Parent Council Notices

PARENT COUNCIL NOTICES

This page was added to the Academy website in June 2014.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2015 – OFFICE BEARERS

As intimated in the draft minutes of the Parent Council meeting of 2 March 2015, the majority of the office-bearers are due to leave the PC during this academic year.  It is only because of the unfortunate postponement of the AGM that the process of voting-in new members has not yet taken place.
The AGM has been delayed in order to accommodate an Aberdeenshire Council presentation on the proposals for developing secondary school education in the area, which will include significant information on the future of Inverurie Academy.  As Aberdeenshire Council has not yet confirmed the date for this presentation, it is proving difficult to finalise the date of the AGM.
Because of this delay, the outgoing Chairman and Secretary will be unable to oversee the appointments of the new incumbents to these posts at the AGM, but they are delighted that other parents, who have recently joined the Parent Council, have already volunteered to take on some of the work of the office-bearers including the arrangements for the AGM presentation.
Departing office-bearers thank everyone who has supported IAPC over the years and wish the new team every success for the future.

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Joint Meeting of Inverurie/Kemnay Academy Parent Councils with Aberdeenshire Council, 22 January 2015

Attendees:

Councillors Nan Cullinane and Fergus Hood (both East Garioch Ward)

IAPC: Jim Macgregor, Howie Stewart, Fergus Boyle, Neil Skene

KAPC: four representatives (+ one from Primary school)

Aberdeenshire Council: Craig Clement

IA: Dawn Lynch

KA: Charlie Hunter Rector, Colin Shand Depute

The meeting was to discuss the options of future school infrastructure in Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore area.

Craig Clement explained reason for the delay to having the meeting was to ensure we had information first hand as he expected Scottish Futures Trust funding to have been announced on the day of our meeting.  Although the announcement has been delayed, we were advised of the plan.

Various options and sub-options had been explored over last 18 months.

The preferred option was subject to Scottish Futures Trust funding of £25MM.  This additional money makes the following preferred option affordable:

•          New Build Inverurie Academy for 1500-1600 pupils for 2018. On existing campus.  Community facilities included.

•          Retain Kemnay Academy, it has been refurbished and has capacity to absorb some growth.

•          New Kintore  Primary 2016

•          Future Kintore Academy a possibility if school rolls in Garioch continue to rise.

Some of the reasons for new Inverurie Academy:

•          Level of approved housing developments

•          Condition of Inverurie Academy has dropped from B to C, D is lowest rating.

A consultation process will occur with parents, teachers and pupils, giving an opportunity to shape the school.  This process will include the preferred bidder and will occur between now and the summer.

On Scottish Futures Trust funding announcement, there will be various council committee stages:

1. Report to Garioch Area Committee (late Feb)

2. Education Committee

3. Policy and Resources Committee

4. Full Council (maybe)

Craig will present to IAPC (I propose this forms the basis of the AGM) next term, once through the committee process and Scottish Futures Trust funding formalised.  There will be a series of engagement events.

Jim Macgregor

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Inverurie Academy Parent Council

Annual Report

2013 –2014

The Inverurie Academy Parent Council met regularly throughout last school year. We received and responded at each meeting to reports from the Rector on activities and issues at the School, and we participated actively in the life of the School.
Highlights:

  • Representatives from IAPC took part in the selection process for the new Depute Head Teachers and of an Acting Depute Head.
  • A representative from IAPC served as one of the judges in the School talent show in aid of local charities.
  • We consulted with the Depute Head Teacher on arrangements for School transport in inclement weather.
  • We consulted with a local councillor on planning by the Authority to respond to the major increase in population along the A96 corridor, which has major implications for the future of Inverurie Academy.
  • We received and responded to summary reports on examination results from the previous session.
  • We continued to monitor the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence as it impacts on pupils at Inverurie Academy.
  • We worked actively throughout the year to improve communication between IAPC, parents and teachers. The chairman attended  meetings organised by the Aberdeenshire Council Education, Leisure and Learning Service to improve communication between councillors, officers and parents. IAPC developed a page on the School website and a Facebook page.
  • At our AGM we hosted a presentation on bullying, which those present found informative and enlightening.

We welcome all parents and carers of pupils at Inverurie Academy to attend any of our meetings, to raise and discuss issues relating to the School.

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PARENT COUNCIL INVERURIE ACADEMY IS ON FACEBOOK

Our Facebook page is relatively new and very few people seem to have found it.  Please feel free to make suggestions as to how we could improve it and, even if you don’t like it, it would help if you would register a ‘like’ just to help give it more publicity.  If you have any expertise in running a page and would like to help with it, please get in touch with our Secretary, Paul Schlicke, at:    inverurie.acaparentcouncil@yahoo.co.uk

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Regular meetings are held amongst Parent Council Chairs and the Aberdeenshire Council Directorate Team of Education and Children’s Services.  Notes from the December meeting:

Meeting Note of Parent Chairs Meetings held in December 2014

Teacher Recruitment remains a challenge. A number of initiatives are taking place to secure a better supply of teachers to the area. This includes discussion with Aberdeen University and Scottish Government. Issues such as affordable housing and the need to tackle isolation of young teachers were also discussed. Visits to Glasgow, Strathclyde and the University of West of Scotland have also been arranged to make student teachers aware of career opportunities within Aberdeenshire. In the meantime, head teachers have the flexibility to deploy all teaching staff within their school to ensure that classes are covered and that teachers have their agreed preparation time.

School Estate – an annual survey of schools has prompted some debate in the media.  The tension between the need to keep existing schools fit for purpose and to build new schools in areas of increased population was discussed. The expenditure on schools and where funding comes from was a topic in both meetings. Some Parent Councils had expressed concern about building issues in their particular schools and had sought support for change and development from community councils.  As this is a complex mater and each school situation is different, the Education Directorate team asked that matters of concern are instead pursued with the head teacher and then, if necessary, contact should be made with Craig Clement, Head of Service.

Curricular Developments – the new qualifications at National 4 and 5 have been successfully embedded.  This year young people will be sitting a mixture of “old” and “new” format Highers. However, it was stressed that these were of equal value. The Service is concentrating much of its support to schools – both in the primary and secondary sector- to ensure that teachers are supported in developing learning and teaching within the classroom. Support to individual schools by education officers is becoming more targeted.  However, the broad areas of developing leadership skills and self evaluation practice remain the priorities for support to head teachers.

Specific Issues – other issues raised relating to individual schools were also discussed. These included

  • Crossing patrollers– recruitment and training
  • School meals – the quality in some schools
  • Staffing models and any potential changes as budgets shrink
  • Playground games and support

These will be dealt with on an individual basis.

 

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Inverurie Academy Parent Council Newsletter – Autumn 2013

We invite all parents and carers who were active on the Parent Council last session to continue in the coming year, and those of you who did not attend meetings last year or are new to the School, to join us for the new session.

During 2012–13 we had an active and productive year, with larger and more active membership than ever before. The primary issue with which we were involved was the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). We had extended consultation with the Rector, with parent councils of other schools, and with representatives from the Education Authority. We undertook a survey of all parents for their views on CfE. Seven members of IAPC participated in a Parental Event put on by Aberdeenshire Council, and two members attended a visitation by Scotland’s Minister for Education. Sometimes confusing as policies appeared to change, sometimes frustrating when consultation appeared to involve being talked at rather than listened to, CfE nevertheless generated lively interest, and we appreciated the frank and informative dialogue with School staff.

Another key issue throughout last year was communication, with a need to improve the flow of information at every level, both to and from the School and from and to IAPC, identified as a key matter for attention. A School website is now active and will continue to evolve. A Parent Council section can be found there. This is certain to continue to be an important area of activity for the Parent Council in the coming session, and we strongly urge parents, particularly those with internet skills, to step forward to join the IAPC Communications Sub-committee.

The IAPC constitution was reviewed and revised over several months and formally approved last autumn by the Parent Forum. School staff welcomed the opportunity to obtain parental input into documents such as the Homework Policy and Procedures, and the Effective Communication leaflet, and council members actively contributed input to other discussion issues.

Part of the IAPC remit is to contribute to the interview and recruitment process for Senior Management and this past year we year we participated in the appointment of Depute Rectors, Mrs Shona Sellars and Ms Dawn Lynch.

In 2012–13 IAPC held its first fund-raising event, a quiz night generating nearly £380.20 for the School. Further fund-raising activities will be developed in the coming session. Here too involvement from new members will be most welcome.

The chairman for 2013–14 is Jim Macgregor; Janet Hoper vice chair; Paul Schlicke secretary, and Howie Stewart treasurer.

The Parent Council has five functions: These are to:

  •  support the school in its work with pupils
  • represent the views of all parents
  • encourage links between the school, parents, pupils, pre-school groups and the wider community
  • report back to all the parents in the school (Parent Forum)
  • play a role in the appointment of head teachers and depute head teachers
  • support the school and pupils during school inspections

Membership is on a voluntary basis, and all parents and carers of School pupils are welcome to join at any time. If you would like to receive e-mail from the Parent Council with news, agendas, minutes, etc. please send your e-mail address to: inverurie.acaparentcouncil@yahoo.co.uk