From mountain to sea Mearns Academy Handbook 2020/21 2 | Contents Introduction to Mearns Academy 4 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos 9 Curriculum 10 Assessment and Reporting 16 Transitions (Moving On) 18 1 Admissions 19 2 Placing requests & School Zones 19 3 Skills Development Scotland 20 Support for Children and Young People 21 4 Getting it Right for Every Child 21 5 Wellbeing 21 6 Children’s Rights 23 7 The Named Person 24 8 Educational Psychology 25 9 Enhanced Provision & Community Resource Hubs 25 10 Support for Learning 25 11 The Child’s Plan 26 12 Child Protection 27 13 Further Information on Support for Children and Young People 28 Parent & Carer Involvement and Engagement 29 14 Parental Engagement 29 15 Communication 29 16 ParentsPortal.scot 30 17 Learning at Home 31 18 Parent Forum and Parent Council 31 19 Parents and School Improvement 31 20 Volunteering in school 31 21 Collaborating with the Community 32 22 Addressing Concerns & Complaints 32 School Policies and Useful Information 33 23 Attendance 33 24 Holidays during term time. 34 | 3 25 Dress Code 34 26 Clothing Grants 35 27 Transport 35 28 Privilege Transport 35 29 Early Learning & Childcare Transport 36 30 Special Schools and Enhanced Provision 36 31 School Closure & Other Emergencies 36 32 Storm Addresses 38 33 Change of address and Parental Contact Details 38 34 Anti-bullying Guidance 38 35 School Meals 39 36 Healthcare & Medical 40 37 Schools and Childcare – Coronavirus 42 38 Exclusion 42 39 Educational Visits 42 40 Instrumental Tuition 42 41 Education Maintenance Allowance 43 42 Public Liability Insurance 43 43 School Off Site Excursion Insurance 43 44 Data we hold and what we do with it. 44 45 The information we collect from you 44 46 Your Data, Your Rights 44 47 Parental Access to Records 45 48 Information Sharing 45 49 ScotXed 45 Further Information 47 4 |Introduction to Mearns Academy All information in this handbook is correct as of October 2020 Introduction to Mearns Academy It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Mearns Academy handbook. Our young people benefit from attending a new school with high quality accommodation and served by highly committed staff and very good resources in a learning community steeped in very strong local traditions and ambition. As a school we value very highly our links with parents and see you as vital partners in ensuring the success of your child at Mearns Academy. Our primary aim is to offer a caring, safe and happy environment in which all pupils’ needs are met and that young people are equipped with the skills, abilities and attitudes to face the challenges that lie ahead as they move through their lives as citizens of this country. We aspire to deliver the highest possible levels of learning and teaching and aim to provide a range of enriching experiences both inside and outside the classroom for our young people. We offer a wide range of subjects and courses and additionally provide a broad choice of extra-curricular activities for young people which blend together to give a high quality experience for our students. School Contact Details Mr Gareth Campbell – Head Teacher Mearns Academy Aberdeen Road Laurencekirk AB30 1ZJ Telephone: 01561 400700 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mearns.aberdeenshire.sch.uk Adverse weather and emergency closure https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Apps/schools-closures/ Information Line 0370 054 4999 021090 (Please do not use this line to leave messages for the school.) Introduction to Mearns Academy | 5 Mearns Academy is a non-denominational school. Mearns Academy serves the population of the town and the surrounding rural area. The total roll of the school currently stands at 715 pupils of whom around one third live in Laurencekirk itself. Apart from Laurencekirk Primary School we draw pupils from our other associated primary schools at Auchenblae, Fettercairn, Luthermuir, Marykirk, Redmyre (Fordoun) and St Cyrus. Relationships and Partners Mearns Academy enjoys increasingly strong partnership with parents, business, further/higher education establishments, charitable trusts and the local community. We value parental engagement and recognise that parental involvement has a positive impact on raising attainment and achievement; Mearns Academy is fortunate to have an active and supportive parent council group. The school is very well supported by local business partners who provide valuable advice and mentoring as well as Work Experience placements. The curriculum offered by the school is enhanced through partnership arrangements with Community Learning and Development, Skills Development Scotland, Dundee and Angus College and NESCOL. As a result of our partnership working, our learners have access to a range of learning pathways through which they can develop essential skills required for learning, work and life. The School Day Under normal circumstances the School operates a 6 period day. Periods are organised for the following times, Monday to Friday: 0900 - 0910 Tutor time 0910 - 1005 Period 1 1005 - 1100 Period 2 1100 - 1115 Interval 1115- 1210 Period 3 1210- 1300 Period 4 1300 - 1345 Lunch 1345 - 1440 Period 5 1440 - 1530 Period 6 We are currently operating a school day which consists of 3 2-period classes per day and staggered breaks / lunches. For further details please visit our website to view current arrangements. 6 |Introduction to Mearns Academy Senior Leadership Team & Teaching Staff The Senior Leadership Team of the school are: HEAD TEACHER: Mr Gareth Campbell DEPUTE HEADS: Mr Brian Middleton Mr Robin Christie Mrs Pauline Logue CLUSTER BUSINESS MANAGER: Mr Derek Atkinson Mr Gareth Campbell Strategic lead on Professional Update Determination of Ethos, Vision, Values & Aims MAPAG Parent Council Chaplaincy Link Working Time Agreement Positive Behaviour Policy Learning at Home Policy Management of finance GLT PEF Mr Brian Middleton CPD co-ordinator Digital Leaders Co-ordinator Digital Learning (L&T) Digital Literacy (Employability) Effective Teaching & Learning Observations GLOW GLT PGDE Students Young Leaders – PPF, Prefects, House etc. Probationer teachers SCHOLAR / Distance learning SEEMIS in relation to remit SQA Co-ordinator Tapestry Mrs Pauline Logue Child Protection co-ordinator Enhanced Transitions GIRFEC - LAC, Multi agency action planning as strategic lead. GLT Chair H&W Co-ordinator Health promotion Attendance LMG PEF Primary Liaison – pupil support SEEMIS in relation to remit School Sports Award SLT Link Parents’ Evenings Introduction to Mearns Academy | 7 Mr Robin Christie DYW Citizenship College Link Curriculum DYW EMA GLT Insight Lead Literacy, Numeracy P7 Induction Programme Prize Giving SEEMIS in relation to remit SNSA Timetable Tracking & Reporting Volunteering / Saltire Award Work Experience Wider Achievement Mr Derek Atkinson Activity Days Administration of Emergency Procedures Calendar D of E Co-ordinator Deployment of cover Energy Saving Co-ordinator Evolve administrator Facilities Management Finance GLOW Health & Safety Officer ICT School insurance School Inventory School Photographs SEEMIS Sponsored Walk Transport ENGLISH & LITERACY MODERN LANGUAGES Mrs Vicky Craig (PT Faculty) Ms Helen Leigh (PT Faculty) Mrs Jo Thom Mrs Lorraine Buchan (PT Faculty) Mrs Kay Donald Mrs Alison Johansen Miss Rosie Bircham Mrs Clare MacKenzie Mrs Emma Myatt Mrs Alison Lewis Mrs Shalini Pattabiraman PUPIL SUPPORT EXPRESSIVE ARTS Mrs Kathryn Hamilton (PT Faculty) Mrs Donna Birse (PT Faculty) Mrs Anne-Marie Beattie Mrs Lorna Baker Mrs Claire Lawson Mrs Claire Hay Ms Jen Kennedy Miss Claire Docherty Mr Scott Coutts Miss Kathryn Geoghan Miss Carrie-Anne English 8 |Introduction to Mearns Academy GUIDANCE RELIGIOUS & MORAL EDUCATION Mrs Moreen Anderson (PT Guidance) Mrs Vicky McGillivray (PT) Mrs Kerrie Jamieson (PT Guidance Acting) Mrs Prayer Cumming Mr Neil Westland (PT Guidance) Mrs Frederique Dunn (PT Guidance) SCIENCE Mrs Fiona Shanks (PT Faculty) HEALTH & LEISURE Mrs Donella Monachello Mr Scott Cameron (PT Faculty) Ms Michelle Watt Miss Aimee Langton Mr Alasdair Jappy Mr David Black Ms Deborah Friar Mrs Lynne Howe Mr Iain Kendall Mrs Arianna Hall Ms Rebecca Cross MATHEMATICS SOCIAL SUBJECTS Mr Alistair Taylor (Acting PT Faculty) Mr Stuart Fleming (PT Faculty) Mrs Jacqueline Anderson Mrs Karina Bryce Ms Virginia Pollard Mr Scott Shanks Mr Andy Pollock Mrs Laura Carlson Ms Kristine Buchanan Miss Amy McGlashan Mr George Hughes TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGIES – Business/Admin/Comp. Mr Paul Sim Mr David Hope (PT Faculty) Mr Richard Bandeen Mrs Beverly Lee Mr Ian Milne Mr Nicholas Pollock Mr Kevin McGill Our Vision, Values and School Ethos | 9 Our Vision, Values and School Ethos We aspire to be a school community acknowledged as a centre of excellence for learning, teaching and the care and welfare of all who work here. Our values are: Respect Wellbeing Ambition 10 |Curriculum Curriculum Within our school, we aim to provide a curriculum that is both inclusive and ambitious for all – a curriculum which is both academically challenging and also provides opportunities to develop skills for learning, life and work. Our curriculum will be based around the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence – to ensure our pupils are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Our curriculum will also reflect the principles of curriculum design to ensure breadth, depth, personalisation & choice, challenge & enjoyment, progression, coherence