Minute
CARNOUSTIE HIGH SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
JANUARY 2014 MEETING
Minute of the Meeting held at 1900 hours on Wednesday 30 January 2014, in the Conference Room,
Carnoustie High School.
Present
Mr Alistair Crozier, Parent Member, Chair
Mr Mike Butchart, Parent Member
Mrs Anne Clark, Parent Member
Mrs Gwen Farquharson, Parent Member
Mrs Shona Geekie, Parent Member
Mrs Gail McBride, Parent Member
Mrs Amanda Robertson, Parent Member
Apologies
Mr Fraser Booth, Head Teacher, Adviser to Parent Council
Ms Jackie Goodwin, Parent Member
Mr Kenny Lee, Parent Member, Vice Chair
Mrs Fiona Morgan, Parent Member, Treasurer
In Attendance
Miss Kimberlee Blair, Depute Head Teacher
Mr Malcolm Finlayson, Secretary
Mr Alistair Crozier in the Chair
ACTION
001/14 MINUTE OF MEETING HELD ON 13 NOVEMBER 2013
The Minute of the Meeting held on 13 November 2013 was read and approved.
002/14 ACTION POINTS UPDATE
Noted.
003/14 MATTERS ARISING
a) Parent Council Training Event
Mrs S Geekie reported upon attending the SPTC training event held in December
which was attended by between 20 to 25 individuals, most of whom were new
members of Parent Councils.
She found it to be interesting, interactive, and well displayed. However, she was of
the opinion that she did not learn as much as she expected as the event appeared
to be targeted at primary school parent councils with an emphasis on fund raising,
and liability. She intended to attend the next session to be held in February.
b) School Uniform letter of support
Mrs G Farquharson advised that she would compose the draft letter within the
following few days which would be sent to members for comment, in the first
instance.
GF
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c) Representation on School Improvement Plan Review Group
Mr A Crozier and Mrs A Robertson advised of willingness to attend meetings
dependent on adequate notice being given and their availability.
The next meeting was arranged to be held on 20 February at which Mr A Crozier
intended to be present.
AC
d) Bank account transfer
It was understood that the bank balance had been transferred to the school and,
consequently, further discussion would be held at the next meeting.
MF
004/14 CARNOUSTIE ACHIEVERS
Discussion was deferred to the next meeting in light of Mr K Lee being unable to attend
the meeting.
MF
005/14 PROVISION OF SCOTTISH BACCALAUREATE/QUERIES REGARDING
BACCARATS, NUMBERS OF PUPILS LIKELY TO SIT HIGHERS IN FOURTH YEAR
a) Scottish Baccalaureate/Queries regarding baccarats
A Paper from Mr F Booth was tabled explaining the current arrangements.
Baccalaureates were offered to pupils in Sciences and Languages this year and
these and others would continue to be offered to pupils.
Discussion was held on whether the baccalaureate was considered to be of
advantage taking cognisance of the extra work involved. There had been interest,
but pupils for various reasons chose not to continue. The specific criteria set out for
taking the Baccalaureates limited the numbers of candidates eligible to choose
these subjects.
In response to a query from Mrs S Geekie, Miss K Blair would enquire at a
forthcoming SQA meeting as to whether universities would be in favour in the
future.
KB
b) Number of pupils likely to sit Higher in fourth year
Mr A Crozier understood that the opportunity to sit a Higher in fourth year at CHS
would be considered on an individual merit basis in consultation with Mr F Booth.
Miss K Blair advised that universities have begun to amend their admission
requirements but parents should consult with PCS staff and universities on
individual course requirements to see if there would be any potential issues
regarding one sitting.
006/14 PLANNING OF GENERAL SUBJECT TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN CLASS
Mr A Crozier had received comment from parents who found discussion on the holocaust
to be disturbing, and who had suggested that subject matter should avoid such content.
This view was not supported by the Parent Council members, who, in quoting examples,
saw merit in pupils gaining appreciation of the unsavoury aspects of human existence.
007/14 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Receipt of the latest SPTC newsletter was noted, along with an offer to subscribe to the
“Fundraising for Schools” publication, and a PTA fundraising brochure.
Miss K Blair would feed back comment that the issuing of weekly notification of parent
council blogs appeared to have ceased.
KB
A letter had been received from Dr P Stephen, Head of School and Learning, Angus
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Council, requesting to meet with Parent Council Chairs in February, and seeking agenda
items from Parent Councils to facilitate discussion.
Mrs G Farquharson suggested study leave as a topic. Miss K Blair would refer to Mr F
Booth in this respect.
In response to a query raised by Mrs A Clark, Miss K Blair would enquire over the
introduction of wi-fi facilities in the school.
KB
KB
008/14 STUDY TIME FOR FOURTH YEAR
Mr M Butchart enquired of when the syllabuses were likely to end, to which Miss K Blair
advised of varying arrangements among subjects, quoting her own department, religious
Education, as concluding in late February, but that study support and revision classes
were available throughout the year. However, all NABs were to be completed by the end
of March, with examinations commencing on 29 April.
Mr M Butchart considered that the determination of study leave should be delegated to
schools, an issue which Mr A Crozier would ask to be included in the agenda for the
meeting with Dr P Stephen.
Miss K Blair would enquire of Mr F Booth as to whether he had received an official steer in
this respect, and to e-mail the members accordingly.
It had been the practice to issue a letter to parents regarding study leave and examination
arrangements.
It was noteworthy that, in the previous session, the school had introduced the timetable
earlier than usual, i.e. in mid May, which proved to be advantageous in affording pupils
extended teaching time for exams to be taken the following year.
Mrs G Farquharson wished to record her appreciation to Mr F Booth for the S4 Parents
Meeting which had been well attended and very positive and informative.
AC
KB
009/14 HEAD TEACHER REPORT
Miss K Blair tabled, and summarised, the Head Teacher Report from Mr F Booth.
Of note was the nationwide dearth of supply staff, the continuing implementation and
development of the curriculum, the rising incidence of parents requesting e-mail
communication, and the intention to hold a meeting of the School Improvement Planning
Review Group on 20 February.
The School Improvement Plan would be included in the next agenda.
Support from the members of the School Uniform policy was requested.
The members welcomed the introduction of the Carnoustie Chronicle for which Mr M
Finlayson would compose a summary of the Parent Council remit and recent activities and
discussion.
MF
MF
010/14 BICYCLE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
The members raised concern over certain pupils cycling against the traffic flow, and
without adequate lights.
Miss K Blair would raise these issues with the teacher who liaised with the community
police officer.
KB
011/14 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting would be held in the Conference Room, Carnoustie High School, on
Tuesday 25 March 2014 at 1900 hours.
Malcolm J B Finlayson
CHSPC
6 February 2014
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