VISION AND VALUES
Taylor High School is a strong Catholic community of faith and learning which provides the highest quality of education for all of its young people. We nurture the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of all our pupils based on Gospel values in an environment which promotes respect for others and equality for all.
Our staff and pupils, their parents and the wider community work in partnership to promote a positive academic climate where all of our young people are highly engaged in their learning. Our pupils engage in a range of activities which help them to understand and appreciate diversity and equality. We encourage and support our students to be ambitious and constantly challenge them to become successful, confident and responsible adults who will contribute effectively to society.
In our school we provide young people with a very broad range of experiences to develop the knowledge, skills and values needed for life. Our curriculum reflects the school’s vision to help young people be successful learners with the highest possible level of academic achievement. To do this we provide courses geared to meet the needs of all of our pupils.
Our young people are actively engaged in their own learning and benefit from the impact of a diverse range of teaching strategies which increases confidence in their abilities. They receive a high standard of feedback from our staff, work collaboratively and access appropriate technology to enhance their learning,
We recognise, encourage and promote pupils’ knowledge, skills, abilities and their contributions to the school community. We celebrate a broad range of achievements including academic attainment, endeavour, citizenship and enterprise. There is an ethos and culture of praise and recognition of achievement in the school, culminating in our Celebrating Success Ceremony.
STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN
The plan has three priorities:
Priority 1
The school will continue with the development, implementation and evaluation of A Curriculum for Excellence in line with national and local guidance.
Summary Details
Following considerable work undertaken during recent sessions the school will continue with its implementation of a Curriculum for Excellence during session 2013-14 using relevant national and local documents as key reference points. New national qualifications will be implemented at a range of levels in Fourth Year with preparatory work for any necessary changes which will follow in Fifth Year in session 2014-15.
Priority 2
The school will continue to improve the quality and consistency of learning and teaching as it seeks to continue to improve attainment and achievement.
Summary Details
The school will continue to improve the quality of learning and teaching in Taylor High School with particular emphasis on technology, using a diverse range of teaching strategies leading to an improvement in attainment and achievement.
We will continue to seek to motivate and enthuse our students in their learning and reach the highest standards of attainment and achievement.
Consistent and innovative approaches to learning will continue to be implemented in all departments based on the further development of co-operative learning and AifL techniques. The school’s TLC will contribute ideas for new approaches to learning at departmental and teacher level.
The use of technology in learning will continue on a planned basis by both pupils and staff.
The use of self-evaluation, tracking and monitoring will be implemented as required across the school. The Joe Ferrie Leadership Academy will continue to be developed to ensure that it impacts on the wider life of the school.
Staff development issues associated with these and other initiatives will be addressed within existing resources.
Priority 3
The school will continue to deliver all aspects of support for pupils, both universal and targeted, in an inclusive Catholic environment, based on Gospel values.
Summary Details
This priority seeks to ensure that all staff contribute to the development of health and wellbeing. In addition it addresses the school’s ongoing programme in relation to promoting positive pupil discipline. The priority addresses a number of aspects of GIRFEC, notably the implementation of a HART (Health and Wellbeing Additional Resource team) and MAST (Multi-Agency Support Team). The outcome also addresses the faith life of the school notably the implementation of ‘This is Our Faith’ across all stages.
It also seeks to ensure that there is a clear understanding among all stakeholders regarding the way in which the school’s implementation of the Supporting Learners entitlement complements other aspects of pupil support work.
IMPACT OF THE PLAN
Each outcome has a range of actions designed to produce an appropriate impact.
The detailed impacts expected from the plan are as follows:
- Evidence of improved pupil attainment and achievement with particular reference to gender and to lower achieving pupils
- Evidence of improved pupil attendance
- Evidence of increased pupil enthusiasm for learning, both in and out of school
- Evidence of increased and confident engagement of pupils in learning co-operatively
- Evidence of high quality pupil work across the curriculum
- Evidence of improved pupils’ communication skills in all learning situations
- Evidence of pupils taking significant responsibility for their own learning
- Evidence of successful, creative use of technology by pupils in learning
- Evidence of the impact of technology on the development of skills for life and work
- Evidence of increased engagement of parents/carers in their children’s learning
- Evidence of improved self-confidence of staff in the use of a range of teaching approaches including the use of technology to improve learning
- Evidence of the further development of leadership across the school
- Evidence of the further development of the very good behaviour and manners commented on by HMIE Report (pub. March 2011)
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
The effective delivery of the plan will be monitored in a range of ways. The Senior Management Team, Improvement Planning Team and Principal Teachers will oversee the plan’s implementation. All staff will also play their part in ensuring the effective delivery of the plan’s outcomes and action points and in evaluating their effective delivery.
