Tag Archives: CPD

Interdisciplinary learning, Literacy, Responsibility of All, Self-Reflection, Skills, Teaching Pedagogy

60 Seconds News Brief (IDL – Social Studies)

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Dermot Doherty – Social Subjects

Following the Inter disciplinary learning (IDL) review I began to think about my practice and look for lessons that may be IDL.

As part of the first year social studies course pupils create a 60 second news brief (Modern studies section).   I teach 3 groups of 1st years and did this lesson a few weeks ago with one set, it went well and pupils really enjoyed it.

I realised this lesson could be IDL with English as pupils are practising their extended writing skills, and after speaking to Mrs Neild in English she informed me pupils cover the 5w’s (Who, when, where, what, and why) when they do their own news reports. This link to English was strengthened by also covering the 5w’s as part of our task.


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Skills, Teaching Pedagogy

Co-operative Learning Strategies

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Alanna Petrie – English Department

Last year, as a probationer teacher, I often encountered the difficulty of making group work effective. When planning group activities I had imagined a class full of interrogative youngsters working together to achieve their lesson aim. This was not quite the reality. The problems I encountered were that the work was being done by only one or two of the group while the others sat back or, that pupils would quickly seize the opportunity to socialise rather than learn.

After trying a variety of group work strategies, I was introduced to co-operative learning.

The aim of co-operative learning is to ensure that when pupils are working in groups they are all focused on achieving their learning goal. It works because the strategies rely on every member of the group fulfilling their role to ensure the success of the team. Not only are these strategies a good way of making lessons active and enjoyable but they also help to develop two of the four capacities: successful learners and effective contributors. Continue reading Co-operative Learning Strategies →

Interdisciplinary learning, Responsibility of All, Self-Reflection, Skills, Vision and Leadership

Stirling, CERN, SQA and RRSA CPD Activities

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My recent CPD activities have included completing the West Lothian Leadership course and have now started an MSc course in Educational Leadership at Stirling University. I have also undertaken marking for the SQA of both Standard Grade and Advanced Higher scripts. I have been leading the Rights Respecting Schools initiative within my school and have recently been appointed the Business Links development post holder within the school. Over the past year, I have also been trying to implement more use of technology in my teaching, by using facilities such as the PS3 and XBOX to enhance the learning of pupils. In addition I have recently been looking to use Edmodo with my classes such that more online resources have been available to them. I have also lead a recent foreign trip to CERN in Geneva, and undertaken the arrangement of the end of term shows within the school. Continue reading Stirling, CERN, SQA and RRSA CPD Activities →

Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Uncategorized

Knowing your ABCs is just as important in H&T

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Raising Literacy within Health and Technology
Anne Keenan – Health and Wellbeing 

As part of the department improvement plan to focus on the raising attainment we decided to focus on the opportunities to develop literacy skills in S1.  Pupils in S1 currently complete a Hygiene & Food Safety project.  Mary Gibson observed a series of lesson and identified several methods that teachers can use to improve the quality of learner feedback. 

Prior to this our feed back focused mainly on the subject contents and the presentation of their work.   Following Mary’s input we have been able to identify and implement several changes that will help pupils to set targets for improvements relevant to their own literacy needs.

Steps identified include:

  • Produce a standardised format illustrating how to compile a report
  • Encourage pupils to make use of H&T key words displayed throughout department to expand pupils’ vocabulary and comprehension
  • Set standardised comments to be used for pupil feedback by departmental staff
  • Lunchtime opportunities for pupils to discuss with staff their learning needs for completion of project

The opportunity to work closely with Mary has enabled the department to self-reflect on current practice, update approaches to ensure all pupils are receiving effective feedback and importantly having clear targets set.

Self-Reflection, Skills, Teaching Pedagogy, Vision and Leadership

Planning a school trip abroad – CERN Geneva

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Gerry Burns, Physics/Science Department

My recent CPD activities included taking 18 pupils to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of this trip was to allow pupils to investigate particle physics at the biggest experiment on the planet. As I hadn’t taken pupils on a trip abroad before, there was great value in understanding how to organise the event in a way that the pupils got the maximum benefit while ensuring all the health and safety needs of the group were met.

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Interdisciplinary learning, Responsibility of All, Self-Reflection, This is our Faith, Uncategorized, Vision and Leadership

R.E. Inset Day

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Frank Quinn – Principal Teacher R.E. Department

As part of the school’s plan in implementing “Shining the Light” and “This is Our Faith” (T.I.O.F.), it was decided that some time should be spent looking at part of the document “T.I.O.F.” by the whole staff during an Inset day.  The school believes the way forward with “T.I.O.F.” and the school’s Religious Education programme is to approach it as a whole-school responsibility, like Literacy, Numeracy and H&WB.  Each department should be aware where there are opportunities for them to contribute to the R.E. in the school.

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Self-Reflection, Vision and Leadership

Using data analysis for targeted intervention, mentoring and raising attainment

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John Slavin Faculty Leader Raising Attainment

My recent CPD has included working with Seemis and TMR (our data management system) to exact data entered by teachers, analyse this and use the results for targeted intervention. By manipulating the data, pupils who are underachieving can be identified and targeted. A monitoring programme has been devised and teachers were invited to participate in delivering this to the S4 pupils. The course I am currently undertaking at Stirling University is in Coaching and Mentoring and the programme for our pupils is based largely around the major themes from this.

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Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All, Self-Reflection, Skills, Vision and Leadership

Diabetes Workshop

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Helen Powley, P.E. Department

This was a very informative CPD experience. We have many pupils in the school who have diabetes and we must be aware of their needs. The CPD went through the two differnt types of diabetes and how these can be controlled. Examples of the different pieces of equipment were there for staff to look at and try! The main message I took form the session was that it  is important for staff, parents and medical staff to work together to ensure the wellbeing of the pupil. NHS staff were keen to point out that staff and parents must contact them if they need support. There are a huge number of pupils in the lothian who have diabetes and few nurses, so if support is required we must ask.

If pupils are going away on a school trip I recommend that a meeting set up with parents, and if required NHS staff to ensure that the correct plan and resources are in place for the duration of a trip. For example, medication may need to be changed for a sports activity trip. Continue reading Diabetes Workshop →

Health and wellbeing, Teaching Pedagogy, Vision and Leadership

Primary and Secondary PE Provision

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Paul Stark

November witnessed the first meeting of the PE working group at St Margaret’s Academy. The group is made up of primary and secondary PE specialists, school staff members and senior management and has been tasked with reflecting on the second and third level PE provision across the St Margaret’s cluster. The inaugural meeting was attended by 19 members of primary and secondary staff who discussed the PE provision currently on offer to P6 and P7 pupils across the associated primaries and S1 and S2 pupils within St Margaret’s.

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Responsibility of All

Managing severe allergies in schools

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Nighean Hannah from the NHS recently delivered a CPD event on managing severe allergies in schools.  Her PowerPoint which can be viewed here provided lots of useful information on:

  • What anaphylaxis is
  • Symptoms
  • Types of reactions
  • Causes and treatments
  • Devices
  • Management in schools
  • What to do in an emergency

I found this a very useful learning experience and would recommend all staff to have a look at this.

The following websites provide more information Allergies and Intolerances and Anaphylaxis Campaign