Dunbar Grammar School

Following on from the long weekend I headed off to Glasgow with D. Simpson to conduct a workshop at the National Conference on improving Scottish education, run by HMIe.  The conference was attended by nearly300 delegates, including HMIe, Government reps, education chiefs and the media and covered the main topics of self-evaluation, the baseline for the new proportionate inspection model and a curriculum for excellence.  Here is a link to a video for parents I would recommend on a curriculum for excellence:

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/video/curriculumforexcellenceparents.asp   

At our workshop we were talking about how we capture the student voice through our use of SELS and our system of Departmental Internal Review.  These were very well received.  On Wednesday I was involved all day in interviews for the post of Modern Languages.  We needed to leave the decision overnight but have successfully filled the vacancy.  On Thursday, I spent a lot of the day catching up with admin and outstanding work, chairing the Health and Safety group, before meeting with the cluster to decide on our October In-service, which will concentrate on a Curriculum for Excellence.  On Friday I met with a number of colleagues and parents and then had my Professional Review and Development meeting with the Head of Education, M. Jobson which was very enjoyable and supportive.  In the afternoon, I met with R. Munro to plan for our visit from two HMIe inspectors next Thursday and Friday to look at School of Ambition.  All in all a short but action-packed week!