Digital learning in schools

One of the issues that schools are grappling with currently is that of digital learning and especially 1:1 learning for pupils. The following link is worth looking at as it takes you to a summary of the main opportunities and challenges.   One to one digital learning

Ubuntu

At yesterday's conference for Edinburgh Council school leaders mention was made of 'Ubuntu' by Steve Munby our main speaker. Given Gillespie's strong links with South Africa I was intrigued to find out more. What I found out was fascinating. 

As I have become older and wiser I find myself becoming a much stronger advocate and practitioner of restorative approaches to managing behaviours than was the case in my earlier career. Becoming a parent has also influenced how i work and relate with children. I have found a restorative approach to be much more effective in changing and sustaining improvements in teenagers' behaviours in the long term. There remain however in our schools and society at large a significant group that believes in a system based on proportionate and often severe punishment. Perhaps that explains why as a country Scotland has the shameful distinction of incarcerating the highest proportion of its citizens in Europe. 

The following extract from Wikipedia explains what the Ubuntu philosophy is about.

Tim Jackson refers to Ubuntu as a philosophy that supports the changes he says are necessary to create a future that is economically and environmentally sustainable.

Judge Colin Lamont expanded on the definition during his ruling on the hate speech trial of Julius Malema.

Ubuntu is recognised as being an important source of law within the context of strained or broken relationships amongst individuals or communities and as an aid for providing remedies which contribute towards more mutually acceptable remedies for the parties in such cases. Ubuntu is a concept which:

1. is to be contrasted with vengeance;
2. dictates that a high value be placed on the life of a human being;
3. is inextricably linked to the values of and which places a high premium on dignity, compassion, humaneness and respect for humanity of another;
4. dictates a shift from confrontation to mediation and conciliation;
5. dictates good attitudes and shared concern;
6. favours the re-establishment of harmony in the relationship between parties and that such harmony should restore the dignity of the plaintiff without ruining the defendant;
7. favours restorative rather than retributive justice;
8. operates in a direction favouring reconciliation rather than estrangement of disputants;
9. works towards sensitising a disputant or a defendant in litigation to the hurtful impact of his actions to the other party and towards changing such conduct rather than merely punishing the disputant;
10. promotes mutual understanding rather than punishment;
11. favours face-to-face encounters of disputants with a view to facilitating differences being resolved rather than conflict and victory for the most powerful;
12. favours civility and civilised dialogue premised on mutual tolerance.

'If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together'

I had the opportunity to attend the Edinburgh Learning Festival this morning at Hibs football stadium. This is an annual event that serves to celebrate the fantastic work that takes place across all of Edinburgh Council's schools.

The morning began with a warm welcome from Gillian Tee our director. Gillian set the tone for a positive and uplifting morning by sharing with us the very encouraging feedback from the soon to be published report on our Children and Families work in Edinburgh. I was delighted to hear that Edinburgh has made enormous progress in supporting our most vulnerable young people.

I was reminded of a quote from the late Princess Diana who focussed may peoples' thinking on those who are disadvantaged. 

'Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are'. (Princess Diana)

The main speaker of the day was Steve Munby, recently elected as CEO of CfBT Education Trust.

CfBT Inspection Services - delivering high quality inspections on behalf of Ofsted

CfBT Inspection Services - delivering high quality inspections on behalf of Ofsted

CfBT Inspection Services - delivering high quality inspections on behalf of Ofsted

CfBT Inspection Services - delivering high quality inspections on behalf of Ofsted

Steve's speech was outstanding!  There  were many highlights in what he said but the following quotations stood out for me.

'Everyone likes to be understood and valued; no one has a simple and uncomplicated life'.

'In schools that are making progress there is an emphasis on consistency and shared best practices'.

'Power without love is reckless and abusive and love without power is sentimental and anaemic'

In his presentation he considered what the characteristics of successful leaders are and what schools should do to improve.

His presentation concluded with him sharing this poen by Willam Ayton.

And in the end we follow them-
not because we are paid, not because we might see some advantage,
not because of the things they have accomplished,
not even because of the dreams they dream
but simply because of who they are:
the man, the woman, the leader, the boss
standing up there when the wave hits the rock,
passing out faith and confidence like life jackets,
knowing the currents, holding the doubts,
imagining the delights and terrors of every landfall;
captain, pirate, and parent by turns,
the bearer of our countless hopes and expectations.
We give them our trust. We give them our effort.
What we ask in return is that they stay true.

Decant information evening

Thank you to the very large number of parents who attended our decant information evening tonight. This meeting gave us the opportunity to share our planning and how learning and teaching will be delivered over the next three years from August. From August our school will split into two with most senior classes taking place at Darroch - approximately 12 minutes from our main campus.

We will follow up on the points raised this evening in order to ensure that risks to the smooth running of the school are minimsed.

Areas of concern raised by parents tonight included:

• The impact of noise during this year's SQA exams
• Teaching time lost whilst pupils are in transit between the school and Meadowbank
• The potential diminished positive impact of seniors around the school
• Support for staff
• Risk of injury to pupils crossing roads whilst in transit between Darroch and the main campus
• The importance of ensuring that S6 have access to a comon room
• Travel arrangements to and from Meadowbank 

I hope that we managed to allay the concerns raised this evening. The issues raised and our responses will be placed on the school website early next week.

Mod successes

Well done to everyone who participated at the Edinburgh local mod which was held at Liberton High School on Saturday 13 April. The lovely sunshine contributed to a very enjoyable and successful day.

Not only was I hugely impressed with the quality of the performances but also with the numbers that continue to grow. Pleasingly a growing contingent from Jghs took part and featured strongly among the prizes. Nach nath a rinn sibh uile!  2013 Results

Welcome back

I'd like to welcome everyone back from what I hope was a thoroughly enjoyable Easter break. Pupils and staff have quickly re-established their routines in what will be another busy and stimulating summer term.

I'm sure that all of the work will pay dividends when the results are known in early August. I know that parents and teachers will continue to cajole, encourage and generally do whatever is needed to ensure that all do their best. 

For pupils in S4,5 and 6 this time of year will be extremely busy as they are all in the throes of preparing for the Sqa exams which are due to start imminently.

Nicola Sturgeon visit - by Emma Hamilton (S2)

A few weeks ago Emma came to see me to discuss an idea she'd had. Emma very articulately and confidently explained that Gillespie's needed a more pupil friendly means of capturing and sharing news with pupils. She went on to suggest that what was needed was a newspaper produced specifically for pupils by pupils. She further added that she was the person to lead on this initiative.  I suggested to Emma that she should, over the February break, create a draft of what she was envisaging. A few days after the break Emma delivered to me a very impressive draft of what the proposed paper would look like. To assist Emma in setting up her team and with some the logistics. Am delighted that Mrs Kirkwood has agreed to mentor this budding team of journalists.  Ths is Emma's first article.  

''On the 12th of March, Nicola Sturgeon came to visit our school – James Gillespie’s High School. She came to discuss votes for 16 years olds with some of the students that will be able to vote in the referendum in two years time. She said that “If you can get married and have children at 16, why can you not vote?” She also disagrees with those who say the votes will be wasted if 16 year olds are allowed to vote, arguing that many 16 years olds are mature enough to make the right decision for Scotland.

One very important question was asked, “How does this work? By allowing 16 year olds to vote means registering children who are younger than 16.  What about Child Protection?”

You could hear all of the camera crew and photographers holding their breath, waiting for her reply. But she came out with a quick and confident answer – there will be a distinct register for young people, with sensitive information protected. She added that the potential risk of any leaking of such information would be discussed at Holyrood.

It was an enjoyable morning for the people who were involved and furthermore it helped our School Newspaper come up with its name: The Spark, named after Muriel Spark, the writer of ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.’

We would like to thank Ms Inglis and Miss Haliday for this opportunity and Ms Sturgeon herself for this interesting morning.

Emma Hamilton

The Spark''