June 30, 2022

Dear Parents and Carers, 
Thank you for your continued support during another busy, but hugely positive, week. We hope all our pupils, parents, carers and families have a great holiday. 
We are delighted to let you know that we have appointed Joe McCall to the post of Deputy Head Teacher and Catherine Beesley to the Post of Principal Teacher of Curriculum Support, and they will take up their posts at the start of next term. 
Mrs Firth has sent out information about support that is available to young people over the summer, and has highlighted our Orkney Support Service tab on the website too, that has links to a wide variety of services. We hope you all have a relaxing and happy holiday, but there is support out there for you and your family if you need it. 
Today’s update contains 5 notices: 

1. Exam Support (Mr Ewing) 
   

1. Appeals (Mr Ewing) 
   

1. Curriculum Maps and Subject Pathways (Mr Ewing) 
   

1. Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships (Mr Harvey) 
   

1. Financial support (Ms Devlin) 
   

The start of next session will be a little different for me as I support the Education Service for the first few months. You know that I have complete confidence that Mr Ewing will do an incredible job as Interim Head Teacher though, and that he will continue to work tirelessly for all our pupils, our families and our staff team. 
Next session starts for pupils on Tuesday 16th August.  Until then though, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday, 
Miss Claire Meakin 
Head Teacher 
1. 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 kirkwall@sds.co.uk. 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 
2. 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 
3. 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) 
4. 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! 
5. Financial Support 
A reminder to you all that there is a Financial Support tab for families on the Home Page of the school website, which provides easy links to all kinds of financial support. These are particularly challenging times for many people, and you may find this useful. If you do think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, please do consider applying for these, as it also unlocks Pupil Equity Funding for the school to enable us to provide more support for our pupils.  The Equity Working Group will be exploring other ways that we as a school can support our families after the summer.