Dear Parents and Students
I hope you and your families are keeping well and that you have had the chance to enjoy the improved weather. Please find below a few pieces of important information relating to: the new timetable; a change to the structure of the school day; National Qualifications; S1 Reports; our S6 farewell (again).
New Timetable Monday June 14th
Today, we issued students with new timetables and there was great excitement about what lies ahead. Although we are changing timetable a bit later this year – due to COVID and consequent changes to National Assessment – we feel it is still important to make the change prior to the summer holidays. This gives everyone a chance to settle into their new timetable and to make any necessary changes, so that we can all make a good start when we return in August.
Due to the rising COVID 19 numbers in Edinburgh, we will continue to operate a two-week timetable. Therefore, the new timetable will start next week with week one on the timetable rotation – that’s period 1, 3 and 5 for double periods. Although we are well used to operating in this way, it does put an extra strain on everyone and we would hope to be able to move back to single periods after the summer.
A growing school – new day structure to accommodate two lunch sittings
The school population is growing rapidly and will reach more than 800 by August 2021. A rise in student numbers is a positive thing for the school and will lead to increased opportunity and choice. It will also mean, however, that we are a bit more crowded, particularly at break and lunch-time. We need to make some changes to the structure of the school day to enable us to have two separate sittings at lunch. I will work with the Parent Council to agree these changes and then communicate them separately.
National Qualifications and Sharing of Grades
First of all, congratulations to all S4, S5 and S6 students for completing assessments and for the way they have approached their studies during this very intense period. Thankfully, their bit is now complete and the next part of our Alternative Certification Model (ACM) is over to staff to mark, moderate and quality assure work, before deciding on Final Provisional Grades.
Results day this year will be Tuesday 10th August. This will be a bit different from normal years as students will already have a very good idea what they are going to get – the grades submitted by schools will only be changed by the SQA if there is an administrative error.
We will share grades with students during the last week of term – the City of Edinburgh Council is developing a mechanism for schools to share grades – more information to follow.
Appeals
On Wednesday 2nd June, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) announced further details about the appeals process for this session.
For more information about appeals please see the link below to the SQA website: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html
The SQA has also produced an information booklet for pupils: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/SQA-Appeals-2021-what-you-need-to-know.pdf
S1 reports
Our S1 students have been fantastic. Despite the very limited transition they received in P7, they have adapted really well to life at Forrester. S1 parents will receive progress reports for all subjects this week, and I would like to congratulate our S1 and thank them for their great work this session.
S6 Farewell
On Friday, we said farewell to our fantastic S6. Throughout their time at school, they have been a credit to themselves, their families and the school. You could not meet a better group of young people and I wish them all the best for the future.
Finally, a reminder that Wednesday 9th June is an in-service day and that next week is week one on our new timetable rota.
Thanks and best wishes.
Stephen Rafferty
Head Teacher