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STRONSAY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

PARENT HANDBOOK 2016-17

What’s Inside?

This handbook offers an

introduction to our school

and a general overview of

the education your child

will be getting at school.

If you have any questions,

or would like any further

information on any aspect

of this handbook or the

education of your child,

please do not hesitate to

contact me.

Regards,

Andrew King,

Head Teacher

About Our School

Stronsay Junior High School provides education for the island’s children from

pre-school at age 3, to the end of compulsory schooling at 16. Pupils can then

transfer to Kirkwall Grammar School, if they wish to do so, or move on to

further education, training or employment.

Our vision is to ensure that all achieve their full potential and enjoy being part

of a caring learning community. As a small school on a small island, we know

our learners extremely well, and aim to support them as fully as possible. The

health and wellbeing of our learners is therefore fundamental to all we do. We

always strive to meet their individual needs. The school and the community of

Stronsay work hard together to provide a wide range of opportunities to

broaden achievements and help children to develop spiritually, culturally,

morally and physically as well as intellectually.

Last year, our S4 pupils obtained some of the highest exam results in Orkney,

achieving a wide range of qualifications. The Middle Years Information System

data shows that the achievements of our secondary pupils exceed the national

normal expectations. Other evaluations show our pupils of all ages are engaged

meaningfully with their learning. Many visitors to our school have commented

about the positive atmosphere they experience during their time here. Though

we are always looking for ways we can improve what we do, we believe that

Stronsay Junior High is a good place to be and to learn.

School Contact Details:

Stronsay Junior High School

Stronsay, Orkney KW17 2AE

01857 616 246 admin.stronsay@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

School Blog: http://stronsay-jh.blogspot.co.uk

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Contents Staff 2

Time Table for School Day 2

Attendance and Absence 2

Communication with Home 2

When Your Child is Unwell 2

Accident Procedure and Medication 2

Updating Medical Information 2

Tooth Brushing and Fluoride Treatment (Negative Consent) 2

The Orkney Health and Care Team 2

After School Clubs and Swim Club 2

Transport and After-School Arrangements 2

Closing the School 2

School Dinners 2

Free School Meals & Clothing Allowance 2

School Dress Code 2

Use of Mobile Phones in School and On School Trips 2

Internet Access 2

School security and Child Protection 2

General Supervision and Break times 2

Homework 2

Care of Books / Materials 2

Enrolment 2

Starting Nursery: 2

Transitioning from Nursery to P1 2

Starting Primary 2

How to Register for Nursery 2

Request for Deferral 2

Deferred Entry to Primary School 2

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Transitioning from Primary to Secondary 2

Secondary Curriculum 2

KGS and Hostel Information 2

Leaving School or Transferring to KGS 2

Parental Involvement 2

Parent Forum 2

Parent Council 2

You can help 2

School Ethos 2

Vision Statement: 2

Aims of Stronsay School: 2

Developing the Whole Child 2

Golden Time 2

Behaviour 2

Merit Awards 2

Addressing Unsatisfactory Behaviour 2

Bullying 2

Active Learning 2

Curriculum for Excellence—Introduction 2

Planning Children’s and Young People’s Learning 2

Sensitive Aspects of Learning 2

Facilities for Physical Education and Outdoor Activities 2

Religious Instruction and Observance 2

Active Schools 2

Outdoor Education 2

Assessment and Reporting Your Child’s Progress 2

Support for Pupils 2

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) 2

Child Protection 2

Support for Learning 2

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Educational Psychology Service 2

School Improvement Plan 2

School Improvement 2

Standards and Quality Report 2

Raising Attainment 2

Why do we need your data? 2

Pupil Data 2

What pupil data is collected and transferred? 2

Your data protection rights 2

Concerns 2

Where to Find Other Information 2

Websites 2

Policies Available from the School Office: 2

Comments, Suggestions and Complaints Procedure for Orkney Islands Council 2

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Andrew King Headteacher

Sarah Evans Lower Primary

Mairi Dennison Upper Primary (M-W)

Wendy Groat Upper Primary (W-F)

Pamela Rose Maths/Sciences

Barbara Deavin English/Support for Learning

Yvonne Weaver Nursery

Antoine Pietri French/RME (W-F)

Jane Barber History/Geography (W-F)

Derek Smith Design and Technology (M)

Cate Evans Health and Food Tech/Cake

Craft (M,W)

Holly Elson PE (T)

Kirsty Brown Art & Design (T,W)

Wayne Duncan Music (T,F)

Gaynor Smith Support for Learning

Assistant/Cleaner, Accordion

Instruction

Sheena Cooper Support for Learning

Assistant/Auxiliary

Steve Weaver Janitor

Arna Cooper Cook

Wilma Holland Kitchen Assistant

Jennifer Graham Clerical Assistant/Auxiliary

John Steenton Technician

Ruth King Science Technician

Elizabeth Duncan Fiddle Instruction

David Hudson Piano Instruction

Staff Time Table for School Day Primary Secondary

Start Time 9.05 8.55

Break Time 11.10-11.25 11.10-11.25

Lunch Time 12.40-1.35 12.50-1.35

Finish Time 3.15 3.15

Nursery Start Time:

9.00

Finish Time:

12.10

The timetable for the Primary and Secondary Sector is

in part dependent on the day, specialist teachers

arriving and Loganair’s timetable. Itinerant teachers

generally spend less time in school during the winter as

the planes cannot fly in darkness. The number and

length of time each itinerant teacher is on Stronsay is

decided centrally by the Authority.

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Attendance and Absence Please let the school know by email or phone (preferably

before 10am) why your child is absent that day. If there is

no explanation from a child’s parents, the absence will be

regarded as unauthorised.

If you know that your child will be missing school in the

future, for any reason, please send an email or a note in

good time. Going on holiday, even if you have told the

school about it, is classed as an unauthorised absence by

the Authority.

The school must be informed if, for any reason, a pupil is

to be temporarily excused from school activities such as

PE.

When Your Child is Unwell

Colds, flu and gastroenteritis are the

most common infections affecting

children of school age. It is

important that you keep your child

off school if they are unwell and for

48hours after they stop vomiting or

have diarrhoea.

If your child is feeling unwell at

school, we will first see if some rest

will help. If the problem continues,

we will phone you to decide what

would be the best thing to do in the

situation.

Accident Procedure and Medication

Minor cuts and bruises will be taken care of by the

school First Aider. Any accident or suspected injury

(unless minor in nature) will be referred to the

doctor or nurse. Any head injury (even minor) will

be reported to the parent.

Parental consent is needed for medication to be

given at school. There is a form to be filled out if

your child needs to have medication during school

hours. Medication will be kept in the first aid

cupboard and either administered or supervised by

the First Aider. Parents should bring the medication

in and fill out the form at the time.

Communication with Home

The primary means of

communication with parents will be

by email. If you do not use email or

prefer to receive paper copies,

please let the office know, and

these will be sent home with your

child. From time to time, your child

will bring home forms or

information from the school, and

you are encouraged to check your

child’s schoolbag every day for

these communications. Enquiries of

any kind should be addressed to the

Head Teacher in the first instance.

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The Orkney Health and Care Team covers all schools in Orkney and comprises a Public Health

Nurse (Specialist Practitioner), Registered Nurse and Healthcare Support Worker, who are based in the

School Health Department at the Kirkwall Health Centre Annex. We also provide advice and support to

education staff and deliver training on many health conditions that impact on childhood e.g. asthma,

epilepsy and allergies. The team supports and coordinate paediatric clinics, and acts as a link between

consultants and parents/carers and children. Pupils, parents/carers can request information and advice

at any time. Other health professionals and teaching staff can also request advice and input from the

school nurse for the child or young person with parental and/or the young person’s consent.

Health screening – All children in Primary 1 and at Primary 7 will be seen in order to have their growth

and vision checked.

Immunisations – Secondary school girls are offered HPV immunisations. At the appropriate time,

information booklets and consent forms will be issued.

The School Health Service can be contacted on 01856 888 262.

Tooth Brushing and Fluoride Treatment (Negative Consent)

Primary pupils brush their teeth at school once

a day after the lunch break. If you do not want

your child to participate in this activity, please

let your child’s teacher know.

Dental nurses visit the school twice a year to

administer fluoride treatment to all Primary

children. If you do not want your child to

receive this treatment, you must fill out a form

letting the school and dental nurses know.

Please ask for a form at the school office.

Updating Medical Information

Please let us know (and keep the

information updated) if your child has

any allergies or dietary requirements or

medical conditions. Medical forms are

sent home at the beginning of the school

year, and updates will be required for

any overnight school trips. The forms are

kept in the school office and copies are

sent with the child on all school trips.

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After School Clubs and Swim Club

A variety of clubs are offered after

school through the year and pupils

are encouraged to participate. Once

they have chosen to take part,

parents will be asked to give their

consent. Unless the school office

receives a different message by 3 pm

directly from the parent on the day

the club meets, it will be assumed

that the child will be staying for the

club.

The swim clubs are run by Sarah

Stevenson and Andy Rose, who will

be responsible for contacting

parents about cancellations, etc. If

the school office hears that Swim

Club has been cancelled for the day,

children will be sent home the

normal way.

Transport and After-School Arrangements

Generally, free transport is offered to pupils under the age of

eight who live more than two miles from the school, and to

those eight and older who live more than three miles from the

school. However, during the winter months (end of October

break to the beginning of the Easter break), all children who live

more than 1.5 miles from the school are transported free. There

is no provision of transport by the local authority for pre-school

age children.

School transport in Stronsay is provided by Maurice and

Sheila Williamson, Olivebank, Stronsay.

If your child is normally on the bus, but you plan to be

away, please let Maurice or Sheila know that they don’t

need to stop for your child (616 255).

If your child is usually on the bus, but you are planning

to pick your child up (or someone else will be collecting

them, or they have your permission to walk somewhere)

at the end of the day, please let the school office know

by 3 pm (616 246).

Parents should remind their child(ren) that, in the

interests of safety, good behaviour is expected from all

pupils travelling on school transport, and the code of

conduct for bus users must be followed.

Closing the School

To find information on whether the school will be closed

due to weather in the morning, try the following:

Listen to BBC Radio Orkney at 7.30am (93.7 FM).

Radio Orkney will be notified if there is disruption to transport and/or school closures.

Listen to the OIC answer phone (01856 873535).

Look at the OIC School Transport Facebook page. The Facebook page and Twitter feed

are both updated as soon as information is available. This can be as early as 6.30am.

Information and links to these sites are available at:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/O/OIC-Updates.htm

You should also receive a phone call from one of the school staff. It helps to have a

phone that is not connected to the mains electricity during times of power outages—

or for the school to have your mobile number (if you have reception in the house).

If the school needs to be closed during the school day:

A school staff member will contact parents and explain what the procedure will be.

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School Dinners All schools in Orkney provide subsidised meals, either prepared in-house or, in some cases, at a

neighbouring school, and aim to provide children with a high-quality and varied diet.

School dinner is prepared on site at Stronsay School by Arna Cooper.

Copies of the menus are sent out at the beginning of the first term, but are available

through the year from the school.

All nursery and preschool children are entitled to free milk daily.

All pupils in Primary 1-3 are entitled to a free school meal.

School Lunches cost £2.10 for primary pupils and £2.20 for secondary pupils. Books of 10

tickets may be purchased for £21 (Primary) and £22 (Secondary), and cheques should be

made payable to ‘Orkney Island Council School Meals’ (your card number must be written

on the back of your cheque). Dinner money is collected at morning registration.

Pupils may also bring packed lunches, which are eaten in the dining hall.

Free School Meals & Clothing Allowance All pupils in Primary 1-3 are entitled to a free school meal, but some older

children may also be eligible if certain criteria are met.

The eligibility criteria are outlined on the following webpage, where

application forms are also available:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Meals-and-

Clothing-Allowances.htm Applications are also available from OIC

Customer Services.

Applications for Free School Meals and Clothing Allowance are made

on the same form and should be submitted to Orkney Islands

Council.

Applications must be submitted every school year.

For help with filling out the form or more information on school

meals and clothing grants, please telephone Education, Housing &

Leisure on (01856) 873 535, email education.grants@orkney.gov.uk

or visit in person at OIC Customer Services.

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School Dress Code

Parents are asked to support the

school’s guidance on dress code.

The dress code was agreed in

consultation with parents, pupils,

staff and the Parent Council. It

incorporates a range of popular

items of dress, e.g. sweatshirts, T-

shirts.

Wearing school uniform contributes

to a positive school ethos and helps

avoid discrimination and reduces

peer pressure to wear expensive

designer clothing. A school’s

reputation can also be enhanced in

the local community by supporting

the school dress code.

School uniform may be purchased

from John Kemps, Kirkwall or from

Tesco online.

The appropriate clothing and

footwear for PE is a T-shirt, shorts

and gym shoes with non-marking

soles. These are necessary for

health and safety reasons and your

co-operation is requested to ensure

that pupils are equipped to

participate in the PE lessons.

Offensive clothing such as T-shirts

or other items painted with

obscene language or illustrations

are not permitted.

Please ensure that all items of

clothing are clearly labelled,

particularly sweat shirts and PE

equipment which are often lost. A

protective apron or an old shirt

should be worn for art and craft

activities. Please help the school

and the education authority by

making sure that pupils do not bring

valuable or expensive items of

clothing to school.

If you have any queries regarding

the school’s dress code, please

contact the Headteacher.

Use of Mobile Phones in School and On School Trips

We recommend that pupils do not bring

phones to school.

If a mobile is brought to school, it must be

switched off at all times, including text

messaging facility. Phones with cameras are

not allowed.

If you need to contact your child through the

day, you should phone the school office. If a

pupil needs to contact you, she/he should ask

at the school office to use the school phone.

Permission will be granted if the request is

reasonable.

Internet Access The school has networked access to a filtered internet

system. The filtering, which is done by Orkney Islands Council

Education Department, is to try to restrict pupil access to

only acceptable internet sites. The internet itself is not

monitored, and as a result, a wide variety of information is

available, some of which is not acceptable for school pupils.

However, it is possible that a pupil could access a seemingly

innocuous site, which nevertheless contains unacceptable

material. If this happens, the pupil is to close down the site

immediately and inform their teacher. The address of the site

will be reported to OIC.

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General Supervision and Break times Before school begins supervision is very limited, therefore

pupils should not arrive at school until as near to the school

start time as possible.

During intervals, the janitor and school auxiliary supervise the

children. In addition, the Head Teacher is on call to cope with

any difficulties which may arise. There is always access to the

building, and the children are made aware of this.

In wet weather, pupils are allowed into school during breaks

and at lunchtime, and are supervised by the janitor and school

auxiliary. We encourage children to go out as much as

possible—they are encouraged to wear suitable clothing.

School security and Child Protection Orkney Islands Council has introduced procedures to ensure the safety and security of pupils and staff

when attending or working in a school. At Stronsay School, we use a number of security measures

including a sign-in book, badges and escorts while visitors are within the school building. Normally, anyone

calling at a school for any reason will be asked to report to the school office. The school staff can then

make the necessary arrangements for the visit.

The school follows the guidelines outlined in the Orkney Islands Council Child Protection Policy:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Files/Social-Care-and-Health/Orkney_CPC_Core_CP_Guidance_May_2011.pdf.

Should you wish to talk further about Child Protection and the safety of children, please feel free to

contact the Head Teacher.

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Homework The school has a clearly defined policy on homework, which can be obtained through the

school office.

Pupils are regularly given homework to support their learning and to encourage them to

become more organised and self-supporting in their learning. Homework tasks will be given

where a teacher feels a particular child or group of children may benefit from it.

The homework will be organised according to the stage and ability of the child; it can arise from

all curricular areas, and it may include written, oral or practical activities. The tasks set will be

interesting, worthwhile and challenging for the child.

Parents are encouraged to help pupils with their homework as a means of keeping them up to

date with the work of the class and the child’s progress, and to promote partnership between

the school and parents. Homework provides an opportunity to consolidate what has been

learned in class, and makes you aware of what your child is learning and provides you with a

useful discussion starter. Homework is also an integral part of school work. Parental interest

and co-operation in ensuring homework is undertaken is appreciated. The school encourages

parents to sign each homework task.

Care of Books / Materials

To enable us to provide the best

possible education for your child,

every care should be taken to look

after the school’s resources and

facilities. Parents are asked to

remind their child(ren) that all

school equipment should be used

with care.

Books and learning resources which

are lost or destroyed must be paid

for, either wholly or in part,

depending on the age of the book.

Any loss of school or Council

property should be reported

immediately to the school.

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Starting Nursery: Places are available for 2-year-olds if

certain qualifications are met. Please ask

at the school office for more

information.

If your child’s 3rd birthday falls between

1st March and 31st August—he/she

will start nursery in August.

1st September and 31st December—

he/she will start nursery in January.

1 January and 29th February—he/she

will start nursery in April.

Preschool (4-5 year-olds):

If your child’s 4th birthday falls

between 1st March and 28th

February—he/she will start

preschool in August.

Starting Primary If your child will turn 5 years old by the following February, he/she will normally

enter Primary 1 in August.

Parents are not required to send their children to school until the first day of

school in the August after the child’s 5th birthday. Dates for enrolment are

published in the Orcadian and posted on notice boards around the island (usually

during February/March). More information can be found on the OIC website:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Enrolments.htm

Some parents/carers, therefore, have a choice as to when their child starts

primary school. Taking the choice to delay school enrolment for a year is known

as deferred entry. This choice takes place when your child will be starting Primary

1, not when they are going into their pre-school year.

Enrolment

How to Register for Nursery

Children are officially registered for Nursery places

with Orkney Islands Council during ‘registration

week’ (usually during February/March). The dates

for this are published in the Orcadian and posted on

notice boards around the island. They can also be

found on the OIC website:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-

Directory/P/Nursery-and-Pre-School-Enrolment.htm

Transitioning from Nursery to P1 We know that moving from Preschool to Primary 1 is a big, important step. To help

ease this transition, children in Nursery spend some time most days in the P1

classroom and so become familiar with the teacher and schedule. This also helps the

Primary teacher to become familiar with your child. Gradually, during the last few

weeks of the term before your child moves to P1, he/she will spend more time in the

Primary classroom and join the other children in the hall for lunch, so that the start

of the new term is made easier.

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Deferred Entry to Primary School If you have any concerns about whether or not you wish your child to take up a place in

Primary 1 the following August you should, in the first instance, discuss the matter with

the Nursery Teacher or the Head Teacher. Discussions should focus on your child’s

progress in his/her pre-school education, with a particular emphasis on your child’s:

approach and attitude to learning

ability to communicate their needs, feelings and ideas

levels of independence and self- help skills

emotional and personal development, including self-confidence and esteem

relationships and friendships with other children and adults

Request for Deferral If after on-going discussions with

the nursery staff, you wish to

proceed with a request for deferral

to Primary 1, you should complete

the “Deferred Entry to Primary

School” form, which the school

office can get for you. The Nursery

staff can support you to fill it in if

you wish. You will need to return

this to Education & Leisure Services

by the end of March.

All deferral request forms should

be signed by the Head Teacher,

showing whether the request for

deferral has his support.

The local authority will

acknowledge receipt of the

request.

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Transitioning from Primary to Secondary

The move from Primary to Secondary is a big step for your child and

we will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as

possible.

Because Primary children are taught foreign language, art, music and PE by Secondary teachers, they will already be familiar with each other. During June, P7s spend a minimum of 2 days following the S1 timetable. As part of Health and Wellbeing lessons with P7, the P7 teacher and Support for Learning Teacher discuss pupils’ fears, anxieties, explain who the Secondary teachers are and what subjects they teach, how to read a timetable, who to go to for help, and look at a map of the school.

A meeting of parents of pupils transferring to the Secondary department is held in June. The purpose of the meeting is to inform parents about the Secondary curriculum arrangements and the operation of the Secondary department. At this meeting, you will have the opportunity to raise any issues of concern for you or your child. .

Secondary Curriculum

The broad general education started in Primary continues through the first three years of a child’s

Secondary education. Specialist teachers teach English, Maths, French, Science, Social Subjects, Craft

and Design, Health Food Technology, Art, Music, PE, RME and PSE in Secondary.

As a school, where possible, we believe that young people should have a level of personalisation and

choice in their learning. Therefore in the 3rd year of their Secondary education, we offer a range of

options. The work undertaken in these options will be at a level suitable for the learner, and will

include, where appropriate, course work at level 4 of the Curriculum for Excellence levels, leading to

accessing National 4 and 5 courses, and where possible, vocational experiences and qualifications.

As children move on to S4, they will continue their options into formal qualification courses.

We are looking to offer options for S5 and 6 students who wish to remain on the island as well as

offering these opportunities for the community of Stronsay. Further details on the Secondary

curriculum, example timetables, etc. can be found on the School Blog.

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Leaving School or Transferring to KGS

Pupils have the opportunity to transfer from Stronsay School to Kirkwall Grammar School for their

secondary years. While we recognise that children’s needs differ, and that some will benefit from attending

a larger school off-island and living in the hostel through the week, we encourage children to stay at

Stronsay School until they are 16. Before any decision is made to transfer, we will organise a full

consultation between pupil, parents and teachers to ensure that the best course of action is followed for

each pupil.

The earliest date at which a pupil may leave school is as follows:

If 16th birthday falls between 1st March and 30th September, he/she may leave on the last school day of

May. If the 16th birthday falls between 1st October and 29th February, he/she may leave at the Christmas

break.

KGS and Hostel Information

Information on transferring to KGS and the Hostel can be found by either contacting KGS on 01856 87 2102 or the Hostel on 01856 87 6060. Please see their websites for more detailed information: Kirkwall Grammar School: http://www.kgsorkney.com/

Halls: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/E/papdale-halls-of-residence.htm

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Parental Involvement Parental involvement is very important as it helps children do better in

school. Parents can be involved in supporting learning at home as part of

a home-school partnership. At Stronsay School we aim to operate an

‘open door policy’. This means that we want you to feel welcome to come

along, call or email when you’d like to discuss your child’s education or

any questions or concerns you might have. Twice a year we set up

appointments for you to meet with your child’s teachers, and we hope

you’ll see those as opportunities to be involved in your child’s education.

You will also be informed about upcoming assemblies, concerts, open

days and other events, and we hope you’ll come to those, as it means so

much to your child to have family there.

You can keep in touch with the day-to-day activities of your child by

looking through their homework diaries or learning logs. The school blog

is regularly updated with information and photos, and we try to keep the

whole community informed about the school through notices in the shops

and articles in the Limpet.

For more information on parental involvement or to find out about

parents as partners in their children’s learning, please contact the school

or visit the Parentzone website at www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk.

Information on parental involvement is also available on Orkney Islands

Council’s website through the following link:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/P/Parental-

Involvement.htm

Parent Forum All parents are automatically members of the Parent Forum at their child’s school. As a members of the

Parent Forum all parents can expect to

receive information about the school and its activities

hear about what partnership with parents means in our school

be invited to be involved in ways and times that suit you

identify issues you want the parent council to work on with the school

be asked your opinion by the Parent Council on issues relating to the school and the education it

provides

work in partnership with staff

enjoy taking part in the life of the school in whatever way possible.

The Parent Forum decides how their representatives on the Parent Council are chosen and how the

Parent Council operates. Parents are encouraged to volunteer or put themselves forward to be chosen as

representatives of the Parent Council if they wish.

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Parent Council Parent Councils are the formal representative body for parents with children attending school. In other words,

this is one way parents can be involved in and help shape their children’s education. Parent Councils are

different in each school to enable them to meet the needs of parents locally.

The Parent Council is made up of four parents of children currently attending school, two community

representatives, the Head Teacher, …

The main aims of the Parent Council for Stronsay School are:

To support the school in its work with pupils

To represent the views of parents

To promote contact between the school, parents, pupils, providers of nursery education and the

community

To report to the Parent Forum

To be involved in the appointment of senior promoted staff.

The Parent Council, through the Support Our School (SOS) committee, finds ways to raise funds for the school

to help with those ‘extras’ not covered by the budget supplied by the local authority. Given the current

situation of ever-tightening budgets, fundraising is becoming more and more important to make sure that

children in Stronsay are able to have similar opportunities as children on Mainland or other parts of Scotland.

Parent Council funds were used to help build the new ‘natural’ play area for the Nursery/Primary, to enable a

whole-school trip into Kirkwall to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, and helped subsidise other

school trips farther afield.

You can help by

Putting your name forward to be

one of the parent members.

Volunteering to help with

fundraising events.

Sharing your ideas.

Would you like to find out more about the

Parent Council or to ask a question/express

a concern? Please contact the Chairperson,

Mrs Gaynor Smith, Telephone 616 412

gaynor.smith@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

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School Ethos At Stronsay School we want to develop and maintain a positive,

encouraging atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome, valued and

safe. We believe that real learning is dependent upon establishing good

relationships among pupils, and between pupils and staff. We set high

standards and expectations for achievement. We know that the values

we emphasise here now for our pupils will also serve them well in the

future.

Aims of Stronsay School: Effective Contributors

To motivate everyone to

participate with enthusiasm in

the school community, and wider

world, to be well-organised,

dedicated and open-minded.

Responsible Citizens

To encourage everyone to take

care of the community and wider

world. To do the best they can in

an honest and respectful way.

Confident Individuals

To inspire within everyone self-

confidence, tolerance and high

expectations.

Successful Learners

To develop a life-long enthusiasm

for learning; to have the

confidence and ability to work

independently or with others

whilst knowing when to ask for

help.

Cultural Identity

To see our island as a benefit not

a barrier; to embrace and enrich

our unique resources—

friendliness, community spirit,

heritage, landscape and culture—

to help maintain and develop the

island as a great place to live.

Vision Statement: Together, our vision is to ensure

that everyone achieves their full

potential and enjoys being part

of a caring learning community.

20

Developing the Whole Child

The school is committed to supporting the development of its pupils as whole people, which means

providing ways to help them grow spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. We try to provide an

atmosphere in the school that is both caring and challenging because we want pupils to develop a sense

of personal responsibility. We recognise that all aspects of school life affect the development of pupils—

the way they are disciplined or rewarded for their behaviour, the way adults treat them, the way

curriculum is developed, the way various people and their cultures are discussed—and so we are careful

to allow our vision and aims to shape our whole life together as a school and our interaction as a school

with the wider community. We hope that the school is valued by the community and we feel the school is

extremely well supported by it.

Many experiences help create the ethos and develop the values of children—that’s why we create or

encourage opportunities to participate in sports (Swim Club, Active Schools, Tag Rugby, Badminton

Festival, Primary Athletics, North Isles Sports); charity events (Shoebox Appeal, Children in Need, Rag Bag,

Macmillan sponsored walks); environmental activities (Troot in the Shed, Eco Club, Fair Trade); drama

and music (pantomime, concerts, Silver Darlings, instrumental workshops).

21

Behaviour Pupils are expected to set

themselves high standards in

appearance and behaviour. School

rules have been devised to

encourage the maximum amount

of self-discipline. The rules

themselves are relatively simple

and few in number to allow for the

smooth running of the school. The

general aim is to produce an

atmosphere of friendly co-

operation, encouraging respect and

consideration for other persons

and for property. So, the first

approach to achieving good

behaviour is always a positive

one—offering praise, a smile,

stickers, positive comments,

displaying good work, writing

messages of encouragement,

extending Golden Time, handing

out merit cards, etc.).

Golden Time Golden time is a strategy for encouraging positive

behaviour. Pupils in primary have the opportunity to

earn their golden time twice a week by following the

rules and displaying the traits of the key words from

the vision and aims of the school.

The reward is chosen by the pupils themselves. They

vote from a selection of time in the playpark, time in

the hall, board games, time out on the play area at the

back of the classroom, arts and crafts, etc.

Merit Awards All staff are encouraged to award merits for

positive behaviour. Pupils can accumulate merits

by improving their work or behaviour, displaying

a positive attitude to the school, acting as a

positive role model, etc. These are counted up

and certificates (bronze, silver, gold and platinum

levels) are handed out at assemblies at the end of

the term. Those pupils who achieve a gold or

platinum level are granted special rewards,

determined by the Pupil Council such as being

teacher for the day or going to the front of the

dinner queue.

22

Addressing Unsatisfactory Behaviour

When children do misbehave, various actions are available to staff. They

can speak to the child or discuss the issue. They can remove the child from

the situation to a place where they can ‘cool down’. They can ask the child

to do a task that suits the behaviour (for example, pick up litter at break

time, if they are caught littering), set detention for break time or lunch

time. If more serious problems occur, there are established ways of

addressing them, which involve the Head Teacher contacting the parents

to discuss the issue with them.

One of the main goals when addressing bad behaviour is to help children

be aware of how their actions affect others and themselves. They should

also be helped to acknowledge the consequences of their behaviour.

The most effective approach is when the school works in partnership with

parents. It is important that parents work with the school to resolve the

problems in the best interests of their child or young person.

Bullying

No bullying in any form is allowed at Stronsay School. Bullying happens when someone deliberately and

intentionally hurts, upsets or uses negative power over another person. Bullying can be verbal (name calling),

social (leaving people out), mental (threats, pressure to conform), physical (hitting), material (stealing or

damaging possessions), cyber (texting, emailing, Facebook, etc.). All forms of bullying are wrong and we will

make sure children are aware of what it is and that we will not stand for it. We encourage children to tell

someone if they are feeling bullied; we do not want them to keep their feelings about this to themselves.

Anyone can be bullied; anyone can become a bully.

Stronsay School takes a restorative approach to bullying. This means that children who bully must not simply be

punished for their actions, but must be given the opportunity to hear about and face up to the pain, hurt,

distress and anger they have caused to others. We want them to reflect on their behaviour toward the goal of

changing it.

If your child tells you that they are feeling

bullied, the first thing you should do is listen

patiently and take it seriously. Assure them

that the problem will be solved. Let the school

know by speaking to the Head Teacher. The

situation will be investigated. Once we know

that bullying is happening, we will always take

steps to stop it.

23

Curriculum for Excellence—Introduction

Stronsay School offers a broad general education which is built on the current national Curriculum

for Excellence in which four capacities are pivotal: Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens,

Effective Contributors and Successful Learners. All those who teach or work with children at the

school are responsible for promoting their Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and Numeracy.

Each pupil has a personalised learning experience, allowing pupils to move through each curriculum

level at their own pace. This structure enables staff to extend the development skills, attributes,

knowledge and understanding into more challenging areas and higher levels of performance.

Community is at the heart of the school, so any opportunity to utilise our island’s history, people,

music and landscape are keenly grasped.

Primary pupils are consulted on their choice of projects and take an active part in mapping how

they will achieve a broad range of experiences and outcomes. Parents are notified of these

intentions in writing when new projects commence.

The Secondary Phase continues through to the Senior Phase, at which point pupils are able to focus

their studies through choosing options in specific specialised areas. This allows for further

personalisation and choice at National 4 and National 5 levels, while still embedding the principles

of the Curriculum for Excellence. It is expected that all pupils will leave the first part of the Senior

Phase with a certificate at either National 4 or National 5.

Across the whole school, assessment of pupils’ progress is built around a mixture of written tests,

peer assessments, practical work, projects, performances and presentations which check against

the experiences and outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Progress is recorded through the use of subject-specific profiles which capture the pupils’ progress,

and the production of a profile of the learners’ achievements in P7 and S3. This is communicated

to parents in the familiar way of reports and parents’ evenings.

Active Learning Curriculum for Excellence emphasises the value of an

active learning approach. In the early years, children will

have a range of learning experiences that include planned

and purposeful play and stimulating learning which

engages and challenges children’s thinking using real life

and imaginary situations. As children progress through

school they continue to be involved in active learning

experiences which are engaging and give them ownership

of their own learning.

24

Planning Children’s and Young People’s Learning

Teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools share their

learning intentions with pupils, parents and carers. This takes

place on a day-to-day basis, by agreeing the aims of an individual

piece of work.

Longer-term planning also takes place in a variety of forms.

Pupils in primary schools negotiate with their teachers their aims

for the next block of learning. At the end of the block, progress

against these aims is assessed by the teacher and pupil, and new

targets are set for the following block of learning.

In secondary levels, pupils review progress against targets and

negotiate new ones with their pastoral teacher.

In order to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their

learning, we use Learning Logs, in which pupils plan their

programme for completing homework assessments. In secondary

levels, homework diaries serve a similar purpose. These diaries

are also used for pupils to record their long-term targets.

Sensitive Aspects of Learning

As children and young people progress on their journey through life, some may have temporary

difficulties, some may live with challenges and some may experience more complex issues.

At Stronsay Junior High School, we aim to create a safe, supportive environment where the needs

of all individual children are met and their rights are respected. We share relevant information as

necessary, whilst safeguarding children and young peoples’ right to confidentiality.

We endeavour to enable children to get the help they need when they need it and work together

with young people, families and outside agencies to build suitable solutions.

Parents are made aware of any sensitive areas of learning in writing in good time. They will have

the opportunity to discuss any concerns, view resources whilst understanding the context and

progression of the learning, being reassured that it will be dealt with sensitively and in an age-

appropriate manner.

25

Religious Instruction and Observance

As part of the curriculum, all children learn about

Christianity, different world religions, views and

cultures, and are encouraged to reflect on their

own values and beliefs. A lot of this learning,

especially for the younger children, involves

hands-on activities such as baking and artwork.

Several assemblies are held during the year,

including Christmas and Harvest, which enable

children to learn about and participate in

Christian festivals and those of other traditions.

If you wish to exercise your right to withdraw

your child from religious instruction and / or

observance, you should contact the head teacher

in writing, and alternative arrangements will be

made for your child.

Outdoor Education

Rich in culture and community, set

in a diverse, exciting, even

exhilarating environment, Orkney

has an outdoor education provision

set to reflect its own status.

Outdoor Education opportunities,

especially those with a residential

element, play an important part in

promoting the personal and social

development of people of all ages

and abilities, as well as contributing

to their understanding of

environmental and developmental

education themes.

Sometimes the focus of activities

will be on the development of

particular skills, at other times on

the process by which learning

occurs, or by the provision of

opportunities for learning through

direct experience. The range of

Outdoor Education and the

development of diverse activities

create a need for instructors and

teachers to be flexible in their

approach. Teaching and

instructional styles have clear

emphasis on the needs of the

individual and the group.

Active Schools

The Active Schools Network in Scotland is a team of

people working within the school and the wider

community. Their goal is to offer all children and young

people the motivation and opportunities to ‘get active’

ensuring there are more and higher quality

opportunities for all children to participate in sport

within schools and to increase capacity through the

recruitment of a network of volunteers, who in turn

deliver activity sessions in schools. Further information

is available on the Active Schools webpage of the

Council website: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-

Directory/S/active-schools.htm

Facilities for Physical Education and Outdoor Activities

The school hall/gym has a variety of

apparatus for physical education within the

school. As part of the school’s physical

education programme, pupils may also use

the facilities of the local sports complex,

swimming pool or sports pitches.

26

Assessment and Reporting Your Child’s Progress

A baseline assessment is completed for all children on

entry to Primary 1, 3, 5 and 7. Baseline assessment

allows a snapshot picture of where individual children

have reached in their literacy and numeracy

development at the beginning of each class. The

assessment helps teachers plan for learning at early

stages of Primary 1. Further assessments are completed

for all children by the end of their Primary 1, Primary 5

and Primary 7 years. These tests build on information

from the previous tests and show the progress that

children have achieved in literacy and numeracy at each

stage.

As pupils progress through school, teachers use a range

of assessment strategies, including Assessment for

Learning strategies as well as setting tests. Pupils are also

involved in assessing their own progress and developing

their next steps.

Children and young people who require additional

supported learning also have an Individual Educational

Plan which supports them. These are reviewed on a

termly basis with parents and pupils.

We recognise that pupils do not all

develop and progress at the same

rate and, therefore, we use both

group and individual methods to

ensure that all pupils are given

appropriate instruction and the

opportunity to succeed. Please

contact the school as soon as

possible if you have any concerns

about your child’s progress.

The School regularly monitors the

progress of the children/young

people in its care. If there is any

concern during the year then the

school will contact the parents

involved and discuss the issues and

the way forward. However, the

school will also provide information

at set times during the year. The

school will report progress to

parents through the following:

An opportunity to discuss progress

with parents, midway through the

academic year.

A formal report to parents,

followed by a parents’ evening

which will occur generally towards

the end of the academic year,

except for S4 when they occur once

the prelims have taken place.

The school has also introduced

learning logs which parents can

see on a weekly basis. Pupils in

P3- S4 produce profiles at the end

of the academic year. These

profiles are an opportunity for

children and young people to look

at their successes through the year

and to think of the way forward.

27

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)

At Stronsay School, we’ve adopted the programme ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ to help ensure

that the wellbeing of every child at the school is promoted.

The programme promotes a shared approach that:

builds solutions with and around children and families

enables children to get the help they need when they need it

supports a positive shift in culture, systems and practice

involves working together to make things better.

Support for Pupils

The Getting it Right approach looks

at eight areas of 'well-being':

Safe

Healthy

Achieving

Nurtured

Active

Responsible

Respected

Included

All children need these elements if

they are to progress and do well

now and in the future. Information

is gathered about the child’s world

to make sure they have everything

they need from the people who

look after them, both at home and

in the wider community. It also

encourages staff members to think

about who else might need to be

involved (for example a teacher

might need to contact other

professionals to make sure that an

education improvement plan with

the child and family was meeting all

the child's needs).

Child Protection

All children have a right to be protected from harm, abuse and

neglect. It is everyone's job to make sure that children in

Orkney are safe. Education, Leisure & Housing have an

important role in identifying children who have been abused or

are at risk of being abused.

Orkney Islands Council has clear procedures for all staff to

follow. Head Teachers or designated member of staff are

instructed to notify Orkney Islands Council when a member of

staff has a suspicion that a child might have been abused or be

at risk of abuse.

Orkney Health & Care will make a decision on whether or not an

investigation is necessary and will advise accordingly. In every

situation, the welfare of the child overrides other

considerations.

28

Support for Learning

At Stronsay School we have a Support for Learning Teacher (SfLT) and two Support for Learning

Assistants (SfLA).

Support is provided in a range of ways. Some children may need help with their reading or number

work, for instance, while other pupils may feel they need support through an unsettled time in their

lives. This might be exam revision, or the transition from Upper Primary to Secondary, or finding a

particular topic a challenge. After an informal consultation with parents and staff we aim to give

support to those who need it.

Occasionally we might call on the expertise of the Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language

Therapist or another education professional to give our pupils the best possible support.

We always welcome the views of parents so please get in touch with any concerns you may have.

Educational Psychology Service The Educational Psychology Service is part of the

Pupil Support sector within Education, Leisure &

Housing. The central aim is to promote the

development and well-being of children and

young people (birth to 24 years), particularly to

help them overcome any barriers to learning and

self-efficacy. The service aims to achieve this

through working collaboratively with teachers,

parents, young people and others.

Further information on the Educational

Psychology Service, including contact details, is

available on the Council’s website:

http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-

Directory/E/Educational-Physchology-

Service.htm

29

School Improvement Plan The school is always continuing to

develop the education it provides to

the children of Stronsay. These

developments which meet national

initiatives or local developments are

assimilated into one document: the

School Improvement Plan. This

document is available on the school

website and is revised regularly, the

document is formally revised on a

yearly basis.

School Improvement

Raising Attainment Monitoring performance and using

the resulting information to secure

improvement is an important part

of the work of head teachers,

school staff and officers within

Education Services.

Attainment information is included

as part of the Standards and

Quality Report and is available to

view. Some information is not

published as it would be easy to

identify children.

Standards and Quality Report The school produces an annual report of the

developments and achievements through the

previous year. This is called the Standards and

Quality Report and can be accessed through the

school website or a copy can be obtained from the

school office.

School Improvement Plan

The school produces an annual School

Improvement Plan a copy of which is posted on the

School website.

30

The Scottish Government – Education and Training has asked

that the undernoted advice be included in our school

brochures.

Education authorities and the Scottish Government collected

data about pupils on paper forms for many years. We now

work together with schools to transfer data electronically

through the ScotXed programme. Thus the Scottish

Government has two functions: acting as a ‘hub’ for supporting

data exchange within the education system in Scotland and the

analysis of data for statistical purposes within the Scottish

Government itself.

What pupil data is collected and transferred?

Data on each pupil is collected by schools, local authorities and the Scottish

Government. The data collected and transferred covers areas such as date of

birth, Scottish Candidate Number (SCN), postcode, registration for free-

school meals, whether a pupil is looked after by his/her local authority,

additional support needs including disability and English as an Additional

Language (EAL), and attendance, absence and exclusions from school. The

SCN acts as the unique pupil identifier. Pupil names and addresses are not

passed to the Scottish Government. Your postcode is the only part of your

address that is transferred for statistical purposes, and postcodes are

grouped to identify ‘localities’ rather than specific addresses. Dates of birth

are passed on as ‘month and year’ only, again to ensure that individuals are

never identified. Data is held securely and no information on individual pupils

can or would be published by the Scottish Government.

Providing national identity and ethnic background data is entirely voluntary.

You can choose the ‘not disclosed’ option if you do not want to provide this

data. However, we hope that the explanations contained in this message and

on the ScotXed website will help you understand the importance of providing

the data.

Why do we need your data?

In order to make the best

decisions about how to

improve our education

service, the Scottish

Government, education

authorities and other

partners such as the

Scottish Qualifications

Authority and Skills

Development Scotland

need accurate, up-to-date

data about our pupils. We

are keen to help all our

pupils do well in all aspects

of school life and achieve

better examination results.

Accurate and up-to-date

data allows us to:

plan and deliver better

policies for the benefit of

all pupils

plan and deliver better

policies for the benefit of

specific groups of pupils

better understand some

of the factors which

influence pupil

attainment and

achievement

share good practice

target resources better

Pupil Data

31

Your data protection rights The collection, transfer, processing and sharing of ScotXed data is done in accordance with the Data

Protection Act (1998). We also comply with the National Statistics Code of Practice requirements

and other legislation related to safeguarding the confidentiality of data. The Data Protection Act

gives you the right to know how we will use your data. This message can give only a brief

description of how we use data. Fuller details of the use of pupil data can be found on the ScotXed

website (www.scotxed.net).

The Scottish Government works with a range of partners including Education Scotland and the SQA.

On occasion, we will make individual data available to partners and also academic institutions to

carry out research and statistical analysis. In addition, we will provide our partners with information

they need in order to fulfil their official responsibilities. Any sharing of data will be done under the

strict control of the Scottish Government, which will ensure that no individual level data will be

made public as a result of the data sharing and that these data will not be used to take any actions

in respect of an individual. Decisions on the sharing of data will be taken in consultation with

colleagues within and outwith the Scottish Government.

Concerns If you have any concerns about the ScotXed data

collections you can in the first instance contact Education,

Leisure and Housing on 01856 873535 or email

education.leisure@orkney.gov.uk. If you further concerns,

please email the Senior Statistician,

scotxed@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or write to The ScotXed

Support Office, Area 1B, Victoria Quay, Leith, EH6 6QQ.

Alternative versions of this page are available, on request

from the ScotXed Support Office, in other languages,

audio tape, braille and large print.

32

Where to Find Other Information

Websites You may find the following websites useful.

http://www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk- parents can find out about everything from school term dates to

exam results. This site also offers information for pre-5 and post school. It also lists relevant publications for

parents and provides hyper-links to other useful organisations.

www.hmie.gov.uk - parents can access school and local authority inspection reports and find out more about

the work of Education Scotland.

http://www.scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk - parents can find out about individual schools. They can choose a

school and select what type of information they need such as Education Scotland reports, exam results, stay

on rates and free school meal entitlement.

www.orkney.gov.uk- contains information for parents and information on Orkney schools.

http://www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Bullying/Pages/Bullyinginfo.aspx - contains information for parents and

children on varying forms of bullying and provides help for parents and children who are affected by bullying.

http://www.respectme.org.uk/ - Scotland’s anti-bullying service. Contains information for parents and

children on varying forms of bullying and provides help for parents and children who are affected by bullying

http://www.educationscotland.org.uk/ - provides information and advice for parents as well as support and

resources for education in Scotland

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ - contains information for everyone on equality laws within the

government and local authorities.

http://www.handsonscotland.co.uk/ - information on dealing with troubling behaviour

Policies Available from the School Office: Transport/Code of

Conduct

Health and Safety

Homework

Administration of

Medicine

Papdale Halls of

Residence

33

Orkney Islands Council Education Service is keen that you should be completely satisfied about your

child's education and encourages feedback on its services from parents and pupils. It is, therefore,

interested in feedback of all kinds, whether it be compliments, suggestions or complaints.

If you want to register a comment of any type about the school to the Council you can do this by writing,

e-mailing, telephoning or making an appointment to see someone. All feedback is welcome and keeps

the Council in touch with the local situation.

If you have a complaint about Stronsay School

1. It is recommended that you speak first with the Head Teacher. This makes sure that the

school knows what is going on and has an opportunity to respond and resolve the issue.

2. If, after speaking with the Head Teacher, you feel that the complaint should be

communicated to the Council, please do so.

a. It is better that these things are shared openly and resolved fairly, rather than being

allowed to damage the relationship between the family and the school.

b. There will be no negative consequences arising from making a complaint and the

Council will deal with the issue as confidentially as possible. If a mistake has been

made, apologies will be offered quickly and clearly and all attempts will be made to

try to put things right.

3. The Council will try to respond as quickly as possible, but often issues are complex and time

is needed for investigation.

4. If you are still unhappy with the service or with the Council’s response then you will have the

right to take the matter further using the Orkney Islands Council’s complaints procedure. You

can put your complaint in writing or fill in a complaint form, available in the school or any

council office. The Council can help if you have difficulty with this. Completed forms should

be sent to: Complaints Officer, Education, Leisure & Housing, Council Offices, School Place,

Kirkwall KW15 1NY or email education.leisure@orkney.gov.uk

5. If you are still unhappy after the further investigation and reply. you can take the matter up

with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Council’s reply will include the contact

details.

6. You should also note that you have the right to raise unresolved concerns with your local

councillor, MSP or MP.

Comments, Suggestions and Complaints Procedure for Orkney Islands Council