Raising Attainment S4S4 Parents’ Information Parents’ Information

EveningEvening

Park Mains High Park Mains High SchoolSchool

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Mr. Michael Dewar Head TeacherMr. Bryan Gillen Depute Head

Teacher

AimAim – – to raise the to raise the attainment attainment of Park Mains pupils of Park Mains pupils by ..by .. further developing the further developing the partnershippartnership between between

pupils, parents and the school.pupils, parents and the school.

providing more information to parents to enable providing more information to parents to enable them to provide the them to provide the most appropriatemost appropriate support for support for theirtheir child. child.

making clear the strategies already employed by making clear the strategies already employed by individual departments and the school as a whole individual departments and the school as a whole ..

ContextContext

The economic climate we are currently experiencing.The economic climate we are currently experiencing.

Increased competition for jobs/apprenticeships/ F.E. & Increased competition for jobs/apprenticeships/ F.E. &

H.E. places.H.E. places.

Likelihood of pupils returning to school, last year Likelihood of pupils returning to school, last year

return rates from S4 cohort were 93% into S5 and 86% return rates from S4 cohort were 93% into S5 and 86%

into S6. - the highest rates in the last 8 years !into S6. - the highest rates in the last 8 years !

Pupils returning are likely to take H / National 5 Pupils returning are likely to take H / National 5

courses ; better grades in S4 provides a better courses ; better grades in S4 provides a better

platform for success in S5/6.platform for success in S5/6.

What teachers do ….What teachers do ….

feedback to pupils on progressfeedback to pupils on progress

provide regular homework with feedbackprovide regular homework with feedback

regularly assess pupils (diagnostic / summative) regularly assess pupils (diagnostic / summative)

feedback to parents (planners/letters/reports)feedback to parents (planners/letters/reports)

identify and encourage certain pupils to attend identify and encourage certain pupils to attend

supported studysupported study

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What can parents do to support departments ? check planners daily for homework/teacher check planners daily for homework/teacher

comments.comments.

check planners for future assessment dates.check planners for future assessment dates.

engage with the pupil re time management engage with the pupil re time management

and strategies to ensure homework and and strategies to ensure homework and

revision for assessments will truly reflect the revision for assessments will truly reflect the

ability of the pupil.ability of the pupil.

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What the school does ..What the school does ..

Pastoral Care staff - 1:1 advice as required/requested Pastoral Care staff - 1:1 advice as required/requested

tutor group lessons e.g. tutor group lessons e.g.

revision revision techniques techniques

monitoring of pupil reports monitoring of pupil reports (17 Jan)(17 Jan)

Special Assemblies - Options time (S2,S4,S5)Special Assemblies - Options time (S2,S4,S5)

- Prelim prep. (Nov.) - Prelim prep. (Nov.)

Monthly Assemblies - keep pupils on track (Att/Hwk/Effort)Monthly Assemblies - keep pupils on track (Att/Hwk/Effort)

reminder of assessments reminder of assessments

reminder of support available reminder of support available

What the school does ..What the school does ..

Parents’ EveningsParents’ Evenings - - Info = Thursday 16Info = Thursday 16thth Jan JanInterview = Thurs. 24Interview = Thurs. 24thth Jan Jancrucial parents attend to crucial parents attend to discussdiscuss pupil progress. pupil progress.(two way process)(two way process)

Depts. / SMT – Depts. / SMT – tracking of pupil progresstracking of pupil progress

pupil target settingpupil target setting

identifying specific pupils identifying specific pupils for Dept / SMT for Dept / SMT

interviewinterview

What can parents do to What can parents do to support the school ?support the school ? Attend parents’ evenings.Attend parents’ evenings.

DiscussDiscuss content of Pupil Reports with their content of Pupil Reports with their child.child.

Encourage pupil to Encourage pupil to actact on comments from on comments from reports.reports.

Encourage pupil to access available supports.Encourage pupil to access available supports.

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What can parents do to What can parents do to support the school ?support the school ?

Assure yourself via discussion that your child Assure yourself via discussion that your child has an has an effectiveeffective revision routine. revision routine.

Oversee creation of Revision Timetable for Oversee creation of Revision Timetable for pupil.pupil.

(blanks available from school)(blanks available from school)

What pupils should do ..What pupils should do ..

Attendance / Homework / Effort (especially revision)Attendance / Homework / Effort (especially revision)

TALK toTALK to class teachersclass teacherspastoral care teacherpastoral care teacheryear headyear headparentsparentsolder siblings /friends with previous older siblings /friends with previous successful experiencessuccessful experiences

Use SupportUse Support subject specific items provided (see subject specific items provided (see handout)handout)Past papers (SQA website)Past papers (SQA website)Recommended websites (see handout)Recommended websites (see handout)

What can parents do to What can parents do to support pupils ?support pupils ?

Attendance Attendance - emphasise importance of.- emphasise importance of.

Homework Homework - assist and monitor - assist and monitor

School support School support - encourage pupil to engage with - encourage pupil to engage with

appropriate support when necessary. appropriate support when necessary.

Keep Keep meaningfulmeaningful dialogue going. dialogue going.

Ensure not overdoing it. Balance of work/time offEnsure not overdoing it. Balance of work/time off

If concerned at any time, contact school.If concerned at any time, contact school.

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The Prelims - National 5 The Prelims - National 5

Thurs. 28Thurs. 28thth – Fri. 6 – Fri. 6thth December 2013 December 2013

Study Skills – see pupil planners for adviceStudy Skills – see pupil planners for advice

Help your child develop Help your child develop theirtheir most effective study most effective study skillsskills

Pupils have had advice at S4 Tutorial classesPupils have had advice at S4 Tutorial classes

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The Prelims - National 5 The Prelims - National 5

Help your child with general Help your child with general preparationpreparation

Get study materials in subject order (buy Get study materials in subject order (buy card folders ?)card folders ?)Any missing items – tell the subject teacherAny missing items – tell the subject teacherHelp create a ‘Study Timetable’ Help create a ‘Study Timetable’ …..include weekends !!…..include weekends !!Build in periods of relaxation / social activityBuild in periods of relaxation / social activityEnsure pupil uses available supportsEnsure pupil uses available supportsGo over the actual exam timetable and Go over the actual exam timetable and ensure pupil is readyensure pupil is ready

National 4 PupilsNational 4 Pupils

No SQA National ExamNo SQA National Exam

Some departments will assess N4 pupils at Some departments will assess N4 pupils at

prelim time as a progress check.prelim time as a progress check.

Pupils may also work on Added Value unit.Pupils may also work on Added Value unit.

What successful pupils say …

What was the main criteria for yourWhat was the main criteria for your

success ?success ? consistent hard workconsistent hard work always ask for help when you need italways ask for help when you need it do plenty of exam type questionsdo plenty of exam type questions self motivationself motivation time managementtime management

What successful pupils say …

How much time did you spend on How much time did you spend on

homework each evening ?homework each evening ? 1 ½ - 2 hours1 ½ - 2 hours

How much time did you spend on How much time did you spend on

revision for exams each evening ?revision for exams each evening ? 2 ½ - 3 hours2 ½ - 3 hours

What successful pupils say …

What advice would you give to an S4 What advice would you give to an S4

pupil ?pupil ?

Pay attention in class.... it helps !Pay attention in class.... it helps ! Ask if you don’t understandAsk if you don’t understand Utilise the support that is offeredUtilise the support that is offered Work hardWork hard Take some time off to enjoy yourself.Take some time off to enjoy yourself.

How much study time How much study time each night ?each night ?

Not unreasonable to assume a pupil Not unreasonable to assume a pupil

works and revises ….works and revises ….

1 – 1.5 hours 1 – 1.5 hours homeworkhomework plus plus

1 – 1.5 hours 1 – 1.5 hours revisionrevision

each evening from say Mon. – Thurs. each evening from say Mon. – Thurs.

Plus some time at weekends.Plus some time at weekends.

The high attaining pupil The high attaining pupil will..will.. have a high attendance rate (95%+)have a high attendance rate (95%+)

give maximum effort in classgive maximum effort in class

give of their best in homework itemsgive of their best in homework items

have identified the study technique(s) that have identified the study technique(s) that

work best for him/herwork best for him/her

Make good use of support availableMake good use of support available

ActAct on advice given by teachers on advice given by teachers

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Useful info from school via ..Useful info from school via ..

Pupil plannerPupil planner

School websiteSchool website

School newslettersSchool newsletters

School ReportsSchool Reports

WebsitesWebsites

www.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzonewww.ltscotland.org.uk/parentzone

www.sqa.org.ukwww.sqa.org.uk past paperspast papers

marking schemesmarking schemes

SQA exam timetableSQA exam timetable

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Subject specific websites Subject specific websites (see handout)(see handout)

Realistic progression ..Realistic progression ..

Performance in the National 5 examination i.e. Performance in the National 5 examination i.e.

The grade achieved will be a key factor in The grade achieved will be a key factor in determining a pupil’s suitability for progression determining a pupil’s suitability for progression into Higher in that subject.into Higher in that subject.

Appeals – revised process

SQA Parental Leaflet – NovemberSQA Parental Leaflet – November

New system called ‘Results New system called ‘Results Services’Services’

Two parts to this serviceTwo parts to this service

Before results published...

Exceptional Circumstances Service – (instigated by school before results are

known)

For pupils who have completed all the necessaryFor pupils who have completed all the necessary

internal assessments but have eitherinternal assessments but have either

been unable to attend the main SQA exam orbeen unable to attend the main SQA exam or

whose performance may have been affected by an whose performance may have been affected by an incident outwith their control e.g. bereavement or incident outwith their control e.g. bereavement or medical conditionmedical condition

After results published..

Post Results ServicePost Results Service

If a school has concerns about a pupil’s result If a school has concerns about a pupil’s result they they

can submit a review request.can submit a review request.

This will consist of a clerical check and a This will consist of a clerical check and a

marking review.marking review.

Question timeQuestion time