Pupils who stay on beyond school leaving age may be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). The EMA comes in weekly payments which go directly into the pupil’s bank account.
The amount of money received is calculated by looking at household income. It is not affected by any money a pupil might earn from part–time work and will not make a difference to any benefits which parents receive.
To get an EMA in the academic year starting September 2010, the annual household income must be below £30,810 (for tax year 2009–10).
For Household Incomes up to £20,817 per year, the weekly payment is £30; between £20,818 and £25,521 per year the weekly payment is £20; between £25,522 and £30,810 per year the weekly payment is £10.
Pupils who are accepted for an EMA and their parents/carers will be asked to sign a formal Learning Agreement with the school to give assurance that they will regularly maintain high standards of timekeeping and attendance as well as commitment to work. Failure to comply with the agreement will result in withdrawal of the EMA payment.
On top of the weekly amount pupils can also earn two bonuses—but only if they perform well and meet educational and behavioural expectations. The bonus payments are made in January/February and June/July.
Further information can be found at EMA. Application forms and an information leaflet are available from Mrs Thomas, Attendance and Welfare Officer.
The school has access to the services of the area Educational Psychologist. If learning difficulties are suspected, the Educational Psychologist can carry out tests which can help find out the nature of the difficulty and will be able to help in finding ways to deal with it. Please contact your child’s Head of House or Guidance teacher if you think your child has difficulties which need further investigation.
All pupils are given a school email address which can be used in the same way as any private email address they may have at home. The email system must be used responsibly. Sending offensive messages will result in the pupil’s removal from the system and in disciplinary action. Chain emails, if received, must be deleted immediately and not forwarded to anyone else.
It is vitally important that we can contact a parent, guardian or some other adult if an emergency arises. Please ensure that your child’s records include at least one emergency contact telephone number.
If it is necessary to close the school as the result of an emergency, every effort will be made to ensure the safety of pupils under proper supervision either until normal home time or until special arrangements can be made. If the school has to be closed before pupils arrive, we will inform parents that a closure is necessary by posting information on the school, try to organise a ‘phone chain’ and take other steps such as making announcements on local radio (Argyll FM – 106.5, 107.1 and 107.7). Details of arrangements for re-opening after an emergency will be given out in the same way. In emergencies, the school office will open earlier or later than usual as required. Phone enquiries should be made to the school and not to the radio station.
New laws took effect in April 2006 which now limit the hours which a young person of school age (under 16) may work in part-time employment. The maximum hours of work are now 12 hours per week, with a maximum of 2 hours on any day other than a Saturday. See also Part-time Jobs.
Pupils have tests in their various subjects at regular intervals throughout the year, usually at the end of teaching units. First and second year pupils will sit National Tests in English and Maths when their teachers consider they have reached the necessary standard.
Pupils sit their first formal school exams in March or April of their third year (full information will be given out well in advance).
In fourth year they have a formal prelim exam in December and the external SQA exams in May/June.
In fifth and sixth year the formal prelim is in late January/early February, with the SQA exams in May/June. There are also important internal tests as part of the SQA process at regular intervals throughout Higher and Intermediate courses. These NABs’ must be passed or the pupil can’t sit the actual exam.
Exclusion from school is a serious step taken in response to a persistent pattern of misbehaviour, or as a result of a single serious offence. It’s not something we impose without good reason. If a pupil is excluded, it is a very serious matter indeed. Exclusion can be for up to three days in the first instance, or for much longer periods in serious cases. A pupil can’t be allowed back to school after an exclusion until his or her parent has come to the school to sign an assurance of future cooperation.
In the most serious cases, a decision may be made by a Joint Assessment Team that the pupil cannot return to school, but needs to be educated elsewhere. Exclusion is a legal process in which parents have a right of appeal. Full details of the appeal process are provided at the time when the exclusion is imposed.
Pupils have regular opportunities to take part in excursions from school. Eligibility to take part may depend on good behaviour and obedience to the school’s rules. The cost of some excursions may be subsidised from school funds. In most cases a charge will apply. The school can help if the cost would prevent a pupil taking part. Parents should speak confidentially to the appropriate Guidance teacher or Year Head about this. Insurance is taken out at no cost to the pupil when the excursion involves an overnight stay. See under Insurance Cover for details.
Thanks to the willingness of staff and parents to volunteer their time, we are able to offer a range of extra-curricular activities which enrich the life of the school and the experience of pupils. We hope that every pupil will find something to enjoy from what is on offer. In recent years the following have been available: