Schools of Ambition Progress on the Implementation Plan

Schools of Ambition Progress on the Implementation Plan May 2007

Elements of the Plan n There are 5 visions or elements in the Plan: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. Change behaviour and attitudes to education. Broaden ambitions of pupils. Enhance level of pupil engagement with education. Produce respectful, responsible, global citizens who become effective contributors to society.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. n Key Element of Transformation ¨ 1 a) Whole school, parents and wider community involvement. n Strategy ¨ PUPILS n n n n Assemblies Banners & posters Confidence Measurement S 2 clubs, competitions, ambassadors, ICT questionnaire.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. n Key Element of Transformation ¨ 1 a) Whole school, parents and wider community involvement. n Strategy ¨ PARENTS n n n n Leaflet, Newsletter Website Parents’ evenings Steering Group School Board & PTA Ambassadors

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. n Key Element of Transformation ¨ 1 a) Whole school, parents and wider community involvement. n Strategy ¨ STAFF n n n n Shared vision DM’s Core Group Steering Group SMT in-service on formative assessment and IT Studiocode So. A funding bids Transparency PT’s justify bids and evaluate success Ambassadors Conferences at Sea staff evaluations staff focus groups.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. n Key Element of Transformation ¨ 1 a) Whole school, parents and wider community involvement. n Strategy ¨ WIDER n n COMMUNITY Engagement with the press at local and national level. Case studies to So. A/LTS website.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. n 1 b) Themed Days n n n n 1 c) So. A Focus n Modern Languages S 1 Arts S 2 Sciences Sci. Fun S 2, Maths Puzzle S 2 (more planned) Anti-Sectarianism S 2 ( Joint event with other local high school. ) Intervention Days S 1 -S 6 with several subjects joining English. Acting DHT appointed.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. n 1 d) IT Training n n Use of So. A budget to free up staff to deliver extensive inhouse in-service. Studiocode, ¨ n self-evaluation and dissemination of good practice. Video Conferencing and webcam link in place with St. Flannan’s from May 2007. ¨ Major item on Action Research Agenda.

Change Behaviour & Attitudes to Education n 2 a) Communication with all stakeholders n n Communication through newsletter, website, leaflets, updates, Core Group & staff meetings, Pupil Councils Local press.

Change Behaviour & Attitudes to Education n 2 b) Parental Involvement n n n 2 c) Parental Involvement n Newsletter, leaflets & website, Steering Group School Board & PTA Parents evenings. Steering Group.

Change Behaviour & Attitudes to Education n 2 d) Formative Assessment n n n n Development of whole-school Formative Assessment methodologies through So. A and ACf. E/Aif. L. In-service of staff from a range of subjects e. g. Science, Maths, English. In-house in-service on IT and related FA. English Intervention Programme and related cascade. Departments completing LTS/Aif. L toolkit. Shared methodologies through Primary/Secondary liaison. Cluster planning to ensure continuous development.

Broaden ambitions of pupils. n 3 a) Pupil Involvement n n n n School shows. Year assemblies. Pupils aware of progress towards achieving targets. Discussion at Pupil Councils, Ambassadors programme. St. Ninian’s in-house Ambassadors Programme. All pupils receive Learning Games. Theme Days. Collaborative Project e. g. “Business Brains for a Material World”, Food Challenge.

Broaden ambitions of pupils. n 3 b) Confident Individuals n n n S 2 PSE lessons on confidence. Joint anti-sectarianism project. Out of class engagements, clubs, competitions, school shows, personal statements, debating. Leadership development. In-house Ambassadors programme. Learning Games. Constant emphasis on ambition, achievement, learning, attainment, positive behaviour, attendance. ACf. E, living walls, 4 capacities, formative assessment programmes.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education n 4 a) Improve Modern Languages provision n n Enhanced staffing and increased use of Assistants. Appointment of Principal Teacher So. A with clear responsibilities and working closely with PT Modern Languages.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education n 4 b) Strengthen links with partner primaries n n n Timetabled programme of visits to partners, enhanced liaison, IT link ups, blogging, webcams, e-mails, videoconferencing. On-going evaluation at cluster meetings and major item in Action Research agenda. Developing links with local primaries through International Education.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education n 4 c) Additional use of MFL assistants n n n Productive use of assistants e. g. French assistant accompanied S 6 pupils to Strasbourg and helped to produce the DVD for entry to the EU Parliament competition. Italian assistant recorded the examination. Spanish assistant now working with Carme on researching material for AH and making recordings. Making maximum use of 2 native Spanish speakers.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education n 4 d) Increased uptake of MFL n Whole department in-service on SQA Languages in Work option. n 4 e) Consistency of pupil engagement n Extensive purchase of IT hardware and software. Projectors, smartboards, laptops, Activote, camcorders, webcams, microphones, digital camera. Immersion week in France. Website communication to home. n

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education n 4 f) Spread of good IT practice n n n So. A funded enhanced staffing allows the coordinated delivery of inhouse in-service on use of IT. Almost all departments have taken advantage. IT enhances the delivery of quality teaching. Action Research. .

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education n 4 d) Increased uptake of MFL n Whole department in-service on SQA Languages in Work option. n 4 e) Consistency of pupil engagement n Extensive purchase of IT hardware and software. Projectors, smartboards, laptops, Activote, camcorders, webcams, microphones, digital camera. Immersion week in France. Website communication to home. n

Produce respectful, responsible, global citizens who become effective contributors to society. n Use of IT to communicate with other countries n n Lengthy delay in installation of video-conferencing facilities. Now actively pursuing links with schools in France and Japan. Registered on Global School Partnership network. So. A web cams in partner primaries and development of blogging and videoconferencing.

n 6 a) Develop links with pupils in other countries n n n n Pursuing link with a school in France with e-mail and hopefully video-linking. Working on exchange visit with Japanese pupils and students. Senior pupil exchange visit arrangement with school in Fougeres in France. Students undertake work experience in France and Italy. AH students take part in Euro. Scola debate in EU Parliament. Twice commended for teaching and chairing debate Current S 6 have completed a TV programme debating in French, the future of Europe. Entered for EU Parliament competitions. Each year a number of senior Spanish students attend 2 week summer school at Barcelona university (mentor from Strathclyde University) Some So. A funding is devoted to the RE department Project Partnership with 6 other Scottish schools. the group plans and organises reciprocal visits from pupils and staff from the Bangalore region of India. Video link after March 2007. Two S 4 pupils will attend a weekend youth leadership course.

n Develop links with the business community n n n Close links with Morgan Stanley Finance. Visiting speaker from MS Management. Financial contribution from MS to St. Ninian’s. Mentoring. Centre visits. In-service on use of IT from “The Sports People” following agreement to pilot Studiocode hardware. One member of staff from World Challenge will spend one day a week in school to help develop leadership skills in pupils. Close relationship with printing firm TCMS.