 2 6.06 0 33
Q5 The school keeps me well informed about my child’s progress. 30 88.24 4 11.76 0 34
Q6 My child feels safe at school. 32 94.12 1 2.94 1 34
Q7 My child is treated fairly at school. 24 82.76 4 13.79 1 29
Q8 I feel staff really know my child as an individual and support them well 28 93.33 1 3.33 1 30
Q9 My child benefits from school clubs and activities provided outside the classroom 14 56.00 9 36.00 2 25 6
Q10 The school asks for my views. 19 65.52 10 34.48 0 29 1
Q11 The school takes my views into account. 17 62.96 7 25.93 3 27 3
Q12 The school is well led. 29 93.55 1 3.23 1 31
Q13 Overall, I am happy with the school. 28 87.50 3 9.38 ` 32