Preston Lodge High School

PRESTON LODGE HIGH SCHOOL MINUTES OF PARENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2016 AT PRESTON LODGE HIGH SCHOOL

Present: Pauline O’Brian, Parent Representative, Chair Lynne Lewis, Parent Representative, Vice Chair Pamela Currie, Parent Representative Elaine Cargill, Parent Representative, Colin Yorkston, Parent Representative Russell Devine, Parent Representative Saddah Aziz, Parent Representative Clint Lanyon, Co-opted Teacher Representative Gail Lugton, Co-opted Teacher Representative Julie Lowe, Head of Development at Preston Lodge Excellence In Learning Foundation. Mr G Clark, Head Teacher Mrs J Dunlop, Clerk

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were intimated on behalf of Karin Menzies, Dawn Yorkston and Cllr Innes.

2. MINUTES OF MEETING OF 10 MARCH 2016

It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting of 10 March 2016 were a true record.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES 10 MARCH BUT NOT ON THE AGENDA

a) Licensing of Food Vans – Gavin Clark agreed to contact Cllr Innes to see if there was an update. (Action Cllr Innes/Gavin Clark)

4. JULIE LOWE – HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT AT PRESTON LODGE EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING FOUNDATION

Gavin Clark reported that Julie had been in school for three weeks and had been getting to know both the school and the staff. There has not been a Charitable Trust meeting since her appointment.

Julie Lowe explained that the Excellence in Learning Foundation will work to:

- Enhance young people’s learning opportunities and improve their life chances and wellbeing.

- Advance education by supporting innovative projects to develop learning within the school, where local authority funding is not available.

- To manage the fund to support the development of learning in Preston Lodge High School and its wider Community. 2 - To source and secure funding from both public and private sector for the foundation in order to make it become self-financing and secure its future.

She identified the undernoted income streams:

- Trusts and Foundations – this will be her main focus where it was noted that the grant applications have to be robust.

- Corporate Partnerships

- Community Fundraising

- Individual Giving

- Running and Challenge Events

- Collaborative working with other fundraising groups, eg Rotary, Parent Council, Persian Ladies, Sixth Year Charity Committee

- Volunteer Recruitment and Development.

She identified her work over the next six months as being:

- Apply for funding opportunities for development of learning in Preston Lodge and its wider community Fund could be used for cover teachers so that subject teachers have time to work collaboratively, plan, design, develop and deliver creative ways of learning across the school.

- Learning Café

- Friends of Preston Lodge/Alumni

- Local Community Fundraising Events

- Volunteer Opportunities – Recruitment and Development

- Branding to raise awareness of the foundation in the local community through collection can placements, advertisement for events, and digital media.

- Large scale event in partnership with another charity in June 2017. Preston Lodge event but reach different youth audiences for example engage with other high schools to take part. Entry fee to Preston Lodge and individual fundraising the schools would keep and donate 50% to charity. One idea for this currently under consideration is a Youth Dragon Boat Race.

She felt it important the Foundation was linked to the Brand and that the upgrading of the website and social media were critical. It was noted that it should be emphasised that the Charitable Trust and the School were separate organisations.

Saddah Aziz explained about the SPTC “Easyfundraising” information and Julie Lowe agreed to look into this and suggested that publicity about this was disseminated to parents in advance of Christmas. 3 Gavin Clark explained that one of the key elements of the position is that funding is secured for the Head of Development role.

5. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Gavin Clark reported that he will give a full update on the National Improvement Framework at the September Parent Council meeting, but that one of the 6 drivers is Parental Engagements. It was agreed that the Classroom Visits and Parental Consultations would be included in the next year’s Development Plan.

There was a discussion on the new standardised testing which will be introduced to schools next year, however it was agreed that there needs to be more clarity on this, before a fuller discussion can take place.

6. PARENTAL CONSULTATION UPDATE

Gavin Clark agreed to provide an update at the June Parent Council meeting.

7. FEEDBACK FROM CLASSROOM VISIT

Pam Currie and Saddah Aziz had spent a half day in school and visited Clint Lanyon and Gail Lugton’s classes. Their observations were:

The corridors were pleasant, and although noisy, pupils were respectful and held open doors.

Some of the behaviours witnessed were not as bad as had been expected and they were impressed by the nature of the lessons.

The Assembly was impressive and there a noticeable level of respect and pride around the school.

It was noted whilst observing classes that some pupils looked like they were holding back and not contributing to specific parts of the lesson. Clint Lanyon noted that there are different reasons for this and that teachers are aware and challenge pupils in different ways. There was a discussion on the different approaches pupils take to learning whilst moving through the school with, in particular S2 and S3 pupils, not always wishing to stand out or be different from their peers.

Saddah Aziz asked how parents could volunteer in the school, as in the Primary Schools parents were encouraged to be involved. Gavin Clark noted that there is some engagement with parents for supported reading but the school has not really opened the door and asked for volunteers. Julie Lowe noted that it was important that there were clearly defined roles for volunteers.

It was noted that the Computers were very slow and Gavin Clark confirmed that this is an issue across the school with some areas better than other and the school has made representation to the Council to try and resolve.

It was agreed that it had been a worthwhile exercise and Clint Lanyon noted that the feedback from the parents was very worthwhile. It was agreed that it would be expanded next year and included on the Development Plan.

8. AREA PARTNERSHIP 4

Gavin Clark reported that a meeting with will be held with Sandra King from the Area Partnership and the Cluster Schools Head teachers to decide how best to spend the £100,000 which has been allocated to the Area Partnership from the Education Budget. Gavin Clark will report back to the Parent Council on any decisions made.

9. AGM

The next meeting will be the AGM and it was agreed that Jacqui Dunlop would circulate a list of who was up for re-election. Karin Menzies was standing down and it was noted that a new Treasurer will need to be appointed. It was agreed that a letter would be issued to the Parent Forum and P7 parents which Pauline O’Brien would sign as Chair.

Gavin Clark agreed to advertise for a co-opted teacher member. (Action Gavin Clark)

10. ROLE OF PARENT COUNCIL IN INSPECTION PROCESS

It was agreed that more information was required before a discussion could be had.

11. EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL

It was agreed that more information was required before a discussion could be had.

12. RAISING THE PROFILE OF THE PARENT COUNCIL

It was agreed that this would be discussed in greater detail at a future meeting. Areas to consider may include how parents contact the school, ability to be able to email teachers directly, updating of website, and photographs of PC members in the Waiting Room.

13. CHARITABLE TRUST

The next meeting will be held on 8 June and Gavin Clark will update the parent council at the September meeting. There should be available shortly the draft accounts for the Charitable Trust and when these are available Gavin Clark agreed to circulate to the parent council. (Action Gavin Clark)

14. HEAD TEACHER’S REPORT

a) Staff – Gavin Clark confirmed that there had been a successful recruitment for staff, although the recruitment of a Computer teacher is still difficult. Next year’s Computing lessons have been timetabled for one teacher which may lead to the re-coursing of some students although it was noted that this is a national issue. Another advert will be placed for try and secure a Computing teacher.

b) HMIE – Gavin Clark confirmed that they were positive about the structure of the curriculum following a visit.

Date of Next Meeting – AGM – Monday, 13 June