Knox Academy Parent School Partnership Consultation Response

Knox Academy Parent School Partnership has submitted its response to the budget consultation process.  It can be read by clicking:  budgetconsultationresponsenov2009

You can lend your support by submitting your own comments online or by email to the consultation.  Last year’s outcome suggested that the more supporting comments, the better.  The closing date for comments is Friday the 4th of December.

As an aside, the Scottish Executive have just published a statement criticising councils for the significant fall in the number of teachers.  It can be read here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/11/27103833

KAPSP

PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TO EDUCATION

You will be aware that ELC are considering dramatic cuts in the Council budget for 2010-2013.

The budget proposals would have a very significant negative effect on our school.  In their ‘Spending Choices: Community Consultation Paper‘ ELC’s proposals include the following options:

  • ‘reduce secondary school staffing’,
  • ‘increase S1/2 Maths and English classes’
  • ‘reduce management time in school’.
  • ‘reduce management posts in schools’
  • ‘transfer schools into an educational trust or trusts’
  • changes to services such as school meals, cleaning etc.

Members of the Parent Council are gravely concerned at the impact such proposals would have on the standard of education offered to our children.

The document outlining proposed cuts can be viewed online and shows how much money we risk losing. There is an option to comment online or email your comments.  We would urge you to take advantage of this.

There are also public evening meetings at Prestonpans, Haddington, Musselburgh, North Berwick, Dunbar and Tranent later in November and early December. To attend these meetings, you must first register, either online or by calling 01620 827873.

You may recall the huge amount of interest shown by parents at the last consultation event.  This had a positive effect on the education budget where eventual cuts were significantly lower and the impact on the school was not as great as first feared.

Please do make sure your opinion is heard.

Do You Use Maths at Work?

The maths department is hoping to recruit some support from parents. Ideally Mrs McInnes would like some volunteers to explain to the S2s how they use maths at work (10-15 mins in the new year to a class of c. 20 ). They aren’t looking for maths professors or accountants rather people with ordinary jobs that the pupils can relate to – we all use maths in one form or another and this would be a really great way to support the school. If any of you were able to help please contact Mrs McInnes c/o knoxacademy@knox.elcschool.org.uk.

Election Time

No, it’s not the general election yet but the election to fill the vacancy on the Parent School Partnership.  This is a call for nominations for the election which will take place in January.  We need as many parent and carer votes as possible.

To download a document which explains the arrangements for the election, click here.  A nomination form can be downloaded by clicking here.

The PSP

Welcome!

 Welcome to the new website for Knox Academy parents and carers!
We hope that this site will make it easier for us to keep you posted on the issues which we are tackling on your behalf and importantly, make it easier for you to communicate with both the Parent School Partnership and the rest of the parent forum.
You can reply to any of the posts on this site, in order to add your comments or ask a question and you will also be able to follow comments left by other parents.
You can also be kept posted on all developments by subscribing to our daily e-mail update facility (see orange box on right hand side).
We hope you will find this new website helpful and urge you to use it! Please forward this link to other Knox Academy parents – our aim is for as many parents to use this site as possible.
All comments, suggestions and questions welcome!

East Lothian Council Budget Proposals & Consultations

As many of you may be aware, draft budget proposals for 2010/13 were recently issued by East Lothian Council.
Details of the draft proposals, for your information, can be found by clicking here

East Lothian Council are holding a number of Consultation Evenings to discuss the contents of the draft proposals. The Haddington consultation  will be held on Thursday 26 November, Main Hall, Town House, Haddington