The National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS) has been developing resources to help parents understand what Curriculum for Excellence means for their child. We have been working with Scottish Government, SQA and Education Scotland to
ensure that parents get the information they need and want, at the right time. 

HIGHERS IN A NUTSHELL

We have created additional resources for the new Higher qualifications as part of our popular Nutshell series. The resources provide a summary of the qualifications, with the aim of helping parents and pupils understand more about what is involved. Highers in a Nutshell are clear, concise guides which summarise each subject, outlining the key skills learners can expect to gain and providing links to further information. To access the Highers in a Nutshell resources, please visit our website.

We would be grateful for your support in ensuring that this information reaches all relevant parents. Please share this with your school’s parent council. As some schools are delaying the introduction of the new Highers for some subjects until next
year, we would encourage you to ensure that S5 and S6 parents are kept informed about the specific situation with regards to Highers in your school.

Our free annual conference for parents is taking place on 4th October in Bishopbriggs, and we are also co-hosting the Parents Connect zone at the Scottish Learning Festival on 24th-25th September in partnership with the SPTC. Flyers for both events are attached, and we would be grateful if you could publicise these events by displaying the posters in the school as well as circulating this information to the parent council.

More information can be found online here and here. We hope that parents will find this information useful, and we look forward to
continuing to work with schools, parents and partner organisations to ensure a smooth transition to the new Highers.

Iain Ellis
Chair
National Parent Forum of Scotland 

Be prepared for the exciting S6/Staff Team Building Weekend... with the Equipment List and Departure Times information.

Equipment List

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow (for rugged outdoor types!)
• Strong boots or shoes for walking (Wellington boots will do). 
• Trainers (make sure you have at least one old pair with you)
• Waterproof jacket      
• Waterproof trousers        
• Warm trousers (not jeans) – 2 pairs at least
• Warm jumpers
• Warm jacket (e.g. fleece)
• Underwear (plenty of everything)
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• 2 Towels
• Torch (with spare batteries)
• Bin bags and spare plastic bags (you will have lots of wet cloths to bring home with you)
• Insect Repellent
• Sun Cream
• Camera (optional – disposable ones are best)
• One large bag (to pack all of the above stuff into)

Notes on clothing:

The majority of this weekend will be based out of doors – you are likely to get wet!  All clothing should be practical, comfortable and warm. Make sure that you have at least one pair of old footwear that you can get wet (e.g. trainers)

Departure Times

The buses will leave school at 13.30 sharp on Friday 19th September. Please be at the back car pack ready to leave by 13.15 at the latest.

We will be leaving Dalguise on Sunday 21st September at 18.00 and should be back at school at approximately 19.45.

Luggage can be left in the Science base during the school day on Friday – it must be collected by 13.00!

L Ward

Over 400 lucky school pupils from Edinburgh, Lothians and the Borders secured their place on a pioneering academy project which aims to boost educational and career opportunities for 15 – 18 year olds.

In just two years, the acclaimed academies project, spearheaded by Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College, has grown from 34 young people from three East Lothian schools, to 450 pupils from over 50 schools in Edinburgh, East and Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

On Friday 22 August, all 400 new academy students were brought together at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, to begin a programme of learning which will help prepare them for employment in some of Scotland’s most important growth industries.

The initiative, which was conceived by the Vice Principals of Edinburgh College and Queen Margaret University, is hailed as one which is delivering real results for Scotland’s young people. What started as a trial project with three East Lothian secondary schools, has now grown into a unique and highly successful partnership involving the University, Edinburgh College, Borders College, four local authorities and industry partners.

The Hospitality and Tourism Academy started in 2012 with the aim of smoothing the transition between school, college, university and work, as well as raising standards within the industry. The South East Scotland Academies Project now offers four academies for young people. The more recent additions are The Creative Industries Academy, the Food Science and Nutrition Academy, and the Health and Social Care Academy. The academies provide young people with a real insight into key growth industries and improves their employability by developing specialist skills and knowledge.

The project will mark one of its most significant milestones next month when the first cohort of students graduate from the academies project. Having successfully completed the full two year Hospitality and Tourism Academy, the East Lothian pupils will be the first to graduate with an HNC in Hospitality. These academy students will be in a unique position  - leaving 6th year of school whilst also achieving a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Hospitality. This privileged position secures them a place in specific courses at Edinburgh College or allows them to skip first year and move directly into the second year of BA (Hons) in International Hospitality & Tourism Management at Queen Margaret University.

The addition of key industry partners, such as Double Tree by Hilton, Marriot Hotels, Skills Development Scotland and Creative Scotland, has helped to ensure the academies’ success, allowing young people to develop an understanding of the full range of jobs available within the hospitality, creative industries, food and health sectors.

Nick Hogarth, Reception Manager at Double Tree by Hilton Edinburgh - City Centre, is an enthusiastic supporter of the academies project. He is very keen to help young people develop a better understanding of opportunities within the hospitality industry and encourage them to view it as a first destination career choice. He explained: “From an employer’s view, the academies project helps develop a pool of young people who are better equipped than ever before to enter the industry. It’s difficult for...

Knox Academy is pleased to announce the following vacancy:

Applicants interested, in the following position are invited to apply through myjobscotland, where further details can also be accessed. The closing date for applications is indicated below:

Closing Date: Sunday 31 August 2014

• Pupil Support Worker, part-time, temporary (24.5 hours per week - 38 weeks per year)

Current vacant posts can be viewed on this website under News > Recruitment