The Kintyre Forum

Can anyone confirm (or not) that some students have not to attend the Grammar school this Tues, Wed and Thurs. I'm not quite sure if my son is pulling my leg or not!

No he's not pulling your leg if he is S1 - S3!

Due to industrial action, all S1 to S3 pupils are to remain at home and not attend school between Tue 5th - Thu 7th Feb.

S4 - S6 are to attend school as normal.

Dalintober school kids got a letter home today to say that the scool was closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Castlehill is open, but will have less staff maybe affecting playground supervision and things like that.

St Kieran's and Drumlemble are closed on Wednesday and Thursday too.

elainemck wrote:No he's not pulling your leg if he is S1 - S3!

Due to industrial action, all S1 to S3 pupils are to remain at home and not attend school between Tue 5th - Thu 7th Feb.

S4 - S6 are to attend school as normal.

Thanks - found out later that he wasn't.

I never know whether to believe them or not!

Last week he told me all the fire escapes and been tied closed to stop children going out in the snow!!

There was, of course, no snow until about 4.00 pm Friday, on which day the school was closed. What did happen was that at the close of school on Thursday staff were positioned to stop pupils exiting by doors on the west side of the building because of the strength of the wind.

WC1 wrote:There was, of course, no snow until about 4.00 pm Friday, on which day the school was closed. What did happen was that at the close of school on Thursday staff were positioned to stop pupils exiting by doors on the west side of the building because of the strength of the wind.

I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering exactly why the grammar school is closing for certain years and not others, or even at all.

Presumably the teachers are still turning up for work so where is the problem?

Scoop wrote:I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering exactly why the grammar school is closing for certain years and not others, or even at all.

Presumably the teachers are still turning up for work so where is the problem?

You could just read the letter from the school.

Malky

Most people from schools who are out on strike are the office staff, pre five workers, classroom assistants, Sen instructors and assistants, cleaners, janitors and drivers.

Most problems will arise from the schools not being cleaned especially toilets, (which is a health and safety issue) no supervision at breaks, lunch time, first aid usually administrated by office staff, no support for pupils with special needs etc, no office staff.


The grammar are doing their best to ensure that pupils undertaking the final stages of exam preparation are least affected by the current situation.

That is the information that I understand from the letters I have.

Thank you Amron. That's much clearer now.

Malky, not everyone has kids in the grammar and so wouldn't necessarily have received a letter home about it.

It boils down to what the law calls the 'duty of care'. Schools do more than teach - they also administer prescribed medicines, respond to immediate pupil needs (pupils not feeling well, special needs pupils needing toileted or showered (for which you need staff with moving and handling certification), others needing first aid, etc.) and respond to routine enquiries from parents. In a normal day in CGS the office staff, ASN and classroom assistants (about 12 people in all) deal with literally dozens of pupils needing that kind of care and numerous calls from parents. In the absence of those members of staff all of that falls on the 4 members of the Senior Management Team, which is a good way short of the dozen normally available, especially since two of them have timetabled classes to teach as well. It was my judgement that the 'duty of care' couldn't be effectively delivered for the whole school but that we could probably cope with a smaller section of it. Since the 4th year and above are in the final stages of important exam preparation, it's crucial to avoid any disruption to them, so we kept them in attendance. It wasn't a decision taken lightly, as I'm sure you'll appreciate. Hope this explanation helps.

WC1 wrote:It boils down to what the law calls the 'duty of care'. Schools do more than teach - they also administer prescribed medicines, respond to immediate pupil needs (pupils not feeling well, special needs pupils needing toileted or showered (for which you need staff with moving and handling certification), others needing first aid, etc.) and respond to routine enquiries from parents. In a normal day in CGS the office staff, ASN and classroom assistants (about 12 people in all) deal with literally dozens of pupils needing that kind of care and numerous calls from parents. In the absence of those members of staff all of that falls on the 4 members of the Senior Management Team, which is a good way short of the dozen normally available, especially since two of them have timetabled classes to teach as well. It was my judgement that the 'duty of care' couldn't be effectively delivered for the whole school but that we could probably cope with a smaller section of it. Since the 4th year and above are in the final stages of important exam preparation, it's crucial to avoid any disruption to them, so we kept them in attendance. It wasn't a decision taken lightly, as I'm sure you'll appreciate. Hope this explanation helps.

Clarifies alot WC1 - cheers.

I hope all the above points were taken on board when the single status review took place with CGS staff and I would assume they are all getting pay rises!