<p>Parents Focus Group 1</p><p>6th October 2015 ADastey Present: </p><p>Mrs Docherty, Mrs Patterson, Mrs Tolland, Mr Weir, Mr and Mrs Khan, Mrs McKenna, Mrs Bain, Mrs McBride, Mr McApline</p><p>Agenda</p><p> Uniform</p><p> Homework & Study Habits</p><p> Planners</p><p> School communication</p><p> BGE and Parent Evaluation</p><p>Uniform- </p><p>DHT thanked parents for their support with school uniform. DHT praised that all but 5 are consistently in blazer. DHT asked if parents would support the school shoe. Parents agreed that uniform has been improving and that they are happy with high standards and that the messages coming from the school are helping push high standards of uniform. Parents agreed that school shoe was a good move forward for all and would be happy to support this.</p><p>Planners –</p><p>Discussion surrounding homework planner and how this should be used. Asked parents to ensure they check planner each week and at least once week to sign this. Explained this would be a really good way to link with the school, while also be involved in what sons/daughters are learning as noted in the diary. Explained I would expect every line to be filled with either what they achieved that period (in brief) or the homework. Parents felt this was a great way to see what their sons/daughters are doing and would give them an in to speak to their children about what they are learning. I highlighted to parents, pastoral staff as well as teachers will use this as a way of communicating with parents and parents liked this. I explained they should use this for the same purpose.</p><p>Study and Homework -</p><p>Spoke to parents regarding importance of study in S3. Explained would like pupils in routine of one and half hours each evening. I asked parents to support this by making a quiet space for their children but a space they could supervise. I asked that parents use mobile phones, xbox (general games), WIFI as privileges. Parents said they would be supportive of this and do already make attempts at this at home but will fraction it into study now. Parents Focus Group 1</p><p>6th October 2015 ADastey</p><p>School Communication –</p><p>I asked parents if they were happy with the communication they had from school. Parents strongly agreed communication had been excellent. Parents reinforced that they like as much communication as possible. Parents felt texting regularly, use of website, use of planners, lettering parents and pastoral leaflets were all excellent ways of keeping them informed about events and what pupil focus is at the time. Parents thanked the school for having strong communication links. </p><p>Parents felt that it is most helpful to have phone call from the school. Parents felt discussing their children is helpful in getting them involved. I explained parents could generate this phone call also and not to wait until called. Parents agreed.</p><p>Broad General Education and Thematic Evaluation –</p><p>The attached evaluation is a collated response from parents on the evening. </p><p>Note – parents really happy with the service provided to their children.</p><p>AOCB –</p><p>Parents asked if parents evening format could be looked at. Parents suggested there may be better ways to do parent’s evenings and talked of procedures in some other schools. Parents felt unhappy that they only have 3 minutes to discuss their sons/ daughter progress and that if they miss appointment they may not be seen by the teacher, even though they have been held back by a previous appointment which may have been late. I informed parents would take this back to management and discuss. </p>