Netherlee Primary School Parent Council

 Minutes : Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at Netherlee Primary School


Present: Ailsa Crum; Sara Lang; Sue McMillan; Val Graham; Kirsty McNeil; Sandra Mitchell; Lisa Bullen; Margaret MacDiarmid; Karen Hussain; Councillor Ralph Robertson, Tim Adams, Steve Galloway, Cress Maher, Brenda Williams, Liz Grant


Apologies: Vivienne Wilson, Lesley McKenna, Margaret Kyle;
Aida Santory Goslan

Minutes of previous meeting held Nov 7 were approved.


Matters arising not otherwise on the agenda
a. Sandra Mitchell advised there was plenty of time for the PC to request curriculum-related material. The school ‘improvement plan’ process starts with an audit in February but there would be opportunity in June and August 2008 to request material about the curriculum which is aimed at parents, such as the leaflets that SM had mentioned at the previous Parent Council meeting.

Action :SM agreed to keep the PC informed at the relevant stages.

b. As agreed at the previous meeting, Ailsa Crum had contacted Anne McLean, Quality Improvement Officer from ERC, to discuss areas AMcL could present to the parent forum - specifically on internet initiatives/safety/teaching and learning which didn’t overlap with the presentation to be delivered by Bryan McLachlan on Jan 17. Anne had indicated she would discuss this with the school but SM had not heard from her by the time of the current meeting.

Action: Sandra Mitchell to contact A McLean


Correspondence received since the previous meeting
AC read a statement from Scottish Government’s Maureen Watt (Minister for Schools & Skills) expressing continued support for a parental involvement coordinator who is based in Learning and Teaching Scotland. Funding for the coordinator will continue until 2010 and work will be progressed through a field team whose role would be to support parental involvement in the curriculum. AC would explore how the team might link with staff in ERC who have a parental involvement remit.
A set of financial guidelines for parent councils had been received from ERC. Sue McMillan agreed to be responsible for looking after the finances of the Netherlee PC.
ERC’s corporate statement and annual performance report 06-07 is available from AC.
AC, and possibly SM, will attend the next ERC Parent Councils’ Forum meeting on Feb 26 at St Luke’s HS.
AC received and replied favourably to a “happy to work in partnership” email from Muirend & Netherlee Residents’ Association


School Standards & Quality Report session 2006-7
SM introduced the report, explaining that it was a requirement of ERC and the report structure was, for the most part, set down by ERC. SM indicated that consideration would be given to producing a different kind of document in future years, aimed more at a parent audience. There was support for this from the PC. There was a discussion about a number of matters prompted by the report including observing the key role of self-evaluation within the school, which had been highlighted in the text of the report itself. There was also a discussion about the role and use of testing within the school. There was strong support for the school to continue with it current position in relation to the ERC tests. In particular, parents did not wish to see pupils being taught to the tests, nor did they wish the school to ‘help’ pupils with the tests in order to improve the outcomes.

Parent Council website
Sue McMillan had developed a website for the PC and was warmly thanked for her considerable efforts. The web address www.netherleeparentcouncil.org is now functional, hosted by Microsoft Office Live Basic. Relevant topics can be added as they arise. It was agreed that there would be a link between this and the school site. Action: Brenda Williams to alert BM to new PC site to make link

As part of the general discussion, it was noted that the school internet radio podcasts could be listened to via www.radiowaves.co.uk The facility allowed pupils to make their own radio programmes which are broadcast over the internet.

Use of school as polling station
As a result of the PC letter to all parents, ninety nine replies supporting the PC position to stop the school being used as a polling station were handed into the school office. It was noted that some other replies may have been sent to ERC direct; one member of the PC had done this. AC had written to ERC’s Director of Central Services, Jeff Hawkins, to advise him of the PC and other parents’ views. The letter had been copied to Cllr Mary Montague (who had alerted the PC to the ERC review of polling stations) and to SM. Progress would be reported at the next PC meeting, following completion of the ERC review.

 
New doctors’ surgery in Netherlee
As agreed at the previous meeting, Lisa Bullen had explored this matter with the ERC planning office. She informed the PC that outline planning consent for the surgery had been granted. Her recommendation to the meeting was that the building would almost certainly go ahead so PC efforts should focus on making sure that subsequent permissions and outcomes address the PC’s concerns.
In summary the PC concerns were as follows:

to request that the school boundaries be made secure, possibly by fencing, to ensure pupils and nursery children are kept safe when patients are attending the surgery – in particular it was noted that the school is completely open at the front and may be used as a short cut between the surgery and the existing chemist on Clarkston Road.
to find out about the nature and timing of clinics, in due course, as part of PC concern to ensure child safety
while traffic calming measures might be proposed, the PC was aware of difficulties changed driving habits might bring to this previously quiet and safe area.
the loss of amenity to the area would be significant if the children’s park was just “placed” back down in an inferior location as the park was in a lovely green open safe environment flanked by trees. No other such area exists locally. The PC considered it would be highly desirable for the park to be upgraded and to ensure it had equipment appropriate for a wider age range. There was a discussion about the PC campaigning for this as partial recompense for the play park being hemmed in on all sides by car park and buildings.
there was concern about the space that would be created between the planned surgery and Linn Park. It was noted that the vicinity of the playpark and Linn Park was likely to become less safe as a result of that space being shielded from view by the new surgery building.
It was noted that the planning application had been advanced through ERC when the local councillor was seriously ill and therefore unable to represent the Netherlee ward.
The Muirend and Netherlee Residents Association had taken some action to oppose the proposed surgery and was interested in any joint action with the PC.
It was noted that the school might be advised of planning developments because of its neighbour status, but it was possible that any such notices would be sent to ERC rather than the school. SM said she would check with ERC over this. It was agreed that everyone would look out for any announcements regarding the detailed planning application as this might be progressed before the next PC meeting. Councillor Robertson said he would be aware of any new developments via his planning committee role and agreed to alert the PC. LB advised that some ground investigations might take place late in December.

All to be aware this project may move quickly and in advance of the next PC meeting . SM to check neighbour status with ERC. RR to monitor and give notice of any relevant information.

75th anniversary
The 75th anniversary celebrations would be contained between Feb 6 (actual opening anniversary) and May 7-9 (when a number of concerts are planned). The school will hold planning meetings on Jan 9 and 16 to consider an exhibition and associated entertainment. Kirsty McNeil and the PC small sub-group, which was extended by one to include: Margaret Kyle, Karen Hussain, Margaret MacDiarmid and Steve Galloway, would meet on Wed, Jan 16 at 7.30pm. The school would consider what involvement it would like from the PC; it was noted that this was likely to be in archiving and sourcing artefacts/materials. Karen Hussein reported that The Extra would be happy to help publicise events once things have been moved on. It was noted that all media contact is subject to the regulation of the ERC press office.

Action meeting Jan 16 KM, KH, MM, MK & SG

PTA activity
Cress Maher reported that the disco made good funds, that a ladies’ night is planned for March and that funds have been directed towards the Xmas parties and enhanced stage equipment for the school.

Ideas for future
AC encouraged members to identify further suggestions for the PC to work on. As appropriate, small sub-groups could be identified to progress topics outside the main PC meetings.

Next meeting: Wednesday, 13 February at 7.00pm in Netherlee Primary School