Parent Council

The strength of Uddingston Grammar School lies not only within our walls but also in our strong connections with parents and the wider community. We believe that collaboration is key to nurturing our values of COMPASSION, AMBITION, RESPECT, EQUITY, and SUCCESS. Our engagement with families and the community is a vital part of our mission, creating a shared understanding and commitment to these values. Here, we highlight how we involve and collaborate with our wider community to enrich our students’ educational journey and embed our core values in every aspect of school life.

Session 2024-25

Schedule of meetings 

28th August

23rd October

13th November

17th December - to be rescheduled

12th March (online)

21st May

 

 

13th November 2024 / hybrid meeting

Agenda

1/ Welcome (E Stewart) 

2/ Items from HT report (J McKay) 

3/ PC strategic items: 

• Mobile Phone policy update
• PC remit (draft for discussion)
• Participatory Budgeting – final conclusions
• Google classrooms

4/ AOB

 

HT report

We discussed;

1/ staffing updates

2/ Christmas Fair

3/ Parent Council website - agreed to leave the banner heading on our website

4/ School trip funding

5/ Parent Council mailshot - a flyer will be created for distribution

 

PC strategic items

We discussed

• Mobile Phone policy update - questionnaire to be issued to staff to update the current guidance
• PC remit - the PC will meet 'offline' instead of the next scheduled meeting to confirm the remit and then agree a date for a live, online presentation to all stakeholders
• PB final conclusions - this will be held over
• Google classrooms - members asked to examine good practice for sharing

AOB

We will agree a revised meeting date as we will hold off on December.

23^rd October 2024

Agenda

1/ Welcome and new members

2/ Items from the HT report

3/ PC strategic items

• Uniform update
• Mobile phone policy update
• PC draft remit
• Participatory Budgeting

4/ AOB

• Google classrooms
• English N5 folio

 

Meeting discussions

HT report

We discussed

 

• the PC Survey about increasing membership – we will revisit the dates and format of the PC meetings to have a hybrid ie in-person/online approach with the agenda being circulated to the Parent/Carers in advance with associated ‘online links’ should they wish to ‘drop-in’. we will agree the revised dates at the next meeting
• SQA Appeals – the number successful against the number presented – this has been falling Nationally over the last few years as SQA have changed their processes
• the format of the upcoming (revised date) S4/5/6 digital information and support session
• the SLC Newton Farm/Cambuslang bus consultation – buses are being retained
• staffing changes and necessary backfill

PC strategic items

Due to a few apologies, we did not discuss the mobile phone policy updates or the PC remit draft.

We discussed

• uniform update and agreed that plain shorts be added – this will be updated on the website
• participatory budgeting – particularly around the additional support funding for identified young people on school trips – the PC will consider this for the next meeting

AOB

We discussed

• Google classrooms – these follow a standardised format – staff will be asked to put on assessment dates as appropriate
• N5 English folio – the Dept has issued a letter following updated guidance from the SQA around use of Ai in Folio pieces – this letter will be put on the S4/5/6 Base classrooms
• One Drive – we have set up a One Drive for PC members with relevant materials which they can access and upload to make communications and sharing between members more straightforward

 

 

 

28th August Agenda

 

Welcome back 6pm

 

 

1/ SQA exam overview (results were excellent) and pupil roll 

 

2/ the SLC bus consultation outcome (NLC outcome came for the start of this session - we were unaffected by the NLC decision);

 

3/ Accommodation - I will show you the current proposals for our phase 3 accommodation adaptations which will go before the SLC Committee later in the session;

 

 

Strategic development - gathering parental/carer thoughts on the current and future mobile phone policy (You possibly will have seen Stonelaw in the news) 6.40 - 7.30pm

 

Below are links to the school policy and the Scot Gov Guidance - I will have paper copies as well

 

 

 

Meeting discussions:

PC August 2024

We discussed:

Operational matters

• Excellent SQA results – well done to all candidates
• Online Advanced Higher results – our own candidates excelled
• SLC bus consultation outcome – SLC will move to look at the ‘safe walking route’ process before informing schools
• Accommodation – we toured and discussed the proposed internal adaptations which will require approval

Strategic matters

• PC began to review the Scottish Government Mobile phone guidance and we discussed the updated Policy as a ‘starter for 10’. The PC will look at creating a survey we will issue for feedback on mobile phone usage in school in order to help create a nuanced and 'future-proof' fair usage policy
• PC will construct their strategic remit for the session looking at eg mobile phones; communications; curriculum etc
• PC spoke about processes to widen the membership within the PC and looking at possible sub-groups which members may wish to participate and advise in
• PC will look and feedback on a uniform item request

 

23rd October

tba

 

Session 2023-24

 

Schedule of meetings 

30^th August – S1 DHT online 6.30-7.30pm / in-person SQA review 7.30 – 8.30pm 

^11th October – S5/6 DHT UCAS online 6.30-7.30pm / in-person strategic review 7.30 – 8.30pm 

15^th November – S4 DHT Prelims online 6.30-7.30pm / in-person strategic review 7.30 – 8.30pm.  (*S4 Parents / carers will receive an invite to this digital meeting through the Parent Portal email address that they registered with*)

19^th December – online strategic review 5.30 – 6.30pm 

15^th February – S2 DHT Options online 6.30-7.30pm / in-person strategic review 7.30 – 8.30pm 

13^th March - online strategic review 6.30 – 8.30pm 

March tbc - S3 Parent Council/DHT information session

15^th May – 6.30-7.30pm online School Improvement Planning 

6th June - PC lunch - plans for Session 2024/25

 

Revised processes for the Parent Council Session 2023-24 

 

• A mix of in-person/online meetings 
• Yeargroup/remit specific DHTs invited to present at online sessions (these will be calendar/remit specific) 
• HT report distributed in advance with questions/issues arising being responded to by return eg local issues/concerns etc 
• PC in-person meetings have a School Improvement agenda focus agreed by the PC in advance – curriculum initiatives; HWB programmes; staffing allocations; Participatory budgeting and PEF; revised SQA processes etc 
• PC Chairperson elected and action minutes written (PC members). PC sub-groups set up (below) 
• PC members involved in Senior Staff appointment panels (as currently) as well as ‘volunteering’ for DYW events such as assisting in mock interviews etc 
• PC ‘Business Engagement’ team set up to broaden school/business partnerships to provide better outcomes for young people 
• PC ‘changemaker’ group set up to review Pupil Voice and Parental Engagement to provide better flow of information to and from school/home 
• PC ‘futures’ group set up to examine how to make appropriate and effective use of Ai to provide better outcomes for young people 

 

 PC Action minutes 19th December 2023

PC Action minutes 15th November 2023

S4 Presentation Part 1

S4 Presentation Part 2

PC Action minutes_11th October 2023

S5/6 Presentation

 

PC action minutes - 30th August 2023

S1 Presentation

Ai task 1 

Session 2022-23

Meetings this session will be in-person, in our new classroom in The Street.

On occasion we may continue to meet using Zoom - online meetings, if prior to the meeting members prefer this method eg attendance/other events.

Dates for this Session are

31st August

26th October

16th November

6th December

18th January

15th March

24th May

an HT report and an agenda will be issued via email prior to the meeting.

Session 2021-22

Due to covid-19 restrictions placed on schools, we are unable to facilitate 'physical' Parent Council Meetings for the time being. We have operated, fairly successfully, online meetings and this is how we wish to continue until such times as the guidance from the Scottish Government changes.

If you wish to be involved in the Parent Council,  please complete the sheet below and forward this to the email address on it. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you, albeit, on a tiny wee screen!

 

PC_09-10-20

 

Below is the constitution of the Parent Council as well as 'buttons' to take you to specific areas of interest.

Covid-19 PC questions

Constitution for Uddingston Grammar Parent Council

This is the Constitution for Uddingston Grammar School Parent Council.

1  Objectives of the Parent Council

1.1  The objectives of the Parent Council are:

To work in partnership with and to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parents.

• To promote partnership between the school, its teaching staff, pupils and all its parents and guardians.
• To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils.
• To identify and represent the views of parents on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils.

2  Membership of the Parent Council

2.1  The membership will be a minimum of five parents of children attending the school.

• Any parents of a child at the school can volunteer to be a member of the Parent Council.
• There is currently no maximum number of volunteers set out in the constitution.

3  Co-option

3.1  The Parent Council may co-opt up to 14 additional members to assist it with carrying out its functions.  At least 2 place will be reserved for members of the teaching staff.

3.2  The number of parent members on the parent Council must always be greater than co-opted members.

The Parent Council will extend an invitation to the local councillors to attend meetings but they will not be formal representatives of the Parent Council.

4  Period of Tenure on Parent Forum

4.1  The Parent Council will be selected for a period of three years.

4.2  After which parents may put themselves forward for re-selection if they wish to provide their child is still at the school.

4.3  Co-opted members will be invited to serve for a period of three years, after which time the Parent Council will review and consider requirements for co-opted membership.

4.4  Parents will have 4 weeks to select their representatives.

Anyone not selected to be a member of the Parent Council may be offered the opportunity to be part of any sub-groups set up by the Council.

5  Selection of Chair/Postholders

The Convener, Deputy Convener, Secretary and Treasurer of the Parent Council will be agreed by the Parent Council members immediately following its formation.  The Parent Council will be chaired by a parent of a child attending Uddingston Grammar School.  If the child ceases to be a pupil, a new Convenor will be agreed at the next meeting.

6  Reporting/Meeting Arrangements

6.1  The Parent Council is accountable to the Parent Forum for Uddingston Grammar School and will make a report to it at least once each year on its activities on behalf of all the parents.

6.2  If 30 members of the Parent Forum request a special general meeting to discuss issues falling within the Council’s remit, the Parent Council shall arrange this.  The Parent Council shall give all members of the Forum at least 2 weeks notice of the meeting and, at the same time, circulate notice of the matter, or matters, to be discussed at the meeting.

6.3  The Annual Meeting will be held in May of each year.  A notice of the meeting including date, time and place will be sent to all members of the Parent Forum at least 2 weeks in advance. 

The meeting will include:

• A report on the work of the Parent Council and its Committee(s)
• Selection of the new Parent Council
• Discussion of issues that members of the Parent Forum may wish to raise

6.4  The Parent Council will meet on a monthly basis.  Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member at the meeting will have one vote, with the Convenor having a casting vote in the event of a tie.

6.5  Any two members of the Parent Council can request that an additional meeting be held, and all members of the Parent Council will be given at least one week’s notice of date, time and place of the meeting.

6.6  If a Parent Council member acts in a way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the Parent Council, their membership of the Parent Council shall be terminated if the majority of parent members agree.  Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing by the Convenor or designated representative to the member.

7  Minutes/Procedures of Meetings

7.1  Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be available to all parents of children at Uddingston Grammar School and to all teachers/staff at the school.  Copies will be available from the Secretary of the Parent Council and from the school office and will be displayed on the School website for open viewing.

7.2  Meetings of the Parent Council shall be open ti the public, unless the Parent Council is discussing an issue which it considers should be dealt with on a confidential basis.  In such circumstances, only members of the Parent Council and the headteacher, or his or her representatives, can attend.

8  Changes to the Constitution

8.1  The Parent Council may change its constitution after obtaining consent from members of the Parent Forum.  Members of the Parent Forum will be sent a copy of any proposed amendment and given reasonable time to respond to the proposal.

Revised August 2022

Next revision date August 2025