Category: Uncategorized

Oh dear, if a post has been tagged with this category, then it means we’ve been asleep on the job. Email us to let us know, using the email address contact@breadalbaneparents.com

Proposed changes to how the parent council works

At the next meeting we’re going to propose some changes to the parent council constitution and that the parent council adopt an operating manual. You can see the draft forms of the amended constitution here and the operating manual here.

In brief, the main proposed changes to the constitution are:

  • it explicitly allows the chair role to be divided up in a number of different ways
  • we’ve clarified some of the roles and duties of the chair and other office holders
  • there’s a section on how to deal with conflicts of interest, real and perceived.

We hope that by introducing a bit of extra clarity and flexibility, we can help smooth the process of finding new members and make the chair’s role, which can seem daunting, more attractive to a wider range of people.

The operating manual contains sections on:

  1. What the parent council is (and isn’t) for.
  2. How the parent council carries out its role.
  3. The office holders and their roles.
  4. The communications channels (email, social media etc) and how to manage them.
  5. How the parent council should communicate with the school.
  6. Joint parent-council and school working groups: what they’re for and how they operate.
  7. Handling parent requests and questions.
  8. Conflicts of interest and how to deal with them.
  9. What to do about complaints.

As you can see, the operating manual expands on what’s in the constitution. It’s meant to give us some rules and guidelines, to help us to do our job well. But because it’s not the constitution, it’s easier to amend, if that’s necessary.

Both documents are intended as starting points for discussion. The plan is that we’ll debate them at the meeting on Wednesday 26 October. If the meeting wants any changes, we’ll make these. Hopefully we’ll then adopt both documents.

If you have questions or suggestions about either document, or both, please drop us a line at chair@breadalbaneparents.com. We’d very much like to hear your thoughts.

February 2022 agenda

Breadalbane Academy Parent Council Meeting

Wednesday 23 February

6.30pm – 8.30pm

Agenda

The meeting will take place online, using the Zoom platform. Please enter the URL below into your browser:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86472165702

You will not require a password.

  1. Welcome, introductions & apologies
  2. Matters arising from the January meeting
  3. Approve the minutes of the January meeting
  4. Treasurer’s update on fund allocation
  5. Update from the ASN sub-group
  6. Fundraising and Friends of Breadalbane update
  7. P7 Comrie Croft Trip: request for funding
  8. Support for proposed new sports facility on Aberfeldy Golf Course
  9. Update on road-safety concerns at the campus. Progress
  10. Update on school broadband and connectivity
  11. Bullying
  12. How to increase engagement in sports and activities
  13. AOB
  14. Time & date of next meeting

Parent Council goals for 2022

The following are proposed goals for Breadalbane Academy Parent Council (BAPC) in the 2021-22 academic year.

  1. Work with the school, parents and pupils to identify any attainment gaps which have opened up, or widened, as a result of lockdown and then support the school and pupils to close those gaps.
  2. Work with the school, parents, pupils and local road-safety activists to identify any scope for improvement in road safety at the campus; to identify any extra resources the school could use to improve road safety; and help the school acquire these resources.
  3. Work with the school, PKC and the Highland Perthshire Learning Partnership (HPLP) to identify and eliminate any bottlenecks in school network performance.
  4. Work with the school; pupils and parents to identify unmet needs, for instance pastoral and support needs, arising from lockdown and then to address these needs.
    • To include renewed liaison and listening exercises with sub-groups and affiliated groups such as the ASN Parents Group and Comann nam Pàrant.
    • Work with the mental health and wellbeing group to understand the extent of problems such as bullying, what the school is doing now (policies, practices etc) and if there are other things it and we should be doing?
  5. Identify areas in which the parent council can productively spend its available funds to support pupil experience, attainment, and personal development.
  6. Work with the school, parents and pupils to identify groups of pupils, for instance pupils with additional support needs, who may not be fully included in the life of the school, to ascertain the extent and causes of exclusion, and then to develop policies and practices to increase inclusion.
  7. Revive the parent council’s fundraising arm, to replace funds as we spend them.
    • Ensure that our fundraising volunteers, including the Friends of Breadalbane, have the skills, qualifications and support they need to succeed.
  8. Build links to Pitlochry High School and other associated schools, to help improve transition and pupil experience.
PLEASE NOTE: this is a draft document — created on 7 January 2022 — designed to stimulate discussion. If you think there’s something we have missed, please email us at hello@breadalbaneparents.com.

Final agenda for January 26, 2022

This is the agenda for the parent council meeting that will take place at 6:30pm, 26 January, 2022. If there’s something you think should be on the agenda but isn’t, write to hello@breadalbaneparents.com and let us know.

Breadalbane Academy Parent Council Meeting

Wednesday 26 January

6.30pm – 8.30pm

Agenda

The meeting will take place on Zoom. Click here for the meeting link.

You will not require a password.

  1. Welcome, introductions & apologies
  2. Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) items:
    • Approve the minutes of the 2020 AGM
    • Treasurer’s report
    • Parent Council 2022 goals
    • Parent Council code of conduct
    • Parent Council communications
  3. Matters arising from the December 2021 meeting
    • Misuse of the fire alarm and its impact on pupil learning and safety
    • Update on the Health and Wellbeing Survey
    • Update on parental concerns about teens buying alcohol in the town.
    • Proposed joint meeting with Pitlochry High School Parent Council
  4. Approve the minutes of the December 2021 meeting
  5. Headteacher’s report
  6. Update on the Pitlochry bus issue
  7. Continued use of face masks in Breadalbane
  8. Update on road-safety concerns at the campus. What next?
    • Results of an FOI about school crossings in PKC
  9. Update on school broadband and connectivity
  10. Update on the playground project
  11. AOB
  12. Time & date of next meeting

Thank you

As we near the end of 2020/21 academic year the Parent Council would like to say a huge “THANK YOU
Those teachers and educators who put our children first and themselves second
The staff Breadalbane Academy who were never too tired to answer the millions of questions while the covid rules changed and then changed again
The children and young people who took these monumental times in their confident and caring strides
The people who leaned in to support when they could have locked down and disappeared
The community that pulled together and rose strongly as one
The parents and carers who took a breath even when breathing space felt hard to find
To the Leavers we wish you luck, health and safe travels where ever your next chapter may be
This academic year has been one of highs and lows and what has been ever so obvious is that Breadalbane Academy, the school community and the community that surrounds us is filled with the most exceptional people
“THANK YOU”
Wishing you a wonderful summer, filled with freedom and adventure, laughter and hugs.. And look forward to a welcoming in a fabulous 21/22 with new and old faces.
Breadalbane Academy Parent Council
chairperson@breadalbaneparents.com