water and test scores
Interesting feature on the BBC website, about students who bring a bottle of water to tests. In general, they score better than people who don’t bring water. Is it better hydration? Is it a tactile mnemonic? Read the article and see what you think. Maybe it’s something to suggest to your own anxious test-taker this month.
study leave information
Pauline Cumming, Depute Head Teacher, is sending out individual student timetables today (students should keep these in a safe place) and letters and texts to parents concerning exam procedures, including what to do in case of illness. A copy of this letter will be on the school website later today as well.
There will be an assembly for S4 to recap on this information on Thursday, and for S5/6 on Friday.
What is ‘Devolved School Management’?
The Scottish Government wish Local Authorities to give to primary and secondary schools a minimum of 80% of their own education budgets. The target is 90%. Currently Edinburgh devolves around 91% of its educational budget to schools. The idea is to let schools move quickly to address their needs and be generally efficient about setting their spending priorities.
The scheme is under constant review both locally within Edinburgh and Nationally, for example, the recent Devolved School management Review conducted by David Cameron on behalf of the Scottish Government.
There is a small team of staff within the Children and Families Department that facilitate and review the scheme to ensure that schools are resourced appropriately and the scheme is run correctly and in line with Scottish Government targets.
See what they do in the latest Edinburgh Council Information Bulletin (no. 3), which you’ll find under ‘Parent Council Documents’ in ‘Links we use a lot’ in the sidebar to the right of what you’re reading.
stress-busting audio tips for your young exam-taker, straight from the SQA
It’s quite normal to feel stress during exams. Here is one of a whole series of audio guides from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. You might have your youngster listen to this one, to learn how to channel that stress in a positive way, and get the exams done with minimal worry.
Show Racism the Red Card — Broughton students go to Hampden Park
We have two pupils in the final of ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ today. This is a stadium event, at Hampden Park, for raising young people’s awareness of racism on and off the football pitch. They are Amy McDonald and Anna Djordjevic, both in S3. We are very proud!
Broughton High School Parent Council 