Schools of Ambition

Progress on the Implementation Plan

May 2007

Elements of the Plan

There are 5 visions or elements in the Plan:-1. Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful

for pupils.

2. Change behaviour and attitudes to education.

3. Broaden ambitions of pupils.

4. Enhance level of pupil engagement with education.

5. Produce respectful, responsible, global citizens who become effective contributors to society.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. Key Element of

Transformation 1a) Whole school,

parents and wider community involvement.

Strategy PUPILS

Assemblies Banners & posters Confidence

Measurement S2 clubs, competitions, ambassadors, ICT questionnaire.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. Key Element of

Transformation 1a) Whole school,

parents and wider community involvement.

Strategy PARENTS

Leaflet, Newsletter Website Parents’ evenings Steering Group School Board & PTA Ambassadors

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. Key Element of Transformation

1a) Whole school, parents and wider community involvement.

Strategy STAFF

Shared vision DM’s Core Group Steering Group SMT in-service on formative

assessment and IT Studiocode SoA funding bids Transparency PT’s justify bids and evaluate

success Ambassadors Conferences at Sea staff evaluations staff focus groups.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. Key Element of

Transformation 1a) Whole school,

parents and wider community involvement.

Strategy WIDER COMMUNITY

Engagement with the press at local and national level.

Case studies to SoA/LTS website.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. 1b) Themed Days

1c) SoA Focus

Modern Languages S1 Arts S2 Sciences SciFun S2, Maths Puzzle S2 (more

planned) Anti-Sectarianism S2 ( Joint

event with other local high school.)

Intervention Days S1-S6 with several subjects joining English.

Acting DHT appointed.

Make the school more lively, diverse and colourful for pupils. 1d) IT Training Use of SoA budget to free up

staff to deliver extensive in-house in-service.

Studiocode, self-evaluation and

dissemination of good practice.

Video Conferencing and web-cam link in place with St. Flannan’s from May 2007. Major item on Action

Research Agenda.

Change Behaviour & Attitudes to Education 2a) Communication

with all stakeholders

Communication through newsletter, website, leaflets, updates,

Core Group & staff meetings,

Pupil Councils Local press.

Change Behaviour & Attitudes to Education 2b) Parental

Involvement

2c) Parental Involvement

Newsletter, leaflets & website,

Steering Group School Board & PTA Parents evenings. Steering Group.

Change Behaviour & Attitudes to Education 2d) Formative Assessment Development of whole-school

Formative Assessment methodologies through SoA and ACfE/AifL.

In-service of staff from a range of subjects e.g. Science, Maths, English.

In-house in-service on IT and related FA.

English Intervention Programme and related cascade.

Departments completing LTS/AifL toolkit.

Shared methodologies through Primary/Secondary liaison.

Cluster planning to ensure continuous development.

Broaden ambitions of pupils.

3a) Pupil Involvement School shows. Year assemblies. Pupils aware of progress towards

achieving targets. Discussion at Pupil Councils,

Ambassadors programme. St. Ninian’s in-house

Ambassadors Programme. All pupils receive Learning

Games. Theme Days. Collaborative Project e.g.

“Business Brains for a Material World”, Food Challenge.

Broaden ambitions of pupils.

3b) Confident Individuals S2 PSE lessons on confidence. Joint anti-sectarianism project.

Out of class engagements, clubs, competitions, school shows, personal statements, debating. Leadership development.

In-house Ambassadors programme.

Learning Games. Constant emphasis on ambition,

achievement, learning, attainment, positive behaviour, attendance.

ACfE, living walls, 4 capacities, formative assessment programmes.

Broaden ambitions of pupils.

3b) Confident Individuals S2 PSE lessons on confidence. Joint anti-sectarianism project.

Out of class engagements, clubs, competitions, school shows, personal statements, debating. Leadership development.

In-house Ambassadors programme.

Learning Games. Constant emphasis on ambition,

achievement, learning, attainment, positive behaviour, attendance.

ACfE, living walls, 4 capacities, formative assessment programmes.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education 4a) Improve Modern

Languages provision

Enhanced staffing and increased use of Assistants.

Appointment of Principal Teacher SoA with clear responsibilities and working closely with PT Modern Languages.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education 4b) Strengthen links with

partner primaries Timetabled programme of

visits to partners, enhanced liaison, IT link ups, blogging, webcams, e-mails, video-conferencing.

On-going evaluation at cluster meetings and major item in Action Research agenda.

Developing links with local primaries through International Education.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education 4c) Additional use of MFL

assistants Productive use of assistants

e.g. French assistant accompanied S6 pupils to Strasbourg and helped to produce the DVD for entry to the EU Parliament competition.

Italian assistant recorded the examination.

Spanish assistant now working with Carme on researching material for AH and making recordings. Making maximum use of 2 native Spanish speakers.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education 4d) Increased uptake of MFL

4e) Consistency of pupil engagement

Whole department in-service on SQA Languages in Work option.

Extensive purchase of IT hardware and software. Projectors, smartboards, laptops, Activote, camcorders, webcams, microphones, digital camera.

Immersion week in France. Website communication to home.

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education 4f) Spread of good IT

practice SoA funded enhanced

staffing allows the co-ordinated delivery of in-house in-service on use of IT. Almost all departments have taken advantage.

IT enhances the delivery of quality teaching.

Action Research. .

Enhance level of pupil engagement with education 4d) Increased uptake of MFL

4e) Consistency of pupil engagement

Whole department in-service on SQA Languages in Work option.

Extensive purchase of IT hardware and software. Projectors, smartboards, laptops, Activote, camcorders, webcams, microphones, digital camera.

Immersion week in France. Website communication to home.

Produce respectful, responsible, global citizens who become effective contributors to society. Use of IT to communicate with

other countries Lengthy delay in installation of

video-conferencing facilities. Now actively pursuing links

with schools in France and Japan.

Registered on Global School Partnership network.

SoA web cams in partner primaries and development of blogging and video-conferencing.

6a) Develop links with pupils in other countries

Pursuing link with a school in France with e-mail and hopefully video-linking. Working on exchange visit with Japanese pupils and students.

Senior pupil exchange visit arrangement with school in Fougeres in France. Students undertake work experience in France and Italy.AH students take part in EuroScola debate in EU Parliament.

Twice commended for teaching and chairing debate Current S6 have completed a TV programme

debating in French, the future of Europe. Entered for EU Parliament competitions. Each year a number of senior Spanish students

attend 2 week summer school at Barcelona university (mentor from Strathclyde University)

Some SoA funding is devoted to the RE department Project Partnership with 6 other Scottish schools. the group plans and organises reciprocal visits from pupils and staff from the Bangalore region of India. Video link after March 2007. Two S4 pupils will attend a weekend youth leadership course.

Develop links with the business community

Close links with Morgan Stanley Finance. Visiting speaker from MS Management. Financial contribution from MS to St. Ninian’s.

Mentoring. Centre visits.In-service on use of IT

from “The Sports People” following agreement to pilot Studiocode hardware.

One member of staff from World Challenge will spend one day a week in school to help develop leadership skills in pupils.

Close relationship with printing firm TCMS.