March 2025 Head Teacher Update 28.3.25

Headteacher Key Information Update

I hope this HT update finds you well and ready for Spring! Only a couple of items in this update as there's quite a bit of reading and a response required if you can!

Staffing Update

• Ms Antoine will be joining us as a full time, permanent teacher of CDT from Monday 28 April.
• Ms Wylie (Home Economics) will be leaving us to take up a new post nearer to home. She'll be with us until the start of exam leave. We'll be so sorry to see her leave, but wish her all the best in her new post.
• Mrs Gray (English) will be officially retiring on Friday 25 April. Wendy has taught in Balwearie for 31 years and will be missed hugely.
• Liam Smart (Technology) will be leaving us at the end of term. Liam has supported within the Business Dept and across other areas of the school during his time with us and we're grateful for his input.

Mobile Phone Use in School - Parent/Carer Feedback Opportunity

As I shared in my previous update, we have asked faculties/departments to share their thoughts around the impact mobile phones are having on young people engaging fully in their learning and on their wellbeing. We have now consulted fully across our student body, with all young people having the opportunity to share their views through PSE during the month of February. We received 727 responses, representing about 54% of our students. From here, we have met with representatives of our Student Voice group to share both sets of feedback and get their ideas on how our policy, moving forward, should be shaped. Finally, we've just concluded our individual staff feedback survey to gather detail from across our in-school community.

Headlines - Staff Feedback

• Mobile phones pose a regular distraction in classes
• Pupils use their devices for learning in some classes
• Some pupils use their phones to arrange to meet with friends/peers during class time and then ask to leave class to go to the toilet
• Use of phones to film/photograph people without their consent causes worry and affects everyone's wellbeing
• Some pupils refuse to put phones away when asked by a teacher or repeatedly use their phone during class time, regardless of reminders, which wastes valuable teaching and learning time
• Inappropriate use of social media causes distress
• Pupil/teacher relationships can suffer as a result of the inappropriate use of mobile phones in classes
• Phone free classrooms/corridors would benefit the wellbeing and engagement of learners.
• Phones should be dropped in a safe, visible space in each classroom at the start of each period and collected at the end of the period to maximise the learning and teaching time for teachers and pupils

Headlines - Pupil Feedback

• 99% of respondents said they bring a phone to school
• 39% think having 'phone free' time in school would be a good thing
• 27% reported their phone having a negative impact on their wellbeing/mental health
• What distractions do they experience the most as a result of having their phone in school?

What do they use their phone for most in school?

What impacts on their wellbeing/mental health have they experienced?

Next Steps?

It is clear from the learner and teacher feedback that a full ban on phones in school would not be desirable or helpful for them. We also believe that, from a parent/carer perspective, it can be reassuring to know that your child has their phone for some things (eg. to let you know they are leaving school after a club/group, for their own medical reasons, to pay for lunches etc). However, it is also clear that they can cause major distractions to learning and teaching and, more importantly, that they can have an impact on the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. This is not new - we know there is a lot of information out there that highlights these issues. We must decide what is right for our community and I'm now seeking your input as parents/carers and key partners in making our refreshed policy have the positive impact we want, that you will support at home and that is easy for teachers and learners to follow.

Based on pupil and staff feedback so far, and research around what other schools, authorities and countries do, we anticipate we will continue to expect our classrooms and corridors to be 'phone free' zones. Pupils will still be able to access their phones during social times. This will be supported by our 1:1 devices that will be in learner hands near the start of the new academic session, meaning no phones will be required in classes to support learning and teaching as pupil will be expected to bring their device to school every day, ready to use (more on this in a future update). Therefore, we expect there will be a refreshed system in place from AUGUST '25, broadly as follows:

• Learners will be expected to either drop phones in a safe, visible space, within the classroom at the start of the period and should collect them at the end of the period OR keep them out of sight, with sanctions in place if they use their phone during the class.
• Repeated or ongoing incidents of inappropriate phone use by pupils may result in a Duty Head Call and parents/carers being invited into school, as per our Staged Intervention Policy, to seek their support in ensuring their child follows the agreed policy
• Phones/valuable items are brought into school at the risk of the owner/parents/carers.

I now need your feedback regarding these broad proposals - once finalised, the details will be shared across our school community and via assemblies ahead of launching in due course. Please take a couple of minutes to compete this short form to share your thoughts (click on the button below). The form will remain open over the Spring Break to allow you time to share your views - closes 20 April 2025, 5pm.

Polar Academy Update The Final team

A message from Ms Foster and Mrs Reid who are leading the Balwearie Polar Academy project in school after being selected as our two staff members...

The Polar Academy team had their first meeting recently, organising their selection weekend in Glenmore Lodge. We are beyond proud of all our students who put themselves forward for this tremendous challenge and hope that everyone has a brilliant time in Aviemore for the first stage.

We are very excited to get started with our students and families to support them in every way they can, we are both so grateful and honoured to have been chosen to be a part of this experience. Miss Foster is especially looking forward to seeing our young people push themselves out of their comfort zone and try something incredible, as well as pushing herself. Mrs Reid is very excited to support all our young people and their families through the Polar Academy journey while trying her best to keep up with everyone at training! Wish us both luck- Go Team Polar Academy!

After our first meeting a couple weeks ago all the team expressed their excitement for getting out of their comfort zones and challenging their fears - especially heights! Everyone is very keen to meet new people, make new friends and connect while training in the outdoors. Everyone has said they cannot wait to learn new skills and surprise themselves.