Higher and Advanced Higher Prelims
As previously shared in a letter to parents/carers last week, our planned diet of prelims for Higher/Advanced Higher will take place from Wednesday 2nd until Thursday 10th December 2020. Full details available in letter issued 12 November 2020.
It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable first week for me at Meadowpark. I’ve been completely bowled over by the very warm welcome from the young people and staff team, and I’m very grateful to them all for the help they’ve given me this week in “finding my feet”. I’m particularly grateful to be reconnecting with one young person from my recent past who has helped me feel right at home.
I’m looking forward to a time when I can welcome our Meadowpark parents and carers into school in person but it is looking like that is going to be a little way off in the strange future that we are facing. Instead, I’ll look at how we can do something soon via those lovely virtual meeting platforms that we have all grown to love…..
Under Ms Prime’s leadership, Meadowpark has grown into a caring and stimulating provision, and I’m thrilled to be in a position to continue her hard work. I’m picking up the reins of some very exciting and creative community partnership projects including the extremely worthwhile community kitchen growing project, the new sensory garden, and the amazing 12guitars project. I’m a better drummer than guitarist, a better guitarist than gardener and a better gardener than cook so I’m sure I’ll be learning a lot of new skills by being involved in all of these projects. Needless to say, the Meadowpark young people will be much better than me at everything!
I know that Ms Prime was a Twitter wiz, but I am afraid I am definitely not. I am, however, booked in for a Twitter lesson by my Twitter wiz wife so I’m hoping that you will continue see lots of exciting news from @MeadowparkCP as soon as I master #hashbrowns (or something like that).
Best wishes for a safe and happy weekend,
Mr Johnson
On 7 October 2020 the Deputy First Minister (DFM), John Swinney, announced that there would be no external exams for National 5 candidates in 2021. He also announced that there will be exams for Higher/Advanced Higher pupils in May/June 2021. The DFM also stated that the intention to hold exams for Higher/Advanced Higher pupils would be reviewed again in February, in line with the evolving picture of Covid-19, and to plan contingencies should they be deemed no longer able to proceed based on public health advice. Full details available in letter issued 6 November 2020 from our Head Teacher.
Thanks to those of you who managed to join us for our first virtual parents’ evening last night. I think it was a learning experience for us all, and anecdotal feedback so far has been positive.
Could you please spend a few minutes giving us some formal feedback about how the parents’ evening worked for you, and how we might better improve the experience in future. We are also seeking the views from teachers and from the young people themselves.
Knox Academy will use this information to plan for further parental engagement throughout the Covid19 recovery, but we will also share key points with the other secondary schools in the authority who have not yet had parents’ evenings yet to help them plan for similar sessions.
Thanks again,
Mrs A Clubb
I hope this letter is helpful in summarising some of the key points in relation to the updated guidance we have received. By following the guidance as well as national public health advice, we can all play our part in tackling COVID-19. This virus will continue to be present challenges for some time to come, but together we will get through this difficult period.
Read the full letter from Lesley Brown, Head of Education and Children's Services
Knox Academy is pleased to invite applications for the following vacancy:
Closing Date: Sunday 8 November 2020
All current and previous vacancies can be viewed within our Recruitment section of our website.
I leave today after five years leading Meadowpark as Depute Head Teacher. Meadowpark has not only grown in pupil numbers during my tenure, from three to twenty eight, but with involvement from a wide range of professionals and community teams, Meadowpark has increased its range of facilities. These include Art Therapy and a wide range of outdoor activities e.g. creation of a sensory garden, Loose Parts Play, cycling and kayaking, life skills programmes, work experience and volunteering. We have continuously investigated all ways to enhance curriculum links so that more young people attend a variety of subject classes at Knox Academy...read here 30.10.2002
The East Lothian Council Facilities Team will deliver free school meals to the homes of pupils who are isolating to make sure they are still received.
Please phone the school (01620 823387) or email our school office if this applies to you.
Parents/carers with a child who is isolating should not visit the school building.
East Lothian Council are seeking feedback for the following draft policies:
These are the authority’s new inclusion policy and refreshed anti-bullying policy respectively. The inclusion policy has also absorbed the Accessibility Strategy to form one coherent document with an accompanying action plan.
Copies of the draft policies and subsequent survey will be live on the Consultation Hub from Thursday 29 October 2020 until Thursday 12 November 2020 and participation is encouraged in the process for children/young people, parents/carers and partner agencies to ensure they have their say.
I am proud to echo the words of Lesley Brown, Head of Education and Sue Cook, Head Teacher at Knox Academy in recognising the huge effort made by young people, families and staff to ensure that Meadowpark pupils are safe, achieving, respectful and active. While there is no denying that everyone is exhausted, staff and pupils manage to garner themselves each day to show that by cooperating, communicating and consolidating collective efforts, we have very good attendance overall and pupils are making progress. Read more here ...16.10.2020
