Queen Margaret Academy
Dalmellington Road, Ayr, KA7 3TL
http://www.queenmargaret.sayr.sch.uk/index.html
Tel: 01292 612020
Minutes
Parent Council Meeting 2 March 2017
Date of Meeting:Venue: / Thursday 2 March 2017
Conference Room 7pm
Attendance: / Anne Munro, Tony Flynn, Angela Brown, Colin Rutter, John McHugh, Catriona Pentleton, Anna Morrison, Donna McKay, Yvonne Rooney
Apologies: / Jenny Inglis, Louise Gibson, Celeste Teenan
Minutes of Previous Meeting
The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2017 were taken as read and agreed to be a true and accurate record of proceedings.
Action
Headteacher’s Report
New Build Plans
· £24 million Plans were distributed and discussed
· In discussion with architects of layouts of the rooms
· Planning permission is now being sought.
· Pitches will be floodlight but will have to be out by 10pm (Rugby full size and football/hockey three quarter size pitch – 2 pitches)
· Staff want a staffroom instead of staff basis, this is unlikely to be granted
· Admin want their space refigured closer to medical room for supervision purposes
· Work shop area in lower ground floor, is designated as a work shop where Ayr College will do classes for South Ayrshire and set up like a car maintenance area. Provision will come from the College.
· Looking at funding for bikes to store them on site or buy bikes to refurbish.
· Parents suggest Senior pupils to get basic lessons on car maintenance ie check your oil etc
· CCTV security should be available particularly the areas open to the public at night.
· Easter 2017 - preparatory work to carry out survey asbestos
· Re-locate coach park and remove railings and move staff car park to football park over the summer
· Remove dance studio and heras fence to secure the site in September
Following Inspection
Vision Values and Aims discussed and input provided
6 values and aims next to it
Ambition – create your future
Faith – lead and believe
Respect – another perspective
Responsibility – proud to contribute
Equity – consider all
Community – make our way
Pupils wanted stronger aims
Very close to the final draft
Parents views welcome – 2 more meetings before finalising
Parents Suggest
An ambitious community of faith and learning where our young people are inspired, motivated and successful.
Curriculum
Create more Pathways looking at putting in bids for Princess Trust, one of the ideas of a nail bar within school get a Level 5 qualification and link up with a local business, Nat 5 in Retail qualification (Parents suggest a parent who owns Elements of Life)
Bike workshops repairs and servicing
Parents suggest contacts at:
Carrick Cycles
BMW Fairbairn – Ayr roads club - bikes classes
An afternoon a week – staffing –who has the skill to do the bikes
3 new courses – Travel and Tourism (Nat 5) , Sports and Recreation (Nat 5), Retail (Nat 5)
Equity Fund
14 March 2017 £60,000 – per year for next 4 years
Working group coming up with ideas to improve attainment, attendance and literacy particularly in decile 1 and 2
Parent Council suggest targeting:
· Mental Health – Councillor
· More access to school nurse
· Drop in for parents (1 hour per week)
School ideas:
· Independent Travel for SLC pupils
· PT of Raising Attainment – Temp Post
· PSE period for Health and Wellbeing
· Breakfast Club offered to pupils attending football training before school
Staffing
New Maths appointments now started Gillian Thomson and Gillian Pringle
Acting PT Maths – Julie Leishman
Computing – Andrew Gibson (temp)
Acting PT Modern Languages – Isabelle Rabeyrin
Acting PT Guidance – Ailish Fergusson
2 acting DHTs Susan Doyle and Karolyn Phillips
2 staff on maternity
Senior Phase Options
Option Forms are being sent home tomorrow for pupils to discuss with parents and make informed choice
Tracking
Prelims results exercise traffic light pupils who require more support
Setting up tutor groups for pupils who are below par
2 hours on a Sat morning in Maths and Computing
Supported study on after school at the moment
Low uptake on supported study
Could travel arrangements be a deterrent? Would hiring a bus encourage pupils to take supported study
S1 Blazers
Parent Council agree to subsidise for 2017/18
Fundraising
Race night great success, Colin will give details of money raised at next meeting
AOCB
S6 common room- pupils want a social space to be responsible for and treated like adults
Library – S6 supervised and encouraged to make use of their time
Hoodies – pupils would like to wear them before the last day
Football kits – parent council agreed to match fund for new kits
D of E kit - £800 to buy stoves and tents – parent council agree to contribute £400 for new equipment
Build a Robot – does the department need funds for this
S2 parents would like to have an hour allocated after school on a Thursday/Friday specifically for Maths appointments
Date of next meeting: Tuesday 25 April 2017