Dunbar Primary School

Mid-Term UpdateJanuary 2012

Our focus every year…..

The commitment to raise attainment and pupils’ life chances,

to provide our pupils with an exciting, fun and challenging school

curriculum that develops them to their full potential.

Areas to be reviewed

• School Improvement Plan• Learning Team Activities• Community/Charity events• Other activities

Development Plan 2011-2012

  The following areas were identified in our review process as priorities for session 2011/2012:

Development of 3 Year Journey to Excellence programme to ensure we are providing a stimulating, motivating and challenging curriculum.skills progression programme two whole school interdisciplinary projects -  Olympic activity  and whole school Scottish activities buddy activities, use of data to develop next steps, Eco Club, School Orchestra and Choir, Chess Club, Bible Club, Drama Group, basketball club, funky fitness club, Glee group, typing club, film club, art clubAccelerated readers, new maths scheme, maths focus, buddies, tracking meetings – dataReading input P2, P4, P6QIO assessment move from 3 – 4.5  Lime survey – extractVariety of group activities targeted at lowest 20% pupils –cool writers, write @ home, Scotland Reads, Alphabet Magic, 8.30 am Typing Group,, individual readers with support staff, dyslexia groups, Riding for the Disabled, Motor Groups

Survey 93436 'Student Survey - November 2011' Field summary for Group 3

Most pupils behave well in this school Answer Count PercentageStrongly Agree (1) 13 11.61%Agree (2) 81 72.32%Disagree (3) 15 13.39%Strongly Disagree (4) 3 2.68%No answer 0 0.00%

Field summary for Group 4 (21)

I enjoy being at this school Answer Count PercentageStrongly Agree (1) 57 50.89%Agree (2) 46 41.07%Disagree (3) 3 2.68%Strongly Disagree (4) 6 5.36%No answer 0 0.00

The QI 1.1 – Improvements in Performance was validated at: Good

AREAS OF STRENGTH• Steps taken to use data and other relevant information to target support to improve attainment.• Work with Dunbar Grammar Support for Learning staff to support the lowest attaining learners.• Clear expectations set by the senior management team of planning, learning

and teaching and behaviour.• Changes in planning to plan more responsively and collegiately and to enable moderation of learners’ experiences.• Steps taken across the cluster to develop moderation practices.

AREAS OF DEVELOPMENTFurther develop moderation practice Develop meaningful ways to evidence the impact of developments on learnersUse monitoring and tracking meetings to review the impact of support as well as plan next steps.Continue to focus on the consistency in the quality of learning and teaching across the whole school.

Development of assessment and moderation programme that allows staff to feel confident and empowered, which reflects the new curriculum – some examples:

Development of a reading tracker to identify areas for development and next steps – normally done for groups but some individuals 

Whole school and cluster moderation activities – consistency in assessing and levelling pupils work 

Further develop our use of Formative Assessment strategies- input from Mike Fleetham – pupils engaged and motivated to self/peer assess

Develop assessment activities in context and to test transferable skills – maths especially – time – timetables, weight – baking, angles – model making 

In-service activity  - accelerated reader input – making use of reports, identifying needs, checking levels, challenging and supporting readers.

Cross sector working with P7 & S1 teachers developed assessment materials for transition to DGS  - including problem solving and application of skills activities

Development of Dunbar Primary School as a ‘Rights Respecting School’ where pupils understand the UNICEF convention of the Rights of the Child and this becomes central to the ethos of our school.

• Developing school charters – playground, dining room and whole school

• Assemblies to explain rights and how they apply to them as pupils

• Class activities with teachers linked to Fairtrade too.• Homework activities for pupils and parents to work on 

together – Easter• UNICEF – Day for Change  - Friday 3rd 

February 2012

Improvement in our school will be driven by our Staff Development programme – this will include: teacher sharing sessions, Learning Team activities, distributed leadership and peer/SMT observation programme.

• 3 members of staff on First Steps to Leadership course• 5 other members of staff undertaking additional responsibilities – e.g. Health Week Co-ordinator, ICT co-ordinator, 

Reading Focus Co-ordinator, Science Co-ordinator• Every member of staff will be observed by a member of the SMT and will carry out two peer observations

Our Learning Teams are developing work on: 

• Maths activities – maths trails, outdoor maths activities, ‘Mental About Maths Fortnight’ maths at home leaflet• Transition programme at 3 stages – N-P1, P3-P4 and P7-S1  including enhanced transition for identified pupils• Art skills programme – key skills identified and built on, lesson plans, activities, links to projects and cross curricular 

activities• Communication Provision – using local community for pupils• P7 transition in maths – developing assessment activities including problem solving, maths in context, testing core skills• John Muir  - developing a programme that impacts on every pupil in school – recently been awarded funding to hold an 

Open Day• Fair Trade project – going for the award – linking with Eco/RRS/Global Citizenship• Digital Literacy – using film to develop pupils thinking and creating assessments to support the use of film in the 

classroom

The following areas were also identified in our review process as areas for maintenance for 

session 2011/12: • Gain Green Flag as part of our on-going Eco-

school activities• Continue development of Learning and

Assessment Files• Continue to develop our Forest School

programme

Community/Charity Activities• Children in Need• Blythswood Christmas Boxes• P2 & P6 Water Aid • Christmas Musical Concert• Success at indoor athletics and rugby• Carol Singing at hospital and care homes• Blue Monday• Day for Change• Purple Pinkie Day• Sports Relief

2 Campuses – 1 School?‘The school will be split into two sites from August 2011 and

we will work hard to ensure the strong school ethos is consistent across both campuses, and that pupils and staff share teaching & learning and social opportunities across both sites.’

Work has included very enjoyable buddy activities, attending church as mixed campuses, whole school assemblies, nativity performances. To come - Scottish assemblies, new transition activities, Olympic event

January 2011

August 2012

Other Issues

• New Communication Provision – The Cove• Primary 7 Profiles – see PC minutes Dec• Parents Room – Learning Room - links

between ourselves and parents, supporting in areas they identify.

• Keeping parents informed – Curriculum for Excellence?

Brief Task - Working together to support the school

In groups with a member of the Senior Management Team

SuccessChallengeConcern Question