HT Update: Week-ending Friday 16th May 2025

Friday 16th May 2025

This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update.  Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.  

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 19/05/25;  Monday is an Inset Day for staff, see below,  nevertheless the SQA Exam Diet continues Monday through Friday;  on Tuesday we’ll have our Pod Parents’ Evening;  on Wednesday our Meaningful May programme continues; on Thursday we have a small number of S1 and S3 students involved in a STEM event at Heriot-Watt University,  we have a number of S2 on a trip to Jupiter Artland (the first of 3 trips) and from 4.30pm we’ll begin our online S2 Student Progress and Consultation Evening, see below.   

Staffing:  No news of note.   We have no posts currently live on myjobscotland.  

Inset Day 5: Please note that on Monday, the school is closed to students.  Other than those sitting Spanish Exams.  They should attend!   Our staff, and those from our associated primary schools, will be involved in our Lasswade Learning Festival.  We have over 30 workshops, sharing interesting practice, and two keynote speakers;  Gavin Oattes and Professor Graham Donaldson.  If you are interested in seeing what we are up to, May 2025 Lasswade Learning Festival

Cyber Attacks:  You may be aware of recent cyber attacks that have affected schools in West Lothian and Edinburgh.  These follow from others in businesses and banks.  On Tuesday all Head Teachers had a briefing from colleagues working in the Midlothian Central Team.  This was helpful and confirmed steps that we were taking are correct and also proportionate.  If we are the ‘victim’ of such an attack our aims are,

• to keep the school open and safe for all
• maintain a meaningful learning, teaching and assessment offer

As you’d expect we are reviewing how we prepare, and working with Midlothian Digital Teams, how we mitigate the risk through technical cyber-security measures.  

S2 Student Progress Consultation Evening:  This event takes palace on-line on Thursday 22nd May.  Click here for more details regarding the evening.  

School Leavers, Chromebook Returns:  Students leaving school this summer,  usually a few S4/S5 and all of S6, are expected to return their Chromebooks. It’s a simple process with devices handed into Room 112 or Student Support.  Chromebook Return 2025 summarises it nicely. 

Uniform Fitting Opportunity 29th May 2025:  We are pleased to inform you that staff from BE uniforms will be in the school atrium on Thursday 29th May 2025 from 4.00pm till 6.00pm to provide an opportunity for parents and carers to attend with their young person.  It will give an opportunity to try items on and ensure correct size/fit.  During the session, parents and carers will have the option to place orders directly with the supplier.  Alternatively, you may choose to order online at a later date. Additional details are on our website,  click here. 

SQA:   Reminder. The full LHS SQA timetable is posted on the website, click here.

School Improvement Planning:  Reminder. this term we bring together lots of evidence;  data, peoples views, what we see as staff to see ‘where we are’ as a school against expected standards and also to help inform our work next session.  Our school is performing very well but we are not complacent.  Every two years we seek the views of parents/carers and this is the ‘off-year’ as we gathered your views last March/April.  Nevertheless,  there are three things we do plan to do to gather your thoughts

• A specific survey on Reporting, that will come your way via this Update next Friday
• Our final Parent Council Meeting on Tuesday 27th May;  this will be held in-person and is an opportunity to contribute
• Finally, please use the link at the bottom of this weekly post to offer your feedback;  I’d ask you to think about the school as a whole and in two ways;  things that are our strengths and our ‘even better if’, ie, things that would improve what we do.  For this purpose we’ll take your views throughout May. 

Admissions Policy Consultation: Reminder.  Midlothian Council have asked us to share the following information with all parent/carers.  They want to hear your views on the proposal to vary the Admissions Arrangements to Primary and Secondary Education. The consultation ends on Monday 2nd June 2025.  The proposals are:

• To vary the Admissions Arrangements to Primary and Secondary Education.
• The variation to the School Admission Policy will be implemented from September 2025.

To find out more about the consultation and share your views, click here.   To ask for a paper copy email: EducationConsultation@midlothian.gov.uk These can be posted back to: Admissions Policy Consultation, Freepost SCO 622, Midlothian Council, Dalkeith EH22 1DN.  The consultation can also be supplied in braille, large print, audiotape or in your own language although please note the council’s website offers reading, speech and translation support when you use the browse aloud headphones icon at the bottom right-hand side of the pages.  If you need further help, please contact EducationConsultation@midlothian.gov.uk  All responses must be received by 02 June 2025.

Remaining Public Meetings will take place on:

• Thursday 22 May 2025 at 6:30pm in Easthouses Primary School.

Virtual Drop-in Sessions will take place on:

• Monday 19 May 2025 via Microsoft Teams.
• Tuesday 27 May 2025 via Microsoft Teams.

These virtual sessions will take place throughout the day between 2pm – 4pm and 5pm – 7pm. These will be in 20 minute slots. Please contact EducationConsultation@midlothian.gov.uk to reserve a place at the virtual drop-in. 

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher

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