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Last week PKC met (virtually) with the chairs of parents councils. The focus was the return to school.

HERE is the presentation that was given by two brilliant doctors from the Public Health body.. Full of guidance and official statistic that has contributed to the processes and set up of schools around Scotland.

PLEASE do read.. full of very useful information… 

click on the link

2020129 Covid-19 ECS Recovery Plan Reflex CLIENT

OR cut and paste url below

http://www.breadalbaneparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020129-Covid-19-ECS-Recovery-Plan-Reflex-CLIENT.pdf 

happy to hear from you

chairperson@breadalbaneparents.com

Hello, Please find here the first steering group meeting notes from the meeting in Perth on 23rd October (notes are prepared by the council)

Minute – HPLP Steering Group 1 (23 Oct 2019)

• Please pay particular attention to what is stated in section 4 and 5 and as ever we are happy to answer your questions.
• email us at chairperson@breadalbaneparents.com

Lyndsey and Eleanor (co-chairs) have 2 Learning sub committee meetings -(13th and 18th of November)- before we report back (to all attendees of the steering group) for the first time on the 25th of November in Perth.

BA head teacher and a depute will attend both the Learning sub committee (focused on education) meetings and the Property Sub committee (focused on the use of PHS property)

With BAPC only attending the Learning sub committee

The following dates & times were agreed for the next 2 meetings of the Steering Group:

• 25th November 2019 – 1pm – 3pm – at Pitlochry High School
• 17th December 2019 – 1pm – 3pm – at Breadalbane Academy

BAPC continue to ask for support for our campaign, we are now involved in the committee meetings but remain concerned over the flawed process that we find ourselves involved in.

https://www.change.org/p/save-our-subjects-tell-perth-kinross-council-pkc-to-halt-plans-which-threaten-breadalbane-academy-curriculum 

NEXT PARENT COUNCIL MEETING

6.30pm Wednesday 20th of NOVEMBER at Breadalbane Academy 

Councillor John Duff has confirmed (in todays Courier)

“The steering group will consider if there is a way in which some S5/S6 pupils could take some lessons on some occasions from Pitlochry High School, provided this is not detrimental to education at Breadalbane.

“This may or may not be a possibility.”

BAPC have requested written confirmation of this interpretation of the amendment by the two local councillors who proposed the amendment , Councillor Xander McDade and Councillor Mike Williamson.

Parents at Perthshire school urge council to save subjects as more than 200 attend meeting

Breadalbane Academy Parent Council (BAPC) is pleased to hear that Pitlochry High School is no longer threatened with closure. We congratulate Pitlochry Parent Council for its successful campaign.

Nevertheless, our concerns about the process which led us to this point remain. The council still has not properly engaged with Breadalbane Academy parents, despite the fact that all options under review will have a material impact on the school’s statutory status and its ability to provide a high standard of education for all pupils in Highland Perthshire. This is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs which runs contrary to national and council policy.

However, BAPC is happy to see that the proposed review of senior-phase provision will have as its basis the assumption that its outcome must not have a detrimental impact on either Pitlochry High School or Breadalbane Academy (§ 2.35).

This must effectively rule out any changes to Breadalbane Academy’s:
catchment area
pupil mix and associated enrollment policies
school curriculum, staffing entitlement
school transport arrangements or budgets
We have asked Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) to confirm that this is the case.

Since BAPC became aware of the potential impact of the PKC Estates Review on our school, our message to all officials and councillors has been simply to ask what is best for all Highland Perthshire children. We’re very happy that PKC has listened to our message and is now committed to extensive community consultation across Highland Perthshire.

We’re also extremely happy to see the terms of reference that PKC has set for the review. We welcome the opportunity for the “enhancement” of our current offering the review seems to envision. Anything that helps Breadalbane Academy’s skilled and talented education staff offer an even broader and more diverse curriculum, on site and at the school, is good and positive.

We have requested that PKC and all councillors note that any loss of pupils would leave an already expensive and only partially occupied PPP-building even more under capacity. Year on year, BA continues to improve and we welcome support from PKC and our local councilors in finding even more ways to use the great facilities and talent already available at Breadalbane Academy.

Once again we congratulate Pitlochry Parent Council on an excellent campaign to stop the closure of their school. And we welcome PKC’s acknowledgement that what is best for ALL Highland Perthshire children is for funding to be spent on enhancing the already excellent senior phase.

Presentation from BA Parent Council Evening.   (CLICK HERE)

This is the presentation that the Parent Council Sub committee presented to parents on Thursday 31st Jan at school.

Please do email chairperson@breadalbaneparents.com for questions or/and to be added to our mailing list..

Key points

According to the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010, Perth Kinross Council (PKC) SHOULD have consulted Breadalbane Academy school community…. they did NOT

4 of the 5 options that PKC presented Pitlochry High School on the 1st of October 2018 impact Breadalbane Academy (and ALL schools in Highland Perthshire)

The potential negative impact upon Breadalbane Academy 

What are WE saying?? 

“Its about the education for ALL Highland Perthshire children!!”

“what are the educational benefits for Pitlochry High School , BA and ALL Highland Perthshire Children… in ALL the options? SHOW US”

“PKC must give us ,BA school and wider community including ALL feeder schools and their communities, a FULL consultation“

“the option to extend PHS has cross party backing”

“PKC have a flawed process”

“why didn’t PKC consult us? 2 years since PKC commenced the Estates Review!”

“Breadalbane Academy offer a broad curriculum (see slide of all options currently available)… we don’t want to reduce our curriculum (and the choices available) to “core”!!)

??????WHAT are the OFFICIALS saying??????

.. apparently there is disparity between what was said by the councillors (and heard by all those who attended) and what the councillors actually really meant to say…..so we invite ALL councillors to comment on what they said , or didn’t say.. in the meeting..

PKC – “we did not need to consult BA Parent Council and the school community “

Independent Councillor .. I had to get up early to travel to school and did longer hours than my parents…. BA PC “how can a wide curriculum be offered to both PHS and BA pupils”…. “pupils could travel between schools for certain subjects”…. BA PC “so pupils still have to travel! perhaps adding to the regularity of travel.. more pupils travelling???? ” …… “have tried to stop the estates review process” …

Conservative Councillor was asked “will you now confirm that you will support Breadalbane Academy and protect us from losing subjects”… he sat down.. no answer… (he has been previously asked to stop the process and said he couldn’t)… BA PC know he can..

SNP Councillor/ Leading his group in the Life Long Learning Committee** – “it is political” and both PHS and BA could “maintain a core curriculum” , “great presentation” but PHS extension “would not damage Breadalbane Academy”!!!!  based on “anecdotal evidence” ****

*****(definition of “anecdotal evidence” taken from Collins Dictionary  “Anecdotal evidence is based on individual accounts, rather than on reliable research or statistics, and so may not be valid.”

** “The Lifelong Learning Committee comprises elected members of Perth & Kinross Council….” , including (conservative) John Duff and (independent) Xander McDade.. who PKC will present their chosen ONE option to in May and the Life Long Learning Committee will vote on the ONE option…

John Swinney (The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills) I “support your (BA PC) efforts and request that PKC consults with parents of BA”… “endorse your (BA PC) request that the process be paused while your views are sought”

SNP councillor “I have felt the whole consultation process around the school estate review has been disfuntional. Indeed the whole of Highland Perthshire should have been consulted about how education is delivered locally.“