Parental Update August 12, 2022

Dear Parents/Carers 
   
We hope all our pupils, parents, carers and families have had a great holiday. The new term begins on Tuesday 16 August, and we are all really looking forward to welcoming our pupils back to school, especially our new S1.  
  
Just before the new term starts, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the following areas:  
   

1. Exam Support (Mr McCall))   
2. Appeals (Mr McCall)   
3. Welcome to all new S1 pupils  
4. Guidance and Curriculum Support restructure  

 
Mr Neil Ewing  
Acting Head Teacher   
   
   

1. Exam Support @KGS 2022 

Pupils received their SQA results 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:   
   
 Guidance 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.  
   
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    
    
   2. Learners Guide to Appeals    An electronic version of the SQA support guide on appeals 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.   

 

• 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.   
  
Pupils wishing to be considered for a non –priority appeal, should contact the Principal Teacher of the subject concerned when they return to school.  
   
   3.  Welcome to all new S1 pupils   
All S1 pupils will be met in the foyer on Tuesday and directed into the theatre as they were during the transition days. Here they will be met by Guidance and Support staff.    
  
A short assembly will follow, which will include a reminder of school rules and expectations.  S1 pupils will also be given their PIN numbers for the cashless catering system, as well as a new paper copy of their timetable.   We ask pupils to take a photo of their timetables or make copies as multiple re-prints are discouraged. 
  
S6 buddies will then escort them to their period 1 classes and be available throughout the week to ensure that S1 pupils get to their classes.   
 
S1 pupils will have an extended lunch and break time at the start of the session to give them time to get used to the canteen system.   
  
We are very much looking forward to S1 pupils re-joining us next week.  
  
​4. Pupil Support Changes   
Guidance Department   
  
We are delighted that two additional teachers have been appointed to the Guidance team. This means that, for some pupils, there will be a change of Guidance teacher from August 2022.  
    
The new Guidance teacher for S1-4 Copinsay pupils will be Mrs Kim Fletcher.  
The Guidance teacher for S1-4 Eynhallow will continue to be Ms Bridget Taylor 
The Guidance teacher for S1-4 Fara will continue to be Mr Mark Berry 
   
The two Guidance teachers that have been allocated to S5 and S6 pupils are as follows:    
  
5C1, 5E1, 5F1 and 6C1, 6E1, 6F1 – Mrs Raksha Woods   
5C2, 5E2, 5F2 and 6C2, 6E2, 6F2 – Mr Colin Nisbet   
  
We would be grateful if you could share this information with your child, so they are aware before the start of term.    
  
Curriculum Support Department   
We are also pleased that Mrs Catherine Beesley will be taking up the post of Principal Teacher of Curriculum Support, adding capacity and expertise to the management of the Curriculum Support team at KGS.  ​