Oban High School Parent Council Meeting

14th September 2015

OHS library at 6.30pm

Present

Vivienne MacArthur, Linda MacGregor, Peter Bain, Nan Johnstone, Iain Fulton, Helen Hennessy, Nicky Campbell, Gordon MacNab, Murray Hamilton, Mrs Dott, Francesca Bischard, Jamie Houston, Stephen Povey, Emma Thomson.

Minutes – Jamie Houston

1. Apologies

Mairi Malloy, Caroline MacArthur

2. Minutes of last meeting approved by Helen Hennessy

3. Matters arising

Minibus delivered over the summer. Letters of thanks to business/ charities are outstanding. This needs to clarified with Joan Reynolds and Colin Johnston. ACTION: Nicky to check

4. Digital Library

Mrs Dott presented paper on proposal for funding for £1750 for a digital library. This has already been circulated with agenda. Books will be able to be accessed via a variety of devices including tablets and Kindle. Suggested that digital books may have greater accessibility for boys in particular. General support for the proposal, and all parents present agreed to fund for 12 months. Helen will issue Mrs Dott with a cheque. Ongoing funding would be based on demonstration of evidence of use of the new service. ACTION: Helen to issue cheque £1750

5. OHS website

Presentation by Mr Fulton who has led the development - new site to go live this week. Home page will show the current most relevant information, such as Specialist School information, Show my Homework and New School information. Other tabs include school news (e.g. Pipe Band’s recent 2nd Place at the World Championships), school calendar, curriculum and enhancement activities (trips and clubs). Show my Homework can also link to a Smartphone app on iOS and Android. Overall agreement that the new site look very impressive.

ACTION: Parent Council updates for website can be sent to Christine Cameron.

6. New School Update

Major amendment to project is that the 2nd artificial pitch will not be built. Council will be required to put in a replacement green pitch, possibly at Mossfield. Facilities within school including sports facilities and classroom sizes currently under debate. Major works due to start around end of year, but delay in planning permission as car park is in range of blast zone for gas works.

7. SQA Results

Mr Bain reported that 94% of pupils leaving school have achieved a positive destination. Outcomes for those from the most and least affluent backgrounds were generally good, but for those from in the middle - SIMD (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) 4 and 5, there are ongoing concerns about the effect of employment outwith school hours. Overall rates of Literacy are good, and there has been a general improvement in Numeracy. 30.9% of pupils achieved 5+ SCQF National 5s (down from 31.6% in 2014). In terms of “Added Value”, the 2014 pupils who achieved 31.6% 5+ National 5s in 2014, have this year achieved 33.2% 3+ Highers, which is an excellent achievement. Overall OHS continues to perform well in relation to national comparator schools.

8. School Improvement Plan

Alison MacDonald not present at meeting – deferred to next meeting

9. Reports

a)Head Boy / Girl: Attended Outward Bound Course with Senior Pupil Leadership Team with action plans for all on return; Stall at OHS Games selling raffle tickets went well; Emergency Relief Group seeking donations for Refugees in Calais and Greece; Meeting with Chair of Community Playpark at Atlantis re: Opening Day; Led visit to OHS of First Minister, Keith Brown and Annabelle Ewing.

b)Hostel Report: 12 new S1s settling into hostel. Trips to Braehead and Disney on Ice planned. 50 YP currently resident in the hostel, with this number expected to rise significantly over the next 7 years.

c)Treasurer’s Report: Current balance of £4495.85, with two outstanding cheques. Accounts have been submitted to Accountant. Raffle raised £1977,once expenses taken into account, which is a very good effort. The monies raised from the Weather Lottery have increased slightly. Still capacity for EasyFundraising site to be better promoted to raise money for the Parent Council e.g. via school website / Facebook site.

10. Subgroups

a)Fundraising: Essential to the work of the Parent Council. Need as many parents as possible to be involved (including parents from outside of the Parent Council). The raffle could become an annual event - help from the Upper School was key to the success, selling over £1000 of tickets at Tesco. S1 parents night 30th Sept - new parents could be targeted ahead of AGM esp. in regard to fundraising.

b)Teachers Staffing: Nicky has not received any positive assurances from Ann Marie Knowles Head of Education in regard to future staffing. It is important to continue to be proactive as staffing will be an issue in future years.

c)Champions Group (New School): Group to disband as new school developments have moved to next stage.

d)Supporting Parents: Issues include sexting, drugs and show my homework. Mr Champion and Mr Fulton have been unable to run the proposed demonstration lessons so far due to their own commitments. Mr Bain will ask Mrs Lawson about being involved with this group.

e)Health and Wellbeing group: will be subsumed by Supporting Parents group.

f)Curricular architecture group: disband at present, though may need to resume depending on teacher numbers.

11. Date of next meetings

AGM: Monday 23rd November 2015 at 6.30pm.

Fundraising Subgroup: 2nd Nov 6:30pm

Supporting Parents Sub: To be confirmed depending on Mrs Lawson’s availability

Teacher Staffing Sub: To be confirmed