October 2008
Dear Parent/Carer
Communication - Standard & Quality Report & Spotlight on Success
As part of the improvement agenda in Scottish Schools, we are asked to report to parents on an annual basis through a Standards & Quality Report. You will find this report along with the Spotlight on Success magazine.
These two publications will give you a picture of the school's achievements, how we evaluate our progress, reports on our students' experiences and the outcomes they achieve.
Following last year's survey of parents and carers, several felt that communication between the school and the home could be improved. As a result, the Parent Council formed a Parent Communication Group to work with the school in order to address aspects of communication.
We have already initiated some projects to help improve communication.
The school's website is being updated by school staff, parents and personnel from the Royal Bank of Scotland. The new website should be on stream shortly. In the meantime, I have included hard copies of session dates for the next two years as well as with the school calendar up to January 2009.
A team of students and staff is working with the editorial team at the Peeblesshire News to produce the PHS News within the paper - on a fortnightly basis. This will include articles on the activities and achievements of the students. The Parent Council, PTA and Parent Communication Group will also use the columns to update parents/carers on various events and developments.
First year students will be involved in a new initiative which will allow students, teachers and parents to communicate individual achievements on a regular basis by electronic means. The school is being funded by various national and local sources as this is the first project of its kind in the country. Our nine associated primary schools are also involved in this exciting innovation.
Parent Forum/Parent Council
Meetings are held throughout the school session and these will be advertised in the Peeblesshire News and the school website.
Groupcall
Parents/carers will be informed of their child's absence by phone text. We occasionally use this means to communicate other important information.
These various modes of communication will keep you informed of your own child's educational experience as well as the general activities and successes within the school. If you have any ideas or wish to join the Parent Communication Group, please contact me at the school or Michael Pryor, mipryor@btopenworld.com, Chair of the Parent Council.
Yours sincerely
John B Brown
Rector