Dear Parents and Carers, 
Thank you for your continued support during another busy, but hugely positive, week. 

Yesterday we announced that Mr Ewing had been successfully appointed as Interim Head Teacher at Kirkwall Grammar School. Mr Ewing has worked at Kirkwall Grammar School for almost 20 years and has worked tirelessly to support all pupils to achieve the remarkable. I know you’ll join me in congratulating him in this appointment and he is very much looking forward to continuing his work with our very special school community. 
Today’s update contains 6 notices: 

• Timetable changes (Mr Ewing) 
• Exam Support (Mr Ewing) 
• Appeals (Mr Ewing) 
• Curriculum Maps and Subject Pathways (Mr Ewing) 
• S5/6 Learner Agreement (Mr Ewing) 
• Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships (Mr Harvey) 

 We hope you all have a wonderful weekend, 
​Miss Claire Meakin 
Head Teacher 
 
Timetable change 
Our new timetable is progressing well and we are hoping to keep any subject changes to a minimum as the timetable settles, but we recognised that after pupils receive their results, changes may be required and details on how to make an appoint with Guidance Staff after results day are below. 
 
Exam Support @KGS 2022 
 
This year SQA results will be sent to pupils on Tuesday 9 August. To support pupils as their exam results come out, and to help those who are looking to recourse or have questions about career paths, there will be the following help available in school: 
 
Mr N Ewing – SQA Coordinator 
 
Tuesday      9  August 9am to 1pm 
Wednesday 10 August 9am to 1pm 
Thursday    11 August      9am to 1pm 
 
Guidance Team Results day 
 
Mrs Firth – Guidance Manager 
Mrs Fletcher Principal Teacher of Guidance 
Mrs Taylor – Principal Teacher of Guidance 
 
Tuesday 9th August        9am to 1pm 
 
Appointments 
Guidance staff will be taking appointments where arrangements and discussions over change of courses can take place on the afternoon of Monday 15 August.   Appointments for Guidance staff can be made by contacting the school office from Tuesday 9 August onwards. 
 
Skills Development Scotland  
 
Exam results support is available from SDS Careers Advisers in local careers centres. The Kirkwall centre can be contacted on 01856 872460 or by emailing [email protected]. There is also a national helpline staffed by trained careers advisers on 0808 100 8000. Further support can be found at the following link: https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/pupils/results-help  
 
Pupils can sign up to get their results by text and details are in the Your Exams link below Your Exams 2022 (sqa.org.uk) 
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/100863.html 
 
Learners Guide to Appeals 
 
The SQA will be sending out copies of their support guide, SQA Appeals: What you need to know, for pupils at the end of July. However an electronic version is available on the SQA website here: 
 
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html 
 
The document will explain to pupils exactly how the appeal process will work and how to make an appeal 
 
Appeals Service 
 
If on results day a pupil feels their result is lower than expected, they may be able to appeal that result. Appeals can be prioritised if pupils have a conditional place at university or college. There is no charge for appeals. Eligibility criteria for Appeals 2022 are in place to support fairness and to ensure that learners are accessing the service on an equitable basis. Therefore, the following criteria must be met: 
· Learner’s estimate is greater than their certificated grade. For example, if the learner’s exam result is a grade C but their estimate was a grade B. 
· All centres must submit an estimate to SQA for each learner per subject/level. Estimated bands of zero or blank will not be eligible. 
· Learners must have taken and/or submitted all coursework and formal assessments including exams. 
· At least one component of the course assessment must be marked by SQA. Fully internally assessed courses are not eligible for appeals 
The deadlines for submitting a priority appeal are: 
· Learner direct - Tuesday 16 August at 11.59 pm 
· Centres - Friday 19 August at 5 pm 
Results of all priority appeals will be released to centres on Monday 5 September and sent to UCAS on Tuesday 6 September. 
The deadlines for submitting all other appeals are: 
· Learner direct - Tuesday 30 August at 11.59 pm 
· Centres – Friday 2 September at 5 pm 
 
Curriculum Maps and Subject Pathways 
 
To give parents/carers a view of the curriculum their child will follow at KGS in S1, S2, S3 and the Senior Phase, there are a series of curriculum maps available on the school website under the Departments and Curriculum tab on the front page of the website. 
If a parent/carer is interested in a specific subject and would like to see the pathway for their child through that subject from S1 to S6, there are subject pathways for every subject we teach at KGS. This is also available on the school website; just click on the Department you are interested in using the link below DEPARTMENTS & CURRICULUM - Kirkwall Grammar School (kgsorkney.com) 
 
S5/6 Learner Agreement 
 
Thank you very much to parents/carers for signing, along with our students, the S5/6 Learners Agreement. 
Almost all of our pupils have returned their forms, but I’ve left the link below in case pupils have been absent and a parent/carer needs a copy. 
S5_S6 Learner Agreement.pdf 
I have been really pleased with the start our S5 and S6 pupils have made to the new term and would like to thank parents and carers for their support. 
 
Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships 
 
We have continued a focus on Maximising Opportunities to Learn this week by sharing consistent expectations with all learners. Over the year we have made some really positive progress in the areas of Attendance, Punctuality and general conduct in school. This is down to the work of staff and more importantly our pupils with your support. Thank you! 
edit.

Dear Parents and Carers,
 
As you will be aware, I was recently appointed to the post of Interim Head of Education for 6 months.
 
Securing a strong Interim Head Teacher for Kirkwall Grammar School has been a priority for us and we are delighted to inform you that Neil Ewing has been successfully appointed into this role.

Neil has worked at Kirkwall Grammar School for almost 20 years and has worked tirelessly to support all pupils to achieve the remarkable.
 
I know you’ll join me in congratulating Neil in this appointment and he is very much looking forward to continuing his work with our very special school community.
 
The school is now seeking expressions of interest for an Interim Depute Head Teacher for Kirkwall Grammar School, and we have interviews scheduled for next week.
 
I will obviously keep you fully updated with our progress.
 
Thank you for your continued support,
 
Miss Claire Meakin
Head Teacher