Life @ EA

Thursday 20 February

The cyclical nature of school life is such that most people who are involved in the delivery of education have a favourite time of year. I was recently discussing this with a chemistry teacher from a local maintained sector secondary school and she was saying that this is her least favourite time due to the stressful final couple of months before life changing exams for her oldest classes.  For other Senior School teachers this is their favourite time because they are at the sharp end where everything is done to a strict deadline.
 
Those watching the ‘British’ version of the news will often hear about the build up towards SAT tests in primary schools and the perception that these are a source of stress to pupils sitting them and to teachers who feel that they have to ‘teach towards’ the tests due to their resulting placing on league tables.  The way that Scottish education has developed (both before and since devolution) is very different in that individual schools are trusted to use their own means of tracking as they get to know their children. The first externally set (and nationally recognised) tests undertaken by pupils are not until middle secondary school. Whilst there has been some talk of changing this in recent years, I see it as a major strength that there is quality monitoring of tracking systems and we have to justify these when we have our annual correspondence with ‘Her Majesties’ Inspectorate of Schools.
 
In our case we use a robust system of formative, summative and standardised assessments as we develop the curriculum for our children. This includes using summative assessment data to ‘set’ for Maths from Primary 4.
 
There are two schools of thought with regards to setting!  For some it is a sinister thing as it divides children by ability and can have a detrimental effect on self-esteem. On the other hand (and this is my own thinking), I would argue that the child who is struggling with Maths, and who sees their best friend sitting beside them finding a piece of work really easy, is more likely to have an issue with self-esteem. This is where robust assessment evidence and a fluidity between sets is the key to success.
 
Going back to my initial point; in my case this is my favourite half term of the school year. Partly this is down to the fact that it is getting lighter as I cycle into school each morning but it is also because by Easter I will have seen our involvement in some of my favourite events – the Scottish Prep Schools, Scottish Secondary Schools and Edinburgh Schools Cross Country races; the Scottish Alpine Ski Championships and the Edinburgh Junior Choir of the Year Competition.
 
Internally we will also have a busy time when, as well as the learning in class, we will have the P5/6 Swimming Gala and Cross Country, the P4 Egyptian Museum Day, the Jacobite Show (P5), and we will finish the term with the Spring Concert on Thursday 2 April.
 
I look forward to seeing many members of the Academy family at these events.

Kind regards

Gavin Calder
Headteacher