Stockbridge School Board
- Archive
Minutes
of meeting on Tuesday, 10 October 2000, at Stockbridge Primary School Library at
7.00 pm.
Present:
Graham Bodenham, John Burton, Kate Jones, Fiona Fraser
Apologies:
Helen Cox, Maggie Darling, Emilia Knight (Clerk)
In
Attendance:
Jacqui
Horsburgh (Head Teacher), Joan Cook (Stockbridge Health Centre), Amanda Burton
(PTA), Elizabeth Duncan (Minute Secretary in absence of School Board Clerk),
Councillor David Guest
1.0
WELCOME
and apologies: Graham Bodenham (Chair) thanked those present for attending
and introduced Joan Cook Health Visitor based at Stockbridge Health Centre who
has been invited to join the School Board as a Community Member.
1.1
Minutes of the meeting on the
5 September 2000 were approved. No amendments to be made.
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2.0
MATTERS ARISING
2.1
Review Co-opted and Elected Members.
Graham
Bodenham (chair) advised that Maggie Thomson (Personnel Manager of Tesco's local
branch) had been unable to attend recent School Board meetings due to new work
commitments at the Westerhailes branch. An approach has been made to Nick
Saunders of Stockbridge Community Council and his response is awaited Joan Cook
has expressed and interest in becoming a Community Member.
With
regards to training courses for School Board Members, John Burton hopes to
attend the training on Devolved School Management on 28 November 2000 and Joan
Cook will check her availability for the training on Effective Membership of the
School Board. Mrs. Horsburgh
highlighted the need for members to attend the Interview/Recruiting Course,
otherwise they would not be eligible to sit in on any staff interviews.
Anyone who has already attended this course prior to 1996, will need to
attend a refresher course
2.2
P3 Teacher-Maternity cover
update.
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Mrs.
Horsburgh advised that Mrs. Robertson has had a baby boy and that a Permanent
Supply Teacher, Rosalind McGinley, was now hopefully in place for the remainder
of Mrs. Robertson maternity leave. The services of Mrs. Lowes, the Temporary
Supply Teacher had been financed from the devolved budget to allow a good
handover to Mrs. McGinley. Mrs.
Horsburgh confirmed that Mrs. Lowes had been appointed only as a temporary
measure pending the appointment of a Permanent Supply Teacher.
2.3
CEC Education revenue Budget
Questionnaire.
Fiona
Fraser confirmed that she is in receipt of the questionnaire and that she would
be able to respond within the required timescale. Board Members agreed that IT funding should be highlighted as
a priority and Fiona confirmed that Maggie Darling has also given her support to
this view.
2.4
Review of Head Teacher's Annual
Report 1999/2000.
Mrs.
Horsburgh circulated a revised draft for the Board’s use only.
The auxiliary staff budget (10 hours per week) had been used to support
English as a second language, hearing impaired and physiological services.
Mrs. Horsburgh explained the need to group the attainment levels in a way
which would avoid identifying individual pupils. Graham Bodenham requested
further detail on Levels of Attainment and staffing figures in the format given
in previous years to allow a like for like comparison. Mrs. Horsburgh confirmed
that although all parents would receive a copy of the Standards and Quality
Report, this additional information would be made available to the School Board.
She proposed to include this in the form of an Appendix to the report.
It was also agreed that the services provided by the school doctor and
dentist would be included in the section of the report on the school and it's
contents.
3.0
Review School Development Plan 2000/2003.
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Mrs.
Horsburgh circulated copies of the plan and drew attention to the main
development points on page 3 and 4. Many
of the points are governed by exiting initiatives.
With regard to ITC, Mrs. Horsburgh advised that individual mailboxes for
P7 pupils, were recently set up and are now in use.
On page 17 the Progress Report has now been set out in a more parent
friendly format as the use of Performance Indicators is not widely understood by
non-teaching adults.
As
an example of the development points set out, Mrs. Horsburgh talked through the
item relating to ITC.
Recommendations
from the HMI report have been incorporated, including more systematic monitoring
and the associated timetabling for monitoring, self-evaluation and recording.
4.0
REPORTS
4.1
PTA Meeting of 6th September 2000.
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As
the School Board had not been represented at this meeting, Amanda Burton agreed
to update the Board. The After
School Activities were well supported with 155 children enrolling this term.
Initial problems caused by the absence of the soccer coach have been
addressed and another coach has been found.
Salsa classes had attracted 15 replies and parents too have expressed an
interest. Plans for the Family Fun
Quiz on the 31st October are well advanced and assistance form Board Members
would be welcome. A new secretary for the PTA was found and some new members
recruited form the P1 parents. A
donation of £22.50 has been received as a result of the signed Hibs football,
having been re-auctioned by the prize winner.
John Burton has been elected to the Scottish Parent Teacher Council's
Board of Directors. The PTA
discussed supporting the Samaritan's Operation Christmas Child Appeal.
Pupils are asked to donate toys, small items of toiletries or clothing,
books and stationery to be packed into shoe boxes.
This suggestion will be considered by the Student Council.
The school open evening was well attended and this enjoyable event was
voted a success. Kate Jones hopes
to be available to attend the next PTA meeting on 25 October.
Councillor
David Guest joined the meeting at this point.
4.2
Environment Sub-Group Half Yearly Report
See
the attached report which was circulated by John Burton.
He also confirmed that he would attend the meeting on 17th October to
represent the School Board when the proposals being considered by City of
Edinburgh regarding traffic congestion in Stockbridge would be explained.
It was hoped that the school would also be represented by a PTA member. Kate Jones advised that St. Mary's School have also expressed
an interest in this matter and Graham Bodenham confirmed that Flora Stevenson's
Primary School intend to be involved in the consultation process. John Burton
confirmed that he has written to Scotmid to remind them of our previous
correspondence and discussions and he has also spoken to Edinburgh Academy about
the need to monitor and record levels of pollution.
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Discussions
took place regarding an incident which occurred outside the school on 25th
September 2000 when a child narrowly avoided being hit by a care, despite
crossing the road under the supervision of the Lollipop Man.
Mrs. Horsburgh confirmed that there is a channel of communication in
place whereby the crossing guide can report incidents of this type.
It was recognised that some of the problems arise from parents dropping
off pupils by car. Mrs. Horsburgh
suggested that John Burton meet with Faith Turner and the two P7 pupils who are
involved in road safety issues. It
was hoped that they could make suggestions which would encourage parents not to
drive pupils to school.
John
Burton confirmed that the problems of obstruction caused by Scotmid delivery
vehicles, had partly been resolved but further discussion would take place with
Scotmid in the hope that delivery vehicles could avoid the period from 12.20 to
12.50pm on Friday's when the entire pupil population was leaving the school.
John
Burton advised that recent contact with Edinburgh Academicals had been
encouraging as the club appeared receptive to the idea of allowing the school
limited access to the playing field which is located in Raeburn Place.
Initial suggestions for access included a once weekly After School
Activity and the school's annual sports. Mrs.
Horsburgh agreed to discuss this matter with the PE teacher as access to the
playing field could possibly be incorporated into the PE syllabus on Tuesday
mornings during term time when the days were lighter and warmer and possibly for
football after school on Fridays.
4.3
CCWP Meeting on 3 October 2000.
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Draft
minutes of the previous meeting were circulated. Graham Bodenham advised that the Janitorial Review issues
were debated. The Education
Department will be considering the release of tied houses for Janitors, but it
was recognised that not all schools would be suited to this proposal.
Graham Bodenham advised that 1000 parents had been selected at random to
respond to the questionnaire on "How Good is the City of Edinburgh
Education Department". The feedback had been generally very positive and the areas
with which parents were most satisfied included asking for information and
advice, School Board matters, Career services and Adult Learning.
The areas with which parents were least satisfied included complaints and
appeals, provision of specialist teachers, learning difficulties and Extra
Curricular / Sports activities and facilities.
Councillor
Paul Williamson spoke on the restructuring of the Council using the Janitorial
Review as an example.
4.4
Leisure and Cultural Development Scrutiny Panel - 28 September 2000.
Graham
Bodenham advised that he was invited to sit on this panel.
The suggestion that school playgrounds and facilities could be made
available to the public was generally welcome, but reservations were noted about
the following aspects:
Liability
for claims, the need to vet potential users, additional costs for maintenance,
potential disruptions to cleaning and janitorial services, the affect on central
or devolved budgets and the burden of additional administration.
Graham Bodenham noted that it is within the remit of School Boards to
encourage community use of school premises although this rarely happens due to
the administration burden.
4.5
Special Sub-Committee on Educational Standards - 5 October
2000.
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Mrs.
Horsburgh and Graham Bodenham attended this meeting and were given an
opportunity to ask and respond to questions arising from the recently published
report following the HMI Inspection. Both
agreed that the report was very good and accurately stated.
5.0
OTHER BUSINESS
5.1
Head Teacher's plans for budget Carry Forward to 2000/2001.
The
carry forward of £10,100 is just under the maximum permitted to be carried
forward. Mrs. Horsburgh has spoken
to the suppliers and received the following costing:
£320
Chairs
£925
Desks
£3,000
Smart screen & projector
£1,036
Cupboards (including removal of existing cupboards)
£5,280
(roughly)
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£3,000
would allow for a Temporary Auxiliary / Playground Supervisor and Mrs. Horsburgh
and Mrs. Cox will shortly be interviewing applicants.
5.2
New Opportunities Fund grant to Education Department.
Mrs.
Horsburgh has no indication yet of how much might be made available.
The After School funding is for out of hours learning and it is proposed
that the school target IT facilities, visits to the theatre and music and drama
activities.
5.3
Family Fun Quiz Night 31 October 2000.
Amanda
Burton confirmed plans were well advanced.
The tickets will be available shortly and demand is expected to be high
following last year's success.
5.4
Sex Education in Scotland's Schools etc., Act 2000 and Questionnaire.
The
working group set up to prepare guidelines for parents and carers has now
submitted their final report. Questionnaires
are to be returned by 22nd November 2000. Graham
Bodenham will circulate additional copies of the questionnaire to Board Members
in order that it can be discussed and a response compiled at the next board
meeting.
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5.5
Playground link door to Nursery
Parents
who take children to both the school and the nursery have asked for access to
the nursery playground via the door which links both playgrounds (not the annexe
door). Mrs. Horsburgh agreed to
investigate the feasibility of this idea.
6.0
CORRESPONDENCE
The
following correspondence has been received since the last Board meeting:
a) CEC Education
1.
Summary minutes of Consultative Committee With Parents meeting 22 August
2000.
7.0
ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
7.1
No other business was raised
7.2
Meeting closed at 9.02pm
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