North Berwick High School Parent School Partnership Annual General Meeting 12.09.17

AGM Business – PSP future meetings & focus topics: Agenda Welcome & Update on Head Teacher from Fiona Robertson, Head of Education, East Lothian Council AGM Business – PSP future meetings & focus topics: Monday 2 October – Attainment Monday 20 November – Mental health Monday 22 January 2018 – Curriculum Monday 5 March – TBC Monday 23 April – Developing the Young Workforce Monday 4 June – Review of PSP progress – School Improvement Plan 2018-2019 Minutes from AGM 2016 Election of new PSP members Home learning & parental involvement Question and Answer session Close of meeting

NBHS Parent School Partnership AGM Home Learning NBHS Parent School Partnership AGM

National Context How Good is Our School – 2.5 Family Learning Review of Family Learning – December 2016 Scottish Attainment Challenge Excellence and Equity Removal of mandatory unit assessments in N5

Research has shown that around 80% of the difference in how well children do at school depends on what happens outside the school gates (Rabash et al, 2010; Save the Children, 2013). Effective parental involvement programmes are among the interventions that can help to close the attainment gap associated with pupils from economically disadvantaged households. Such programmes focus on helping parents to use appropriate strategies to support their child’s learning at home (Ellis and Sosu, 2014)

Principles underlying NBHS’s approach to home-learning Home-learning should be issued in appropriate quantities, and completion dates should be both clear and reasonable, taking account of home environment and extracurricular activities of pupils, including family and cultural obligations. Home-learning should be a carefully planned and an integral part of course work. It should not be seen as an “add-on” or a dispensable extra. Home-learning should match the needs and abilities of pupils. Home-learning should promote opportunities for consolidation and extension. Home-learning is typically related to current work and where possible is stimulating and challenging.

Types of home-learning Practice exercises – providing students with the opportunities to apply new knowledge, or review, revise and reinforce newly acquired skills Preparatory homework – providing opportunities for students to gain background information on a unit of study so that they are better prepared for future lessons – “flipped classroom” Extension assignments – encouraging students to pursue knowledge individually and imaginatively

Role of SMT The NBHS SMT must ensure that the development of home-learning programmes in departments is monitored and evaluated over a session Revised “Department Reviews” this session – pupil focus groups SMT must ensure, in co-operation with Guidance Staff that a programme of Study Skills is developed: within PSE across the curriculum through Supported Study assemblies

Role of PTs Department PTs must monitor programmes of home-learning and maintain accurate records of completion and non completion of home- learning.

Role of students At every stage, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the value of home-learning, and made fully aware of its capacity to improve learning. Pupils are responsible for completion of home-learning to the best of their ability and on time. Pupil should be encouraged to plan their programmes of study, to ensure that their workload is as evenly spread as possible. (Homework apps, My SQA Study Plan app) Pupils should be encouraged to seek appropriate support to ensure that they are able to complete tasks set for home-learning. “Supported Study” after school. Students have the responsibility to actively continue their learning at home, employing study strategies such as self- quizzing, practice exam questions etc

Role of parents and carers Monitor - Do you know what your child’s home- learning assignments are? How long should they take? Provide guidance – help your child to get organised encourage your child to develop good study habits (e.g. scheduling enough time for big assignments) talk with your child about their home-learning tasks support your child by using their notes to quiz their knowledge Talk with someone at school when problems come up - Communication policy being developed

Failure to complete a home-learning task Any system to ensure the completion of home- learning must ultimately involve working in partnership with parents/carers and the pupils involved. If a home-learning task is not handed in on time, the teacher will agree with the young person a revised hand-in date. A letter will be sent to parents/carers if home- learning has not been completed after this revised date.

Session 17-18 Broad General Education – audit of home- learning frequency across subjects Senior Phase – calendar of Unit Assessments/Assignments if applicable Digital home-learning – Google Classroom Communication policy introduced Continuing the focus on literacy (reading for pleasure), numeracy, mental health Using coaching practices – course for parents