Welcome to the JGHS School Council Website

Budget Cuts - Message for all JGHS parents and carers - from the School Council.

Continue to Lobby your councillors - no cuts in the education budget

Each ward is now represented by 3 or 4 councillors, from different political parties, and it is worth contacting them all. Click this link to find your local councillors. All can be e-mailed using the address: "firstname.secondname@edinburgh.gov.uk".

Parent Council reps have now attended two presentations from Council officials, and on both occasions been left with the clear impression that crucial support services such as learning assistants and foreign language assistants were under threat.

In James Gillespie's, at our recent School Council meeting, we agreed to raise particular concerns over any proposals to change or reduce the School Librarian service. The professional and dedicated librarian support services are essential to the Literacy programme, to preparing for Curriculum for Excellence, and to the life of the school, and must remain fully resourced. There have been no assurances yet received from the Council, and we would urge you to include this in your emails to councillors.

Only 1% cutback? Still a cut!

Marilyn Maclaren, convenor Children and Families, advised Parent Councils on Friday that the administration would be proposing a 1% cut from each school budget, instead of 2.5% as originally proposed by officials, having listened to the lobbying from parents and head teachers. (Text of E-mail) Head Teachers across Edinburgh had already made clear that any reduction in budget would impact on education now, with nothing left to cut back. So we remain opposed to reductions in spending on education in Edinburgh - but also, we have not been given information regarding any centrally imposed cutbacks. And we have been advised that there are major budget reductions proposed for 2011 and 2012 - so we need to speak up now for Education in Edinburgh.

Letter sent 09 Feb 10 from Ann Henderson, Chair of the School Council to local councillors with replies received so far.

Budget - The Children and Families Budget 2010 - 2013 as presented by the City Council Resources Manager

Minutes of Meeting - Minutes from the meeting on 16 December 2009

Letter to Edinburgh Council - Letter from JCHS Council to Gillian Tee, Director of Children and Families

Parents Letter - Suggested Letter for Parents to send to Local Councillors

Please let the School Council know if you have any views that you wish us to include in our meetings with councillors, City Council, and with other Parent Councils. Thanks.

School heating system - Boiler replacement work to commence

The City Council has advised us of the schedule for some work on the outdated heating system. It will be timed to avoid disruption to exams.

This is earlier than the initial reports, and it appears that the Council has responded to submissions from the School and from parents.

Click here to view letter.

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS

• 2nd February - View reports from the latest meeting. Links to all previous meetings can be found on the diary page.
• Wednesday 17th March

JGHS Rebuild meeting, December 1st

• Billy Macintyre, Head of Resources for Children and Families
• Alistair Wallace, Thomas and Admamson, overall Project Managers
• John Baker, City Development, Project Monitor

OTHER LINKS

CfE Conference - Presentation given by Karen Prophet, Curriculum for Excellence Strategic Lead at City of Edinburgh Council, at the Parents Conference in September. There is also a list of FAQs and a link to the Learning and Teaching website.

AGM - agenda, treasurer's report and other background information from the Annual General Meeting in October, which included a session on the school rebuilding programme.

Parents Letter - a copy of the School letter with information about dates for the coming year.

School Newsletter

FACE - Newsletter produced by Edinburgh City Council for Families and Children in Edinburgh (FACE), which any parent can sign up to receive directly.

Starting Secondary School - A leaflet for parents of children starting in S1.

Dress Code - Points raised during and following a School Council meeting about the School Dress Code.

Health Questionnaire: - A health questionnaire was sent to each family in October 2007. This report summarises the main findings.