School Council Meeting - 31st March 2010

Unfortunately the meeting of 31st March was poorly attended and, according to the Constitution, there were insufficient parents present for this to be deemed a properly constituted meeting of the School Council. Despite this, an interesting discussion took place on a number of subjects which is summarised below.

Sick Kids

Guy Morgan and Paul Scott provided the meeting with an update on what is likely to happen to the Sick Kids site and where Lothian Health Board currently are in the process of selling it off. From their professional opinion, it was important that, if the school sought to gain anything from the planned move of the Sick Kids the first step would be to get the Children on Families on-board with any proposals. If this was achieved then it would be possible to begin a lobbying process across Council officials, Councillors and Lothian Health Board explaining how the school might benefit. The next stage would be for Alison Noble to brief both the Director and the Convener as to how the schools sees this as an opportunity.

Headteacher's Report

Alison presented an update of activity in Sciennes. The key points were:

• a planned visit to Sciennes from the Comenius project schools in May where there are plans to host a ceilidh to which parents will be invited.
• Sciennes has been highlighted for its good practice with GLOW
• Enrolment for next year's P1 currently exceed the nominal capacity (90 children in 3 classes). More guidance on class sizes is likely to be available at the next meeting.

Finance Report

Currently the School Council (PTA) has a bank balance of £4965 of which £4100 has been committed to school projects. An auditor has been appointed for last year's accounts.

Budget Cut Rally - Tuesday 9th February

Schools across the city are planning to stage a rally against the proposed budget cuts on Tuesday 9th February at 1615 at the City Chambers. We'd like as many parents and children to join in.

We plan to meet after school on Tuesday and walk as a group up to the City Chambers where we'll meet up with other schools. If children have a musical instrument bring that along or if they are in a sports team wear their outfit - we want to show the best of our schools.

More details on budget cuts

Hopefully some of you have by now written to Council officials and Councillors about the proosed budget cuts.
At a meeting of School Council representatives last week, the Council provided some detail on some of the areas they wish to cut in next years budget. These include:

• Visiting specialists (PE, music, drama) for primary 1 and 2 children
• Foreign language assistants in secondaries
• Classroom assistants
• Librarians in secondaries
• Learning assistants in special schools
• Nursery teachers

If you haven't already done so, please take time to write to the following expressing your views on budget cuts:

• Gillian Tee, Director of Children and Families
• Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, Convenor of the Education Committee

and also our 4 ward 15 Councillors:

• Steve Burgess (Green)
• Gordon Mackenzie (Lib Dem)
• Ian Perry (Labour)
• Cameron Rose (Conservative)

all of the above can be reached by email at firstname.secondname@edinburgh.gov.uk

If you woulkd like a template letter, you can download one here:

http://sciennescouncil.googlepages.com/home

Budget Cuts 2010/11

As you will know, the Council propose a budget cut of 2.5% next year and in each of the following 2 years. We are asking parents to write to Councillors and Council officials to express their opposition to these cuts, which will have a serious effect on schools. We have joined together with Preston Street, James Gillespie's and Tollcross Primaries to try and mobilse as many parents as possible and we need your support.

There is a letter to parents outlining the action we would like you to take and a draft letter to councillors here:

http://sciennescouncil.googlepages.com/home

We need your support so please download and send the letter to your Councillors and to the Director of Children and Families and the Convenor of the Education Committee.

Thanks

Proposed Budget Cuts for Schools

Once again this year, the City of Edinburgh Council is proposing to cuts the budget to schools. Following last year's 1.5% cut, an additional cut of 2.5% is proposed this year. It is proposed that this 2.5% cut be applied next year and the year after.

The effect on Sciennes over the current year and the next 3 years would be to reduce the 2008/09 base budget by:

2009/10 - 1.5%
2010/11 - 4%
2011/12 - 6.5%
2012/13 - 9%

These cuts will make it very difficult at best to continue providing the envirnment and facilities currently enjoyed at Sciennes. If you wish to protest against these cuts there are two simple ways to make your views known.

Firstly, there is an online petition at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Edinburgh-school-budgets/

[Ignore the bit about donating, by that point you have registered your support.]

There is also a Facebook group at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=223550940648#/group.php?v=wall&gid=223550940648

Please lend your support.