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Backchat Newsletter - Issue 77 - February 2004

In this issue

It’s the nearly "all new" Backchat!

Remember we sent out a member's survey last year? Well, although we had very positive comments about Backchat, we felt it was still time for a wee change. Backchat has always been an informative newsletter but needs a bit of an image update now and again. We didn’t want to be too radical or go too glossy and look like another piece of junk mail, so we've just improved the paper quality and have sent you more of the larger copies. You still have the smaller version – many people tell us they find this useful for photocopying to other parents and teachers. Don’t forget that you can also use the Backchat articles for your PTA/School Newsletter.

Communication is always a tricky issue. It's not so much of a problem in primary schools as parents tend to be in and out of the school more and messages can be sent home via homework books and school bags. However, it’s much more difficult at secondary school. For a start, parents are less likely to go into the school on a regular basis and only get to meet teachers at parents’ evenings. Making the situation even more complicated is that trying to get any information out of teenagers tends to be a nightmare – they are not going to tell you about the PTA Disco in case you go and you certainly wouldn’t dare to delve into the depths of their school bag for any letters. So how do parents groups let people know what is happening?

Some PTAs ask for space on the School Newsletter, some PTAs have their own newsletter and some are even more adventurous and have their own website. We recently received “The Gossip” from St Joseph’s PTA in Aberdeen – their newsletter is full of information, including PTA events, how the money that has been raised is spent, contact details and even fascinating facts. We’d be really interested to hear about your newsletters and websites.

PS Would you like to receive Backchat via email as well as in paper form? Email us on: sptc@sptc.info
 

News Update


ASL BILL
We've given various reports on this important legislation in Backchat and you may be interested to learn that the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Bill has passed the first stage in Parliament. It will now move on for more detailed consideration and amendment by the Education Committee.

“ROAD SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT”
Following on from the article in the last issue of Backchat we thought you'd like to know about the above slogan, which is being used to highlight Scotland’s commitment to World Health Day (WHD). As part of this event a baton is to be passed around all the local authorities in Scotland. Each authority will be asked to sign the document inside the baton committing them to support WHD. The journey will end at Hampden on April 7th when the document will be signed by the Minister for Transport and other “dignitaries”. As most schools are on holiday on the day, the Scottish Road Safety Campaign is organising a competition for both primary and secondary schools. Look out for leaflets arriving at your school, which will tell you how to get involved. Pupils have a chance to win vouchers for themselves and the school by coming up with a poem, rap or limerick using the above slogan.

ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?
“Look at me when I’m speaking to you”. Have you ever said this to your children? Well, according to research from Stirling University we should not think that children who avert their gaze are showing a of lack of interest. Apparently this “gaze aversion” is a skill that primary-school-aged children develop and use to help them concentrate on difficult material. The researchers say “it is something to be encouraged rather than discouraged … and could have implications for the way we deal with children.”
 

Out and About


CHEST, HEART & STROKE SCOTLAND –PLAYGROUND GAMES
Here is a brilliant idea for a different kind of fundraising event, which will also promote physical activity, help a charity and involve all the family. Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, (CHSS) is offering you the chance to have six playground games permanently set out in the playground at a cost of £160 and then gather donations or sponsorship to complete the circuit. The money raised will be shared between the school and CHSS. If you would like more information contact CHSS on 0845 450 2000 or write to: Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, 65 North Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3LT.

GROUNDS FOR LEARNING SEMINAR
Have you ever wondered whether there is a link between uninspiring school grounds and break time behavioural problems? Would you like some ideas to make your school outdoor facilities more inspiring? Well, this could be the event for you. The Grounds for Learning Network Seminar is taking place on Friday 19th March at the Conference Centre in Battleby, Perth. Workshops topics will include outdoor play in early years, promoting positive behaviour through physical activity and, rather intriguingly, one on Forest Schools. If you would like to go then you could apply for help through our Support Fund – get in contact with us as soon as possible as spaces are limited and this is a really popular event. For more information on the event, visit the Grounds for Learning website on: www.gflscotland.org.uk

THE Sfi SCHOOLS FOOTBALL INITIATIVE
The Scottish Football Initiative, supported by the Scottish Schools Football Association aims to help schools, teachers and parents to get the most out of football for all pupils in school - so you don’t need to be an expert. As part of your diary this year, why don’t you invite the SFI to come along for a day of sponsored skill and fitness activities, delivered by specialist, qualified coaches. Visit their website on: www.thesfi.com
 

All change with 5 - 14 test!

Judith Gillespie writes about the proposed changes on how children are assessed in primary and early secondary school.

At present, all primary school children and those in early secondary follow the 5 - 14 curriculum. They progress through a series of "levels" starting in P1 with level "A" and going through to a possible level "F" in S2 - although only a few youngsters reach this stage. As part of this process, youngsters sit tests in English and mathematics at the end of each level to confirm that they are ready to move on.

What many parents probably do not know is that the tests are also used to check on how well the school is doing. The results are collected centrally and, although there are no league tables comparable to those for the Higher exam results, schools are judged by the authorities on the percentage of youngsters getting the level that is appropriate for their age and stage. This in turn puts a lot of pressure on schools to get good results - and they have some power to influence the outcome.

Teachers choose the tests from a catalogue and can choose tests that they think their pupils would find easiest. This process is not deliberate cheating - teachers always want their pupils to do well - but it does distort the results. Parallel surveys of school performance find that 5-14 test results tend to over-state school performance. Moreover, teachers inevitably focus on those parts of the curriculum that are to be tested at the expense of the other parts. This means that when youngsters arrive in secondary from a range of different primary schools, secondary teachers find that they have all covered different parts of the curriculum, depending on which tests they have taken. The secondary school then has try to even youngsters learning out and it can appear that the youngsters are making no progress and are stuck on the level they'd done in primary.

The new system will still see the 5 - 14 curriculum progress through levels "A" to "F" with tests at the end of each level. However, test results will no longer be collected to measure school performance. Instead this will be done through a technical sampling system which has a tried and tested track record for accuracy. This will free teachers up to focus on using the tests for their original purpose - to check how well the youngsters are doing, identify what they have mastered and what they still need to work on.

The next change is to how teachers get the tests. Instead of selecting a "suitable" test from a catalogue, teachers will get a randomly generated test from a bank of questions held on computer. If you think of the way the lottery numbers are selected each week, you will have a fairly good idea of the process. As teachers will not know which questions they will get, they will have to cover the entire curriculum before they test the children if, as always, they want their pupils to do well.

The last piece of the jigsaw is an improved reporting process for parents. Instead of the current 5-14 report, parents and pupils will engage with the teachers in a Personal Learning Plan that records what they have achieved, what they need to work on and their potential strengths (see leaflet).
 

SPTC goes on tour - Regional meetings


Every year, we travel the length and breadth of Scotland attending our regional meetings. Judith has already been up to Peterhead this year. These events give parents, teachers and other interested parties a chance to come together to discuss, amongst other things, PTA matters such as insurance and events as well as educational issues.

Would you like to organise one of these meetings for your school? All you need to do is arrange the refreshments and the school let – we will invite other schools in your area. Get in contact with us for more details.

Our next regional meeting is on Wednesday 25th February at 7.30pm in Bellshill Academy .
 

Your questions answered

We frequently receive questions from parents via our helpline (0131 226 4378) and on the website and often select a couple of them to include in Backchat. A list of all questions with their answers are on the website at www.sptc.info If you have a question which is not addressed there, please get in touch with us.
 
Our PTA is organising a Burns Supper. Is it OK to ask for donations for wine and beer or include a drink in the ticket price?

Since you ask we have to give you the proper, legal position. I know that it is common practice to provide alcohol this way in an attempt to get around the fact that you do not have a licence, but it is actually illegal. Alcohol should either be given away free, people should bring their own or you should go through the proper licensing procedures, which apply to sale or supply. Now, here is the good news. As a voluntary organisation, you can apply for an "occasional permission" through your local Council. This is a sort of temporary licence for that event. It doesn't usually cost that much and can be obtained up to four times a year.

Our Parents Association wants to hold an Auction of Promises which will involve people making bids for such things as a trip in someone's classic car, babysitting and a week's worth of ironing amongst other exciting activities. What happens in the event of an accident when the promise is carried out? Does this fall under our insurance?

This sounds like a brilliant event - I'm sure you'll get lots of bids for the ironing. Remember that with your public liability insurance, everyone that is offering a service becomes an agent of the PTA and will therefore come under your cover. However, there is a "hierarchy" of insurance. This means that anything involving motor vehicles will fall under the owner's motor insurance. But, if the wonderful person doing all that ironing burns a hole in someone's best blouse, then this will be covered by the PA's insurance subject to the excess.

 

AND FINALLY…..
 

Spotted recently in a magazine article on saving time:
Rule No * “Don’t get involved with your school’s PTA”!

 

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Article 184 - published on 02 Feb 2004

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