Term 4, Week 9

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for your continued support this week. We’re incredibly proud of how well S2 – S6 have settled into the new timetable and we loved having our P7/S1 pupils in school earlier this week too.

Today’s update has 7 key notices:

1. Timetable change (Mr Ewing)
2. Curriculum maps and Subject pathways (Mr Ewing)
3. S5/6 Learner agreement (Mr Ewing)
4. Reminder about SQA results day and appeals (Mr Ewing)
5. Maximising opportunities to learn (Mr Harvey)
6. Keeping the school informed of changes (Ms Devlin)
7. Growing Up in Orkney website (Ms Devlin)

If you have any questions about the above, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s Guidance teacher or a member of the senior leadership team.

We hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

​Miss Claire Meakin
Head Teacher

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​Timetable change (Mr Ewing)

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 further details on how this will work will follow shortly.

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​Curriculum maps and Subject pathways (Mr Ewing)

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
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DEPARTMENTS & CURRICULUM - Kirkwall Grammar School (kgsorkney.com)

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​S5/6 Learner agreement (Mr Ewing)

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.

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​Reminder about SQA results day and appeals (Mr Ewing)

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)
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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

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​Maximising opportunities to learn (Mr Harvey)

Our focus on Maximising Opportunities to Learn continues and our pupils are responding well. At assemblies last week we spoke about expectations both in the school and in the local community. Unfortunately, every now and then we receive reports of KGS pupils not meeting the behaviour standards that we all want in the community. We will remind pupils again in school in the coming week the standards of behaviour that are expected when they are out getting their lunch or when they are travelling to and from school. We would appreciate this message being supported in conversations at home.
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We are proud of our pupils and must remember that the majority of the time they are a credit to us as a school and you as parents and carers!

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​Keeping the school informed of changes (Ms Devlin)

A reminder to parents and carers that it is important to inform the school of any changes to contact details (addresses of emergency contacts, mobile phone numbers etc) and family circumstances. You can telephone the school 01856  872102 or email  [email protected]
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It is also very helpful indeed if you let your child’s Guidance teacher know if there are any changes at all that might affect your child at school. The bereavement or illness of someone close to your child, difficult or changing family circumstances, serious illnesses of friends or family that could have an impact, or any newly diagnosed illness of your child. You can also let us know what you would be happy for us to share with your child’s class teacher – or not. This all helps us to support your child at school. 

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Growing Up in Orkney website (Ms Devlin)

​There is a new tab on the KGS homepage for a link to the Growing Up in Orkney website. For anyone unfamiliar with this site, it is dedicated to helping you find out everything you need to know about Growing up in Orkney.  It is a space for children, teenagers and young adults to find the help and information needed and who to contact.  There are areas for parents, carers, and professionals.  We hope you find it useful to have a handy link to it on the homepage.