1. School Leaders Scotland Improvements in Performance Moving from Good to Excellent – (also known as Herding Cats!) Pauline Walker Headteacher The Royal High School

2. Moving from Good to Excellent – (also known as Herding Cats!) Improvement Journey – Gracemount High School Starting a New Journey – The Royal High School Any Questions

3. Who Am I? Senior DHT Gracemount High School August 2005 HT Gracemount High School August 2009 HT The Royal High School August 2014

4. Gracemount High School 630 students Truly comprehensive but with high deprivation factor (FME 30%) Diverse community (13% EAL) Social issues do affect school community

5. GHS Improvement Journey 2005 Declining role Poor community perception Average results 5 HTs in 5 years – moral & leadership issues Had just had average inspection follow through BUT – massive potential evident

6. What do we need to do to improve? GHS Improvement Journey

7. Shared Vision & Values

10. It’s all about balls…… L&TCurr.SfPT&M Self Eval. They all matter!

11. 11 What do you think? Which area should have the highest priority? 7 minute discussion in groups

12. But which ball makes the biggest impact? L&T Curr. SfPT&M Self Eval.

13. Learning & Teaching Learner Journey

14. Learning & Teaching What makes good learning? – shared understanding Identify key L&T improvement priorities for all Underpin with support In-house CPD Learning communities Professional learning stimulus L&T website and blog Strong focus in all meetings – standing agenda item Small improvements make for a large whole scale change

15. Curriculum Most important consideration: How can meet each individual learners needs?.....

16. Curriculum In line with CfE as guidelines were coming through Curriculum structures Courses and planning Transitions Consultation Flexible approach Innovation in design Wide range of appropriate courses Pathways to success

17. Support for Pupils

18. Change to Integrated Support Team Introduction of GIRFEC Integrated Support Base New Positive Behaviour Management Policy Improved links with parents and other agencies Access to Success strategy Lots of different support strategies employed

19. Self Evaluation Evaluating what we do to ensure we are doing it right!

20. How are we doing? School Community SHARED UNDERSTANDING Self evaluation is everybody's business! Embedding Self Evaluation Staff Pupils Parents Partners

21. GHS Evaluation Calendar Starting Point

22. Learner Journey is the most important factor What do I experience across the school? Self Evaluation

23. How do we know what they have experienced? What do we need to change? Pupil Surveys Pupil Council Parental Survey Pupil Text Poll Focus Groups Self Evaluation

24. Where do I want to be? Where am I now? How do I get to where I want be? Students need to be able to talk about this as well as how do they know? Tracking & Mentoring

25. New system introduced in Filemaker Pro Monthly Target setting interviews in all classes Monthly reports to parents All S4-6 students mentored by SLT Tracking & Mentoring

26. 26 What were the barriers to success? What do you think? 7 minute discussion in groups

27. 27 The Dementors to Success People Finances Systems National and local priorities Others? Change is messy and there are monsters round every corner It's often a case of persistence!

28. Gracemount High School Committed to Care & Excellence So what happened?

29. GHS Improvement Journey 2014 Full school roll Strong community perception Very good results at all levels Stable leadership and staffing Strong inspection December 2012 Important to keep the foot on the gas…

30. The Royal High School Improvement Journey Roll of 1250 students 7% FME Very good attainment Diverse catchment

31. The Royal High School Improvement Journey Starting the process again! Different starting point Very good attainment Strong community perception But Curriculum and Learning & Teaching Good not Excellent A sleeping giant with huge potential

32. It’s back to the balls…… L&TCurr.SfPT&M Self Eval. They all matter!

33. Moving from Good to Excellent – (also known as Herding Cats!)

34. 34 All the little changes add up It's unlikely you will experience an overnight epiphany It's about the long haul Be patient and keep faith in your planning! Why Herding Cats?

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