Term 4, Week 5

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week has been another busy but hugely positive one. Thank you for your continued support as we work to build back into our school calendar, some of those unmissable activities.

Today’s update has 3 notices:

• SQA Exams (Mr Ewing)
• Mobile phones (Mr Harvey and Mrs Watson)
• Activities days and Moving on (Ms Devlin)

We hope you have a lovely, relaxing weekend.

​Miss Claire Meakin
Head Teacher

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​SQA Exams (Mr Ewing)

We are now at the end of the fourth week of the SQA exams and Biology has been the biggest exam of the week.  We know pupils are putting a huge amount of work into their exams and we are really proud of their efforts so far.
The information below is a reminder to parents of the protocol should your child be too unwell to sit their exams and an overview of the appeals process

Exceptional Circumstance
The Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service (EECCS) supports learners who are either:
· unable to attend the exam or prevented from completing the exam due to a personal circumstance outwith their control (such as a medical issue) or
· affected during the exam by a disruption, or other exam circumstance, reported by the chief invigilator
It is available for all exams that appear in the exam timetable. There is no charge for this service.
· Only schools, may submit requests. they have experienced a valid exam exceptional circumstance
· they have completed all the compulsory non-question paper components
· an estimate has been submitted for them
· alternative evidence is available
The service is not available to learners who complete the exam, even if they feel they have underperformed due to a personal circumstance beyond their control. Learners who have underperformed relative to their estimate will be eligible for the 2022 appeals service.
If your child is not able to attend an exam, they should contact Mr Ewing neil.ewing@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk as soon as possible on the day of the exam

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

 SQA Results day
This year's results day is Tuesday 9th August. 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)

Immersion timetable
There will be a series of immersion events during study leave across the school to support pupils in the days leading up to their exams. The immersion timetable has been sent to pupils and is also on the KGS website
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Studying in school during exam leave
When a pupil has finished an exam, they should leave school. S1 to S3 pupils are still working in classes so it is important that disruption is kept to a minimum.
We have had quite a few pupils studying in school and pupils are very welcome to do so but can all pupils please:
Wear dress code (top layer) Sign and out of school only at the following times: start of the day, break and lunch time and at the end of the school day. This will be strictly enforced. Be prepared to study and not to socialize

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​Mobile phones (Mr Harvey and Mrs Watson)

Can we ask parents/carers to remind their children about appropriate Mobile Device use in school. We expect mobiles to be switched off and in bags during all learning times including registration.
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Over the next week we will be having conversations in PSE and across the school with a focus on how we all treat each other with respect and kindness. We would appreciate your support by having similar conversations at home.

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Activities days and Moving on (Ms Devlin)

​The planning and preparation for this year’s activities days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the week beginning 30th May is going on apace and will be a great end to the year before the bank holiday weekend and the new timetable starting on Tuesday 7th June. Just a wee reminder that study leave finishes on 2nd June and all our young people move up into their next year on Tuesday 7th June with their new timetables.