Tag: Children and Families

Time to Foster, Time to Care

Foster Care Fortnight starts tomorrow

family3

The City of Edinburgh Council exceeded its foster carer recruitment target last year for the very first time. The positive figures were revealed ahead of the council’s Foster Care Fortnight which has a theme this year of ‘Time to Foster, Time to Care’. Continue reading Time to Foster, Time to Care

A time to make new friends

School closure offers unexpected opportunities

DSC00793

Last month’s closure of 17 PPP1 schools caused much anxiety – for council officers, for school staff and particularly for families and for children. And while the saga rumbles on, many local parents and carers still don’t know when their child will return to his or her own school. Continue reading A time to make new friends

National award for Pilmeny Youth Centre

Recognition for Pilmeny’s World War One project

community-winner

Congratulations to Leith’s Pilmeny Youth Centre, who won the Sunday Mail Young Scot Community Award for their Remembering the Leith Battalion project at a gala event at the EICC last night. Continue reading National award for Pilmeny Youth Centre

Pilton Retreat safe … for now

Stay of execution for Ratho haven

Ratho1

Pilton Retreat has been spared – for now. The community resource at Ratho has received one year’s support – but must use that time to explore other sources of  funding. Continue reading Pilton Retreat safe … for now

Exam arrangements now in place

exam

The city council has confirmed alternative arrangements for pupils sitting exams next month who are affected by the current school closures.

The contingency plans have been put together as exams start in the first week of May, and all pupils will be sitting their exams in the schools they are currently attending.

The arrangements are:

  • Royal High, Drummond and Firrhill pupils will use their own schools
  • Gracemount and Craigmount will be sitting their exams at their host schools of Liberton and Tynecastle respectively

Individual schools will update pupils and parents regarding their specific arrangements.

Over the past week the Council has had very positive discussions with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) about exams and the contingency arrangements.

Education Convener Councillor Paul Godzik said: “With the first exams only a few weeks away it is absolutely vital that we have these plans in place and pupils are given notice as to where they will be sitting their exams.

“Pupils have enough to do with their studying preparations without additional worry over where they may be sitting them. Despite the hugely challenging situation the Council have tried to ensure our pupils are given every chance to prepare properly and that as far as possible they are not impacted by the school closures.

“We will be outlining in detail to the SQA the arrangements we have put in place and how this has affected pupils, as well as providing additional study support to pupils where we feel this is necessary.”

Jean Blair, SQA Director of Operations, said: “Clearly our primary concern is for all the young people involved. We continue to work closely with City of Edinburgh Council and the individual schools to support them in the practical arrangements for the exams, which begin on Wednesday 4 May.

“The national timetable of exams will continue as planned and pupils should continue with their studies in preparation to sit their exams on the dates in the published exam timetable.”

The programme of structural surveys arranged by the Edinburgh Schools Partnership is continuing. Parents will be provided with further information on individual school surveys once the full reports are received and assessed.