Parent handbook 2016

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STRONSAY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
PARENT HANDBOOK 2016-17
What’s Inside?
This handbook offers an
introduction to our school
and a general overview of
the education your child
will be getting at school.
If you have any questions,
or would like any further
information on any aspect
of this handbook or the
education of your child,
please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Regards,
Andrew King,
Head Teacher
About Our School
Stronsay Junior High School provides education for the island’s children from
pre-school at age 3, to the end of compulsory schooling at 16. Pupils can then
transfer to Kirkwall Grammar School, if they wish to do so, or move on to
further education, training or employment.
Our vision is to ensure that all achieve their full potential and enjoy being part
of a caring learning community. As a small school on a small island, we know
our learners extremely well, and aim to support them as fully as possible. The
health and wellbeing of our learners is therefore fundamental to all we do. We
always strive to meet their individual needs. The school and the community of
Stronsay work hard together to provide a wide range of opportunities to
broaden achievements and help children to develop spiritually, culturally,
morally and physically as well as intellectually.
Last year, our S4 pupils obtained some of the highest exam results in Orkney,
achieving a wide range of qualifications. The Middle Years Information System
data shows that the achievements of our secondary pupils exceed the national
normal expectations. Other evaluations show our pupils of all ages are engaged
meaningfully with their learning. Many visitors to our school have commented
about the positive atmosphere they experience during their time here. Though
we are always looking for ways we can improve what we do, we believe that
Stronsay Junior High is a good place to be and to learn.
School Contact Details:
Stronsay Junior High School
Stronsay, Orkney KW17 2AE
01857 616 246
admin.stronsay@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk
School Blog: http://stronsay-jh.blogspot.co.uk

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Contents
Staff 2
Time Table for School Day 2
Attendance and Absence 2
Communication with Home 2
When Your Child is Unwell 2
Accident Procedure and Medication 2
Updating Medical Information 2
Tooth Brushing and Fluoride Treatment (Negative Consent) 2
The Orkney Health and Care Team 2
After School Clubs and Swim Club 2
Transport and After-School Arrangements 2
Closing the School 2
School Dinners 2
Free School Meals & Clothing Allowance 2
School Dress Code 2
Use of Mobile Phones in School and On School Trips 2
Internet Access 2
School security and Child Protection 2
General Supervision and Break times 2
Homework 2
Care of Books / Materials 2
Enrolment 2
Starting Nursery: 2
Transitioning from Nursery to P1 2
Starting Primary 2
How to Register for Nursery 2
Request for Deferral 2
Deferred Entry to Primary School 2

3. 3
Transitioning from Primary to Secondary 2
Secondary Curriculum 2
KGS and Hostel Information 2
Leaving School or Transferring to KGS 2
Parental Involvement 2
Parent Forum 2
Parent Council 2
You can help 2
School Ethos 2
Vision Statement: 2
Aims of Stronsay School: 2
Developing the Whole Child 2
Golden Time 2
Behaviour 2
Merit Awards 2
Addressing Unsatisfactory Behaviour 2
Bullying 2
Active Learning 2
Curriculum for Excellence—Introduction 2
Planning Children’s and Young People’s Learning 2
Sensitive Aspects of Learning 2
Facilities for Physical Education and Outdoor Activities 2
Religious Instruction and Observance 2
Active Schools 2
Outdoor Education 2
Assessment and Reporting Your Child’s Progress 2
Support for Pupils 2
Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) 2
Child Protection 2
Support for Learning 2

4. 4
Educational Psychology Service 2
School Improvement Plan 2
School Improvement 2
Standards and Quality Report 2
Raising Attainment 2
Why do we need your data? 2
Pupil Data 2
What pupil data is collected and transferred? 2
Your data protection rights 2
Concerns 2
Where to Find Other Information 2
Websites 2
Policies Available from the School Office: 2
Comments, Suggestions and Complaints Procedure for Orkney Islands Council 2

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Andrew King Headteacher
Sarah Evans Lower Primary
Mairi Dennison Upper Primary (M-W)
Wendy Groat Upper Primary (W-F)
Pamela Rose Maths/Sciences
Barbara Deavin English/Support for Learning
Yvonne Weaver Nursery
Antoine Pietri French/RME (W-F)
Jane Barber History/Geography (W-F)
Derek Smith Design and Technology (M)
Cate Evans Health and Food Tech/Cake
Craft (M,W)
Holly Elson PE (T)
Kirsty Brown Art & Design (T,W)
Wayne Duncan Music (T,F)
Gaynor Smith Support for Learning
Assistant/Cleaner, Accordion
Instruction
Sheena Cooper Support for Learning
Assistant/Auxiliary
Steve Weaver Janitor
Arna Cooper Cook
Wilma Holland Kitchen Assistant
Jennifer Graham Clerical Assistant/Auxiliary
John Steenton Technician
Ruth King Science Technician
Elizabeth Duncan Fiddle Instruction
David Hudson Piano Instruction
Staff Time Table for School Day
Primary Secondary
Start Time 9.05 8.55
Break Time 11.10-11.25 11.10-11.25
Lunch Time 12.40-1.35 12.50-1.35
Finish Time 3.15 3.15
Nursery
Start Time:
9.00
Finish Time:
12.10
The timetable for the Primary and Secondary Sector is
in part dependent on the day, specialist teachers
arriving and Loganair’s timetable. Itinerant teachers
generally spend less time in school during the winter as
the planes cannot fly in darkness. The number and
length of time each itinerant teacher is on Stronsay is
decided centrally by the Authority.

6. 6
Attendance and Absence
 Please let the school know by email or phone (preferably
before 10am) why your child is absent that day. If there is
no explanation from a child’s parents, the absence will be
regarded as unauthorised.
 If you know that your child will be missing school in the
future, for any reason, please send an email or a note in
good time. Going on holiday, even if you have told the
school about it, is classed as an unauthorised absence by
the Authority.
 The school must be informed if, for any reason, a pupil is
to be temporarily excused from school activities such as
PE.

When Your Child is Unwell
Colds, flu and gastroenteritis are the
most common infections affecting
children of school age. It is
important that you keep your child
off school if they are unwell and for
48hours after they stop vomiting or
have diarrhoea.
If your child is feeling unwell at
school, we will first see if some rest
will help. If the problem continues,
we will phone you to decide what
would be the best thing to do in the
situation.
Accident Procedure and Medication
Minor cuts and bruises will be taken care of by the
school First Aider. Any accident or suspected injury
(unless minor in nature) will be referred to the
doctor or nurse. Any head injury (even minor) will
be reported to the parent.
Parental consent is needed for medication to be
given at school. There is a form to be filled out if
your child needs to have medication during school
hours. Medication will be kept in the first aid
cupboard and either administered or supervised by
the First Aider. Parents should bring the medication
in and fill out the form at the time.
Communication with Home
The primary means of
communication with parents will be
by email. If you do not use email or
prefer to receive paper copies,
please let the office know, and
these will be sent home with your
child. From time to time, your child
will bring home forms or
information from the school, and
you are encouraged to check your
child’s schoolbag every day for
these communications. Enquiries of
any kind should be addressed to the
Head Teacher in the first instance.

7. 7
The Orkney Health and Care Team covers all schools in Orkney and comprises a Public Health
Nurse (Specialist Practitioner), Registered Nurse and Healthcare Support Worker, who are based in the
School Health Department at the Kirkwall Health Centre Annex. We also provide advice and support to
education staff and deliver training on many health conditions that impact on childhood e.g. asthma,
epilepsy and allergies. The team supports and coordinate paediatric clinics, and acts as a link between
consultants and parents/carers and children. Pupils, parents/carers can request information and advice
at any time. Other health professionals and teaching staff can also request advice and input from the
school nurse for the child or young person with parental and/or the young person’s consent.
Health screening – All children in Primary 1 and at Primary 7 will be seen in order to have their growth
and vision checked.
Immunisations – Secondary school girls are offered HPV immunisations. At the appropriate time,
information booklets and consent forms will be issued.
The School Health Service can be contacted on 01856 888 262.
Tooth Brushing and Fluoride
Treatment (Negative Consent)
Primary pupils brush their teeth at school once
a day after the lunch break. If you do not want
your child to participate in this activity, please
let your child’s teacher know.
Dental nurses visit the school twice a year to
administer fluoride treatment to all Primary
children. If you do not want your child to
receive this treatment, you must fill out a form
letting the school and dental nurses know.
Please ask for a form at the school office.
Updating Medical Information
Please let us know (and keep the
information updated) if your child has
any allergies or dietary requirements or
medical conditions. Medical forms are
sent home at the beginning of the school
year, and updates will be required for
any overnight school trips. The forms are
kept in the school office and copies are
sent with the child on all school trips.

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After School Clubs and
Swim Club
A variety of clubs are offered after
school through the year and pupils
are encouraged to participate. Once
they have chosen to take part,
parents will be asked to give their
consent. Unless the school office
receives a different message by 3 pm
directly from the parent on the day
the club meets, it will be assumed
that the child will be staying for the
club.
The swim clubs are run by Sarah
Stevenson and Andy Rose, who will
be responsible for contacting
parents about cancellations, etc. If
the school office hears that Swim
Club has been cancelled for the day,
children will be sent home the
normal way.
Transport and After-School Arrangements
Generally, free transport is offered to pupils under the age of
eight who live more than two miles from the school, and to
those eight and older who live more than three miles from the
school. However, during the winter months (end of October
break to the beginning of the Easter break), all children who live
more than 1.5 miles from the school are transported free. There
is no provision of transport by the local authority for pre-school
age children.
 School transport in Stronsay is provided by Maurice and
Sheila Williamson, Olivebank, Stronsay.
 If your child is normally on the bus, but you plan to be
away, please let Maurice or Sheila know that they don’t
need to stop for your child (616 255).
 If your child is usually on the bus, but you are planning
to pick your child up (or someone else will be collecting
them, or they have your permission to walk somewhere)
at the end of the day, please let the school office know
by 3 pm (616 246).
 Parents should remind their child(ren) that, in the
interests of safety, good behaviour is expected from all
pupils travelling on school transport, and the code of
conduct for bus users must be followed.
Closing the School
To find information on whether the school will be closed
due to weather in the morning, try the following:
 Listen to BBC Radio Orkney at 7.30am (93.7 FM).
Radio Orkney will be notified if there is disruption to transport and/or school closures.
 Listen to the OIC answer phone (01856 873535).
 Look at the OIC School Transport Facebook page. The Facebook page and Twitter feed
are both updated as soon as information is available. This can be as early as 6.30am.
Information and links to these sites are available at:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/O/OIC-Updates.htm
 You should also receive a phone call from one of the school staff. It helps to have a
phone that is not connected to the mains electricity during times of power outages—
or for the school to have your mobile number (if you have reception in the house).
If the school needs to be closed during the school day:
 A school staff member will contact parents and explain what the procedure will be.

9. 9
School Dinners
All schools in Orkney provide subsidised meals, either prepared in-house or, in some cases, at a
neighbouring school, and aim to provide children with a high-quality and varied diet.
 School dinner is prepared on site at Stronsay School by Arna Cooper.
 Copies of the menus are sent out at the beginning of the first term, but are available
through the year from the school.
 All nursery and preschool children are entitled to free milk daily.
 All pupils in Primary 1-3 are entitled to a free school meal.
 School Lunches cost £2.10 for primary pupils and £2.20 for secondary pupils. Books of 10
tickets may be purchased for £21 (Primary) and £22 (Secondary), and cheques should be
made payable to ‘Orkney Island Council School Meals’ (your card number must be written
on the back of your cheque). Dinner money is collected at morning registration.
 Pupils may also bring packed lunches, which are eaten in the dining hall.
Free School Meals & Clothing Allowance
All pupils in Primary 1-3 are entitled to a free school meal, but some older
children may also be eligible if certain criteria are met.
 The eligibility criteria are outlined on the following webpage, where
application forms are also available:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Meals-and-
Clothing-Allowances.htm Applications are also available from OIC
Customer Services.
 Applications for Free School Meals and Clothing Allowance are made
on the same form and should be submitted to Orkney Islands
Council.
 Applications must be submitted every school year.
 For help with filling out the form or more information on school
meals and clothing grants, please telephone Education, Housing &
Leisure on (01856) 873 535, email education.grants@orkney.gov.uk
or visit in person at OIC Customer Services.

10. 10
School Dress Code
Parents are asked to support the
school’s guidance on dress code.
The dress code was agreed in
consultation with parents, pupils,
staff and the Parent Council. It
incorporates a range of popular
items of dress, e.g. sweatshirts, T-
shirts.
Wearing school uniform contributes
to a positive school ethos and helps
avoid discrimination and reduces
peer pressure to wear expensive
designer clothing. A school’s
reputation can also be enhanced in
the local community by supporting
the school dress code.
School uniform may be purchased
from John Kemps, Kirkwall or from
Tesco online.
The appropriate clothing and
footwear for PE is a T-shirt, shorts
and gym shoes with non-marking
soles. These are necessary for
health and safety reasons and your
co-operation is requested to ensure
that pupils are equipped to
participate in the PE lessons.
Offensive clothing such as T-shirts
or other items painted with
obscene language or illustrations
are not permitted.
Please ensure that all items of
clothing are clearly labelled,
particularly sweat shirts and PE
equipment which are often lost. A
protective apron or an old shirt
should be worn for art and craft
activities. Please help the school
and the education authority by
making sure that pupils do not bring
valuable or expensive items of
clothing to school.
If you have any queries regarding
the school’s dress code, please
contact the Headteacher.
Use of Mobile Phones in School and
On School Trips
We recommend that pupils do not bring
phones to school.
If a mobile is brought to school, it must be
switched off at all times, including text
messaging facility. Phones with cameras are
not allowed.
If you need to contact your child through the
day, you should phone the school office. If a
pupil needs to contact you, she/he should ask
at the school office to use the school phone.
Permission will be granted if the request is
reasonable.
Internet Access
The school has networked access to a filtered internet
system. The filtering, which is done by Orkney Islands Council
Education Department, is to try to restrict pupil access to
only acceptable internet sites. The internet itself is not
monitored, and as a result, a wide variety of information is
available, some of which is not acceptable for school pupils.
However, it is possible that a pupil could access a seemingly
innocuous site, which nevertheless contains unacceptable
material. If this happens, the pupil is to close down the site
immediately and inform their teacher. The address of the site
will be reported to OIC.

11. 11
General Supervision and Break times
Before school begins supervision is very limited, therefore
pupils should not arrive at school until as near to the school
start time as possible.
During intervals, the janitor and school auxiliary supervise the
children. In addition, the Head Teacher is on call to cope with
any difficulties which may arise. There is always access to the
building, and the children are made aware of this.
In wet weather, pupils are allowed into school during breaks
and at lunchtime, and are supervised by the janitor and school
auxiliary. We encourage children to go out as much as
possible—they are encouraged to wear suitable clothing.
School security and Child Protection
Orkney Islands Council has introduced procedures to ensure the safety and security of pupils and staff
when attending or working in a school. At Stronsay School, we use a number of security measures
including a sign-in book, badges and escorts while visitors are within the school building. Normally, anyone
calling at a school for any reason will be asked to report to the school office. The school staff can then
make the necessary arrangements for the visit.
The school follows the guidelines outlined in the Orkney Islands Council Child Protection Policy:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Files/Social-Care-and-Health/Orkney_CPC_Core_CP_Guidance_May_2011.pdf.
Should you wish to talk further about Child Protection and the safety of children, please feel free to
contact the Head Teacher.

12. 12
Homework
The school has a clearly defined policy on homework, which can be obtained through the
school office.
Pupils are regularly given homework to support their learning and to encourage them to
become more organised and self-supporting in their learning. Homework tasks will be given
where a teacher feels a particular child or group of children may benefit from it.
The homework will be organised according to the stage and ability of the child; it can arise from
all curricular areas, and it may include written, oral or practical activities. The tasks set will be
interesting, worthwhile and challenging for the child.
Parents are encouraged to help pupils with their homework as a means of keeping them up to
date with the work of the class and the child’s progress, and to promote partnership between
the school and parents. Homework provides an opportunity to consolidate what has been
learned in class, and makes you aware of what your child is learning and provides you with a
useful discussion starter. Homework is also an integral part of school work. Parental interest
and co-operation in ensuring homework is undertaken is appreciated. The school encourages
parents to sign each homework task.
Care of Books / Materials
To enable us to provide the best
possible education for your child,
every care should be taken to look
after the school’s resources and
facilities. Parents are asked to
remind their child(ren) that all
school equipment should be used
with care.
Books and learning resources which
are lost or destroyed must be paid
for, either wholly or in part,
depending on the age of the book.
Any loss of school or Council
property should be reported
immediately to the school.

13. 13
Starting Nursery:
Places are available for 2-year-olds if
certain qualifications are met. Please ask
at the school office for more
information.
If your child’s 3rd
birthday falls between
 1st
March and 31st
August—he/she
will start nursery in August.
 1st
September and 31st
December—
he/she will start nursery in January.
 1 January and 29th
February—he/she
will start nursery in April.
Preschool (4-5 year-olds):
 If your child’s 4th
birthday falls
between 1st
March and 28th
February—he/she will start
preschool in August.
Starting Primary
If your child will turn 5 years old by the following February, he/she will normally
enter Primary 1 in August.
Parents are not required to send their children to school until the first day of
school in the August after the child’s 5th
birthday. Dates for enrolment are
published in the Orcadian and posted on notice boards around the island (usually
during February/March). More information can be found on the OIC website:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Enrolments.htm
Some parents/carers, therefore, have a choice as to when their child starts
primary school. Taking the choice to delay school enrolment for a year is known
as deferred entry. This choice takes place when your child will be starting Primary
1, not when they are going into their pre-school year.
Enrolment
How to Register for Nursery
Children are officially registered for Nursery places
with Orkney Islands Council during ‘registration
week’ (usually during February/March). The dates
for this are published in the Orcadian and posted on
notice boards around the island. They can also be
found on the OIC website:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-
Directory/P/Nursery-and-Pre-School-Enrolment.htm
Transitioning from Nursery to P1
We know that moving from Preschool to Primary 1 is a big, important step. To help
ease this transition, children in Nursery spend some time most days in the P1
classroom and so become familiar with the teacher and schedule. This also helps the
Primary teacher to become familiar with your child. Gradually, during the last few
weeks of the term before your child moves to P1, he/she will spend more time in the
Primary classroom and join the other children in the hall for lunch, so that the start
of the new term is made easier.

14. 14
Deferred Entry to Primary School
If you have any concerns about whether or not you wish your child to take up a place in
Primary 1 the following August you should, in the first instance, discuss the matter with
the Nursery Teacher or the Head Teacher. Discussions should focus on your child’s
progress in his/her pre-school education, with a particular emphasis on your child’s:
 approach and attitude to learning
 ability to communicate their needs, feelings and ideas
 levels of independence and self- help skills
 emotional and personal development, including self-confidence and esteem
 relationships and friendships with other children and adults
Request for Deferral
If after on-going discussions with
the nursery staff, you wish to
proceed with a request for deferral
to Primary 1, you should complete
the “Deferred Entry to Primary
School” form, which the school
office can get for you. The Nursery
staff can support you to fill it in if
you wish. You will need to return
this to Education & Leisure Services
by the end of March.
All deferral request forms should
be signed by the Head Teacher,
showing whether the request for
deferral has his support.
The local authority will
acknowledge receipt of the
request.

15. 15
Transitioning from Primary to
Secondary
The move from Primary to Secondary is a big step for your child and
we will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as
possible.
Because Primary children are taught foreign language, art, music and
PE by Secondary teachers, they will already be familiar with each
other. During June, P7s spend a minimum of 2 days following the S1
timetable. As part of Health and Wellbeing lessons with P7, the P7
teacher and Support for Learning Teacher discuss pupils’ fears,
anxieties, explain who the Secondary teachers are and what subjects
they teach, how to read a timetable, who to go to for help, and look
at a map of the school.
A meeting of parents of pupils
transferring to the Secondary
department is held in June. The
purpose of the meeting is to inform
parents about the Secondary
curriculum arrangements and the
operation of the Secondary
department. At this meeting, you
will have the opportunity to raise
any issues of concern for you or
your child.
.
Secondary Curriculum
The broad general education started in Primary continues through the first three years of a child’s
Secondary education. Specialist teachers teach English, Maths, French, Science, Social Subjects, Craft
and Design, Health Food Technology, Art, Music, PE, RME and PSE in Secondary.
As a school, where possible, we believe that young people should have a level of personalisation and
choice in their learning. Therefore in the 3rd
year of their Secondary education, we offer a range of
options. The work undertaken in these options will be at a level suitable for the learner, and will
include, where appropriate, course work at level 4 of the Curriculum for Excellence levels, leading to
accessing National 4 and 5 courses, and where possible, vocational experiences and qualifications.
As children move on to S4, they will continue their options into formal qualification courses.
We are looking to offer options for S5 and 6 students who wish to remain on the island as well as
offering these opportunities for the community of Stronsay. Further details on the Secondary
curriculum, example timetables, etc. can be found on the School Blog.

16. 16
Leaving School or Transferring to KGS
Pupils have the opportunity to transfer from Stronsay School to Kirkwall Grammar School for their
secondary years. While we recognise that children’s needs differ, and that some will benefit from attending
a larger school off-island and living in the hostel through the week, we encourage children to stay at
Stronsay School until they are 16. Before any decision is made to transfer, we will organise a full
consultation between pupil, parents and teachers to ensure that the best course of action is followed for
each pupil.
The earliest date at which a pupil may leave school is as follows:
If 16th
birthday falls between 1st
March and 30th
September, he/she may leave on the last school day of
May. If the 16th
birthday falls between 1st
October and 29th
February, he/she may leave at the Christmas
break.
KGS and Hostel Information
Information on transferring to KGS and the Hostel can be found by either contacting
KGS on 01856 87 2102 or the Hostel on 01856 87 6060.
Please see their websites for more detailed information:
Kirkwall Grammar School: http://www.kgsorkney.com/
Halls: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/E/papdale-halls-of-residence.htm

17. 17
Parental Involvement
Parental involvement is very important as it helps children do better in
school. Parents can be involved in supporting learning at home as part of
a home-school partnership. At Stronsay School we aim to operate an
‘open door policy’. This means that we want you to feel welcome to come
along, call or email when you’d like to discuss your child’s education or
any questions or concerns you might have. Twice a year we set up
appointments for you to meet with your child’s teachers, and we hope
you’ll see those as opportunities to be involved in your child’s education.
You will also be informed about upcoming assemblies, concerts, open
days and other events, and we hope you’ll come to those, as it means so
much to your child to have family there.
You can keep in touch with the day-to-day activities of your child by
looking through their homework diaries or learning logs. The school blog
is regularly updated with information and photos, and we try to keep the
whole community informed about the school through notices in the shops
and articles in the Limpet.
For more information on parental involvement or to find out about
parents as partners in their children’s learning, please contact the school
or visit the Parentzone website at www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk.
Information on parental involvement is also available on Orkney Islands
Council’s website through the following link:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/P/Parental-
Involvement.htm
Parent Forum
All parents are automatically members of the Parent Forum at their child’s school. As a members of the
Parent Forum all parents can expect to
 receive information about the school and its activities
 hear about what partnership with parents means in our school
 be invited to be involved in ways and times that suit you
 identify issues you want the parent council to work on with the school
 be asked your opinion by the Parent Council on issues relating to the school and the education it
provides
 work in partnership with staff
 enjoy taking part in the life of the school in whatever way possible.
The Parent Forum decides how their representatives on the Parent Council are chosen and how the
Parent Council operates. Parents are encouraged to volunteer or put themselves forward to be chosen as
representatives of the Parent Council if they wish.

18. 18
Parent Council
Parent Councils are the formal representative body for parents with children attending school. In other words,
this is one way parents can be involved in and help shape their children’s education. Parent Councils are
different in each school to enable them to meet the needs of parents locally.
The Parent Council is made up of four parents of children currently attending school, two community
representatives, the Head Teacher, …
The main aims of the Parent Council for Stronsay School are:
 To support the school in its work with pupils
 To represent the views of parents
 To promote contact between the school, parents, pupils, providers of nursery education and the
community
 To report to the Parent Forum
 To be involved in the appointment of senior promoted staff.
The Parent Council, through the Support Our School (SOS) committee, finds ways to raise funds for the school
to help with those ‘extras’ not covered by the budget supplied by the local authority. Given the current
situation of ever-tightening budgets, fundraising is becoming more and more important to make sure that
children in Stronsay are able to have similar opportunities as children on Mainland or other parts of Scotland.
Parent Council funds were used to help build the new ‘natural’ play area for the Nursery/Primary, to enable a
whole-school trip into Kirkwall to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, and helped subsidise other
school trips farther afield.
You can help by
 Putting your name forward to be
one of the parent members.
 Volunteering to help with
fundraising events.
 Sharing your ideas.
Would you like to find out more about the
Parent Council or to ask a question/express
a concern? Please contact the Chairperson,
Mrs Gaynor Smith, Telephone 616 412
gaynor.smith@glow.orkneyschools.org.uk

19. 19
School Ethos
At Stronsay School we want to develop and maintain a positive,
encouraging atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome, valued and
safe. We believe that real learning is dependent upon establishing good
relationships among pupils, and between pupils and staff. We set high
standards and expectations for achievement. We know that the values
we emphasise here now for our pupils will also serve them well in the
future.
Aims of Stronsay School:
Effective Contributors
To motivate everyone to
participate with enthusiasm in
the school community, and wider
world, to be well-organised,
dedicated and open-minded.
Responsible Citizens
To encourage everyone to take
care of the community and wider
world. To do the best they can in
an honest and respectful way.
Confident Individuals
To inspire within everyone self-
confidence, tolerance and high
expectations.
Successful Learners
To develop a life-long enthusiasm
for learning; to have the
confidence and ability to work
independently or with others
whilst knowing when to ask for
help.
Cultural Identity
To see our island as a benefit not
a barrier; to embrace and enrich
our unique resources—
friendliness, community spirit,
heritage, landscape and culture—
to help maintain and develop the
island as a great place to live.
Vision Statement:
Together, our vision is to ensure
that everyone achieves their full
potential and enjoys being part
of a caring learning community.

20. 20
Developing the Whole Child
The school is committed to supporting the development of its pupils as whole people, which means
providing ways to help them grow spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. We try to provide an
atmosphere in the school that is both caring and challenging because we want pupils to develop a sense
of personal responsibility. We recognise that all aspects of school life affect the development of pupils—
the way they are disciplined or rewarded for their behaviour, the way adults treat them, the way
curriculum is developed, the way various people and their cultures are discussed—and so we are careful
to allow our vision and aims to shape our whole life together as a school and our interaction as a school
with the wider community. We hope that the school is valued by the community and we feel the school is
extremely well supported by it.
Many experiences help create the ethos and develop the values of children—that’s why we create or
encourage opportunities to participate in sports (Swim Club, Active Schools, Tag Rugby, Badminton
Festival, Primary Athletics, North Isles Sports); charity events (Shoebox Appeal, Children in Need, Rag Bag,
Macmillan sponsored walks); environmental activities (Troot in the Shed, Eco Club, Fair Trade); drama
and music (pantomime, concerts, Silver Darlings, instrumental workshops).

21. 21
Behaviour
Pupils are expected to set
themselves high standards in
appearance and behaviour. School
rules have been devised to
encourage the maximum amount
of self-discipline. The rules
themselves are relatively simple
and few in number to allow for the
smooth running of the school. The
general aim is to produce an
atmosphere of friendly co-
operation, encouraging respect and
consideration for other persons
and for property. So, the first
approach to achieving good
behaviour is always a positive
one—offering praise, a smile,
stickers, positive comments,
displaying good work, writing
messages of encouragement,
extending Golden Time, handing
out merit cards, etc.).
Golden Time
Golden time is a strategy for encouraging positive
behaviour. Pupils in primary have the opportunity to
earn their golden time twice a week by following the
rules and displaying the traits of the key words from
the vision and aims of the school.
The reward is chosen by the pupils themselves. They
vote from a selection of time in the playpark, time in
the hall, board games, time out on the play area at the
back of the classroom, arts and crafts, etc.
Merit Awards
All staff are encouraged to award merits for
positive behaviour. Pupils can accumulate merits
by improving their work or behaviour, displaying
a positive attitude to the school, acting as a
positive role model, etc. These are counted up
and certificates (bronze, silver, gold and platinum
levels) are handed out at assemblies at the end of
the term. Those pupils who achieve a gold or
platinum level are granted special rewards,
determined by the Pupil Council such as being
teacher for the day or going to the front of the
dinner queue.

22. 22
Addressing Unsatisfactory Behaviour
When children do misbehave, various actions are available to staff. They
can speak to the child or discuss the issue. They can remove the child from
the situation to a place where they can ‘cool down’. They can ask the child
to do a task that suits the behaviour (for example, pick up litter at break
time, if they are caught littering), set detention for break time or lunch
time. If more serious problems occur, there are established ways of
addressing them, which involve the Head Teacher contacting the parents
to discuss the issue with them.
One of the main goals when addressing bad behaviour is to help children
be aware of how their actions affect others and themselves. They should
also be helped to acknowledge the consequences of their behaviour.
The most effective approach is when the school works in partnership with
parents. It is important that parents work with the school to resolve the
problems in the best interests of their child or young person.
Bullying
No bullying in any form is allowed at Stronsay School. Bullying happens when someone deliberately and
intentionally hurts, upsets or uses negative power over another person. Bullying can be verbal (name calling),
social (leaving people out), mental (threats, pressure to conform), physical (hitting), material (stealing or
damaging possessions), cyber (texting, emailing, Facebook, etc.). All forms of bullying are wrong and we will
make sure children are aware of what it is and that we will not stand for it. We encourage children to tell
someone if they are feeling bullied; we do not want them to keep their feelings about this to themselves.
Anyone can be bullied; anyone can become a bully.
Stronsay School takes a restorative approach to bullying. This means that children who bully must not simply be
punished for their actions, but must be given the opportunity to hear about and face up to the pain, hurt,
distress and anger they have caused to others. We want them to reflect on their behaviour toward the goal of
changing it.
If your child tells you that they are feeling
bullied, the first thing you should do is listen
patiently and take it seriously. Assure them
that the problem will be solved. Let the school
know by speaking to the Head Teacher. The
situation will be investigated. Once we know
that bullying is happening, we will always take
steps to stop it.

23. 23
Curriculum for Excellence—Introduction
Stronsay School offers a broad general education which is built on the current national Curriculum
for Excellence in which four capacities are pivotal: Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens,
Effective Contributors and Successful Learners. All those who teach or work with children at the
school are responsible for promoting their Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and Numeracy.
Each pupil has a personalised learning experience, allowing pupils to move through each curriculum
level at their own pace. This structure enables staff to extend the development skills, attributes,
knowledge and understanding into more challenging areas and higher levels of performance.
Community is at the heart of the school, so any opportunity to utilise our island’s history, people,
music and landscape are keenly grasped.
Primary pupils are consulted on their choice of projects and take an active part in mapping how
they will achieve a broad range of experiences and outcomes. Parents are notified of these
intentions in writing when new projects commence.
The Secondary Phase continues through to the Senior Phase, at which point pupils are able to focus
their studies through choosing options in specific specialised areas. This allows for further
personalisation and choice at National 4 and National 5 levels, while still embedding the principles
of the Curriculum for Excellence. It is expected that all pupils will leave the first part of the Senior
Phase with a certificate at either National 4 or National 5.
Across the whole school, assessment of pupils’ progress is built around a mixture of written tests,
peer assessments, practical work, projects, performances and presentations which check against
the experiences and outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence.
Progress is recorded through the use of subject-specific profiles which capture the pupils’ progress,
and the production of a profile of the learners’ achievements in P7 and S3. This is communicated
to parents in the familiar way of reports and parents’ evenings.
Active Learning
Curriculum for Excellence emphasises the value of an
active learning approach. In the early years, children will
have a range of learning experiences that include planned
and purposeful play and stimulating learning which
engages and challenges children’s thinking using real life
and imaginary situations. As children progress through
school they continue to be involved in active learning
experiences which are engaging and give them ownership
of their own learning.

24. 24
Planning Children’s and Young People’s
Learning
Teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools share their
learning intentions with pupils, parents and carers. This takes
place on a day-to-day basis, by agreeing the aims of an individual
piece of work.
Longer-term planning also takes place in a variety of forms.
Pupils in primary schools negotiate with their teachers their aims
for the next block of learning. At the end of the block, progress
against these aims is assessed by the teacher and pupil, and new
targets are set for the following block of learning.
In secondary levels, pupils review progress against targets and
negotiate new ones with their pastoral teacher.
In order to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their
learning, we use Learning Logs, in which pupils plan their
programme for completing homework assessments. In secondary
levels, homework diaries serve a similar purpose. These diaries
are also used for pupils to record their long-term targets.
Sensitive Aspects of Learning
As children and young people progress on their journey through life, some may have temporary
difficulties, some may live with challenges and some may experience more complex issues.
At Stronsay Junior High School, we aim to create a safe, supportive environment where the needs
of all individual children are met and their rights are respected. We share relevant information as
necessary, whilst safeguarding children and young peoples’ right to confidentiality.
We endeavour to enable children to get the help they need when they need it and work together
with young people, families and outside agencies to build suitable solutions.
Parents are made aware of any sensitive areas of learning in writing in good time. They will have
the opportunity to discuss any concerns, view resources whilst understanding the context and
progression of the learning, being reassured that it will be dealt with sensitively and in an age-
appropriate manner.

25. 25
Religious Instruction and
Observance
As part of the curriculum, all children learn about
Christianity, different world religions, views and
cultures, and are encouraged to reflect on their
own values and beliefs. A lot of this learning,
especially for the younger children, involves
hands-on activities such as baking and artwork.
Several assemblies are held during the year,
including Christmas and Harvest, which enable
children to learn about and participate in
Christian festivals and those of other traditions.
If you wish to exercise your right to withdraw
your child from religious instruction and / or
observance, you should contact the head teacher
in writing, and alternative arrangements will be
made for your child.
Outdoor Education
Rich in culture and community, set
in a diverse, exciting, even
exhilarating environment, Orkney
has an outdoor education provision
set to reflect its own status.
Outdoor Education opportunities,
especially those with a residential
element, play an important part in
promoting the personal and social
development of people of all ages
and abilities, as well as contributing
to their understanding of
environmental and developmental
education themes.
Sometimes the focus of activities
will be on the development of
particular skills, at other times on
the process by which learning
occurs, or by the provision of
opportunities for learning through
direct experience. The range of
Outdoor Education and the
development of diverse activities
create a need for instructors and
teachers to be flexible in their
approach. Teaching and
instructional styles have clear
emphasis on the needs of the
individual and the group.
Active Schools
The Active Schools Network in Scotland is a team of
people working within the school and the wider
community. Their goal is to offer all children and young
people the motivation and opportunities to ‘get active’
ensuring there are more and higher quality
opportunities for all children to participate in sport
within schools and to increase capacity through the
recruitment of a network of volunteers, who in turn
deliver activity sessions in schools. Further information
is available on the Active Schools webpage of the
Council website: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-
Directory/S/active-schools.htm
Facilities for Physical
Education and Outdoor
Activities
The school hall/gym has a variety of
apparatus for physical education within the
school. As part of the school’s physical
education programme, pupils may also use
the facilities of the local sports complex,
swimming pool or sports pitches.

26. 26
Assessment and Reporting Your Child’s
Progress
A baseline assessment is completed for all children on
entry to Primary 1, 3, 5 and 7. Baseline assessment
allows a snapshot picture of where individual children
have reached in their literacy and numeracy
development at the beginning of each class. The
assessment helps teachers plan for learning at early
stages of Primary 1. Further assessments are completed
for all children by the end of their Primary 1, Primary 5
and Primary 7 years. These tests build on information
from the previous tests and show the progress that
children have achieved in literacy and numeracy at each
stage.
As pupils progress through school, teachers use a range
of assessment strategies, including Assessment for
Learning strategies as well as setting tests. Pupils are also
involved in assessing their own progress and developing
their next steps.
Children and young people who require additional
supported learning also have an Individual Educational
Plan which supports them. These are reviewed on a
termly basis with parents and pupils.
We recognise that pupils do not all
develop and progress at the same
rate and, therefore, we use both
group and individual methods to
ensure that all pupils are given
appropriate instruction and the
opportunity to succeed. Please
contact the school as soon as
possible if you have any concerns
about your child’s progress.
The School regularly monitors the
progress of the children/young
people in its care. If there is any
concern during the year then the
school will contact the parents
involved and discuss the issues and
the way forward. However, the
school will also provide information
at set times during the year. The
school will report progress to
parents through the following:
An opportunity to discuss progress
with parents, midway through the
academic year.
A formal report to parents,
followed by a parents’ evening
which will occur generally towards
the end of the academic year,
except for S4 when they occur once
the prelims have taken place.
The school has also introduced
learning logs which parents can
see on a weekly basis. Pupils in
P3- S4 produce profiles at the end
of the academic year. These
profiles are an opportunity for
children and young people to look
at their successes through the year
and to think of the way forward.

27. 27
Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)
At Stronsay School, we’ve adopted the programme ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’ to help ensure
that the wellbeing of every child at the school is promoted.
The programme promotes a shared approach that:
 builds solutions with and around children and families
 enables children to get the help they need when they need it
 supports a positive shift in culture, systems and practice
 involves working together to make things better.
Support for Pupils
The Getting it Right approach looks
at eight areas of 'well-being':
 Safe
 Healthy
 Achieving
 Nurtured
 Active
 Responsible
 Respected
 Included
All children need these elements if
they are to progress and do well
now and in the future. Information
is gathered about the child’s world
to make sure they have everything
they need from the people who
look after them, both at home and
in the wider community. It also
encourages staff members to think
about who else might need to be
involved (for example a teacher
might need to contact other
professionals to make sure that an
education improvement plan with
the child and family was meeting all
the child's needs).
Child Protection
All children have a right to be protected from harm, abuse and
neglect. It is everyone's job to make sure that children in
Orkney are safe. Education, Leisure & Housing have an
important role in identifying children who have been abused or
are at risk of being abused.
Orkney Islands Council has clear procedures for all staff to
follow. Head Teachers or designated member of staff are
instructed to notify Orkney Islands Council when a member of
staff has a suspicion that a child might have been abused or be
at risk of abuse.
Orkney Health & Care will make a decision on whether or not an
investigation is necessary and will advise accordingly. In every
situation, the welfare of the child overrides other
considerations.

28. 28
Support for Learning
At Stronsay School we have a Support for Learning Teacher (SfLT) and two Support for Learning
Assistants (SfLA).
Support is provided in a range of ways. Some children may need help with their reading or number
work, for instance, while other pupils may feel they need support through an unsettled time in their
lives. This might be exam revision, or the transition from Upper Primary to Secondary, or finding a
particular topic a challenge. After an informal consultation with parents and staff we aim to give
support to those who need it.
Occasionally we might call on the expertise of the Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language
Therapist or another education professional to give our pupils the best possible support.
We always welcome the views of parents so please get in touch with any concerns you may have.
Educational Psychology Service
The Educational Psychology Service is part of the
Pupil Support sector within Education, Leisure &
Housing. The central aim is to promote the
development and well-being of children and
young people (birth to 24 years), particularly to
help them overcome any barriers to learning and
self-efficacy. The service aims to achieve this
through working collaboratively with teachers,
parents, young people and others.
Further information on the Educational
Psychology Service, including contact details, is
available on the Council’s website:
http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-
Directory/E/Educational-Physchology-
Service.htm

29. 29
School Improvement Plan
The school is always continuing to
develop the education it provides to
the children of Stronsay. These
developments which meet national
initiatives or local developments are
assimilated into one document: the
School Improvement Plan. This
document is available on the school
website and is revised regularly, the
document is formally revised on a
yearly basis.
School Improvement
Raising Attainment
Monitoring performance and using
the resulting information to secure
improvement is an important part
of the work of head teachers,
school staff and officers within
Education Services.
Attainment information is included
as part of the Standards and
Quality Report and is available to
view. Some information is not
published as it would be easy to
identify children.
Standards and Quality Report
The school produces an annual report of the
developments and achievements through the
previous year. This is called the Standards and
Quality Report and can be accessed through the
school website or a copy can be obtained from the
school office.
School Improvement Plan
The school produces an annual School
Improvement Plan a copy of which is posted on the
School website.

30. 30
The Scottish Government – Education and Training has asked
that the undernoted advice be included in our school
brochures.
Education authorities and the Scottish Government collected
data about pupils on paper forms for many years. We now
work together with schools to transfer data electronically
through the ScotXed programme. Thus the Scottish
Government has two functions: acting as a ‘hub’ for supporting
data exchange within the education system in Scotland and the
analysis of data for statistical purposes within the Scottish
Government itself.
What pupil data is collected and transferred?
Data on each pupil is collected by schools, local authorities and the Scottish
Government. The data collected and transferred covers areas such as date of
birth, Scottish Candidate Number (SCN), postcode, registration for free-
school meals, whether a pupil is looked after by his/her local authority,
additional support needs including disability and English as an Additional
Language (EAL), and attendance, absence and exclusions from school. The
SCN acts as the unique pupil identifier. Pupil names and addresses are not
passed to the Scottish Government. Your postcode is the only part of your
address that is transferred for statistical purposes, and postcodes are
grouped to identify ‘localities’ rather than specific addresses. Dates of birth
are passed on as ‘month and year’ only, again to ensure that individuals are
never identified. Data is held securely and no information on individual pupils
can or would be published by the Scottish Government.
Providing national identity and ethnic background data is entirely voluntary.
You can choose the ‘not disclosed’ option if you do not want to provide this
data. However, we hope that the explanations contained in this message and
on the ScotXed website will help you understand the importance of providing
the data.
Why do we need
your data?
In order to make the best
decisions about how to
improve our education
service, the Scottish
Government, education
authorities and other
partners such as the
Scottish Qualifications
Authority and Skills
Development Scotland
need accurate, up-to-date
data about our pupils. We
are keen to help all our
pupils do well in all aspects
of school life and achieve
better examination results.
Accurate and up-to-date
data allows us to:
 plan and deliver better
policies for the benefit of
all pupils
 plan and deliver better
policies for the benefit of
specific groups of pupils
 better understand some
of the factors which
influence pupil
attainment and
achievement
 share good practice
 target resources better
Pupil Data

31. 31
Your data protection rights
The collection, transfer, processing and sharing of ScotXed data is done in accordance with the Data
Protection Act (1998). We also comply with the National Statistics Code of Practice requirements
and other legislation related to safeguarding the confidentiality of data. The Data Protection Act
gives you the right to know how we will use your data. This message can give only a brief
description of how we use data. Fuller details of the use of pupil data can be found on the ScotXed
website (www.scotxed.net).
The Scottish Government works with a range of partners including Education Scotland and the SQA.
On occasion, we will make individual data available to partners and also academic institutions to
carry out research and statistical analysis. In addition, we will provide our partners with information
they need in order to fulfil their official responsibilities. Any sharing of data will be done under the
strict control of the Scottish Government, which will ensure that no individual level data will be
made public as a result of the data sharing and that these data will not be used to take any actions
in respect of an individual. Decisions on the sharing of data will be taken in consultation with
colleagues within and outwith the Scottish Government.
Concerns
If you have any concerns about the ScotXed data
collections you can in the first instance contact Education,
Leisure and Housing on 01856 873535 or email
education.leisure@orkney.gov.uk. If you further concerns,
please email the Senior Statistician,
scotxed@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or write to The ScotXed
Support Office, Area 1B, Victoria Quay, Leith, EH6 6QQ.
Alternative versions of this page are available, on request
from the ScotXed Support Office, in other languages,
audio tape, braille and large print.

32. 32
Where to Find Other Information
Websites
You may find the following websites useful.
http://www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk- parents can find out about everything from school term dates to
exam results. This site also offers information for pre-5 and post school. It also lists relevant publications for
parents and provides hyper-links to other useful organisations.
www.hmie.gov.uk - parents can access school and local authority inspection reports and find out more about
the work of Education Scotland.
http://www.scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk - parents can find out about individual schools. They can choose a
school and select what type of information they need such as Education Scotland reports, exam results, stay
on rates and free school meal entitlement.
www.orkney.gov.uk- contains information for parents and information on Orkney schools.
http://www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Bullying/Pages/Bullyinginfo.aspx - contains information for parents and
children on varying forms of bullying and provides help for parents and children who are affected by bullying.
http://www.respectme.org.uk/ - Scotland’s anti-bullying service. Contains information for parents and
children on varying forms of bullying and provides help for parents and children who are affected by bullying
http://www.educationscotland.org.uk/ - provides information and advice for parents as well as support and
resources for education in Scotland
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/ - contains information for everyone on equality laws within the
government and local authorities.
http://www.handsonscotland.co.uk/ - information on dealing with troubling behaviour
Policies Available from
the School Office:
 Transport/Code of
Conduct
 Health and Safety
 Homework
 Administration of
Medicine
 Papdale Halls of
Residence

33. 33
Orkney Islands Council Education Service is keen that you should be completely satisfied about your
child's education and encourages feedback on its services from parents and pupils. It is, therefore,
interested in feedback of all kinds, whether it be compliments, suggestions or complaints.
If you want to register a comment of any type about the school to the Council you can do this by writing,
e-mailing, telephoning or making an appointment to see someone. All feedback is welcome and keeps
the Council in touch with the local situation.
If you have a complaint about Stronsay School
1. It is recommended that you speak first with the Head Teacher. This makes sure that the
school knows what is going on and has an opportunity to respond and resolve the issue.
2. If, after speaking with the Head Teacher, you feel that the complaint should be
communicated to the Council, please do so.
a. It is better that these things are shared openly and resolved fairly, rather than being
allowed to damage the relationship between the family and the school.
b. There will be no negative consequences arising from making a complaint and the
Council will deal with the issue as confidentially as possible. If a mistake has been
made, apologies will be offered quickly and clearly and all attempts will be made to
try to put things right.
3. The Council will try to respond as quickly as possible, but often issues are complex and time
is needed for investigation.
4. If you are still unhappy with the service or with the Council’s response then you will have the
right to take the matter further using the Orkney Islands Council’s complaints procedure. You
can put your complaint in writing or fill in a complaint form, available in the school or any
council office. The Council can help if you have difficulty with this. Completed forms should
be sent to: Complaints Officer, Education, Leisure & Housing, Council Offices, School Place,
Kirkwall KW15 1NY or email education.leisure@orkney.gov.uk
5. If you are still unhappy after the further investigation and reply. you can take the matter up
with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Council’s reply will include the contact
details.
6. You should also note that you have the right to raise unresolved concerns with your local
councillor, MSP or MP.
Comments, Suggestions and Complaints Procedure for Orkney
Islands Council