2009/10 Minutes

Here are the 2009/10 minutes:

• 31 August 2009 (PDF)
• 05 October 2009 (PDF)
  

The 2008/09 minutes can be found here.

Announcing the JGPS Forum

The JGPS Forum is now open - a space for JGPS parents to raise general comments, and to flock together to talk about things that affect our school.

Head over there to have your say, but do please check the rules first!

The JGPS Council will have a standing agenda item to discuss anything relevant that comes up on the JGPS Forum.

Meetings

The 2009/10 JGPS Council meeting dates are as follows:

• Monday, 5th October, 2009 - 6.15pm, in the school.
  
• Monday, 16th November, 2009 - 6.15pm, in the school.
• Monday, 11th January, 2010 - 6.15pm, in the school.
• Monday, 1st March, 2010 - 6.15pm, in the school.
• Monday, 26th April, 2010 - 6.15pm, in the school.
• Monday, 7th June, 2010 - 6.15pm, in the school.

2009/10 School Budget - 2% cut avoided

As you may be aware, JGPS Council (along with many other organisations and parent councils) has been lobbying to  prevent a 2% cut in the school budget - we've just had this update:

Children and Families Budget 2009-10 

I am writing to inform you that the Administration are protecting school budgets in the forthcoming budget in February.  It was always my intention to endeavour to safeguard schools, but realised this was dependant on re-prioritisation within the total Council revenue budget.  Although this has been a long and difficult process, I am delighted that we have found ways to protect schools.  During the process we have listened carefully to Head Teachers and parents whose forthright views have helped to inform the debate.

I recognise that many of you have been understandably anxious about the impact of a 2% cut to school budgets and thought it was important that I let you know about this decision at the earliest possible opportunity. 

I am sure today’s announcement will be welcomed by all staff and parents across the city.  This decision underlines this Administration’s commitment to education and other frontline services which the public rightly view as priorities for the Council.  It has been very challenging to reach this decision in the current financial climate but I believe it is entirely worth it for the benefit of Edinburgh’s children.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren

Convener of Education, Children and Families

2008/09 Minutes

Here are the 2008/2009 council meeting minutes:

• 25 September 2008 (PDF)
• 13 October 2008 (PDF)
• 25 November 2008 (PDF)
  
• 19 January 2009 (PDF)
• 02 March 2009 (PDF)
• 27 April 2009 (PDF)
• 15 June 2009 (PDF)
  

Homework... due in by 25th February, please!

The school is in the process of reviewing the homework it gives your children, and we want parent's views on homework!

• What type of homework do you think best helps your child?
• What homework do you think helps you to help your child learn?
• Is there homework that you as a parent really look forward to? Or really don't look forward to?
• What do you feel about the amount of your child's homework? Is there too much? Is there not enough?
• Would you prefer fewer, larger, homework tasks (e.g. projects,research) that could be done over two or three weeks?
• How does homework affect your family life?

... or do you like things just the way they are?!

We'll be collecting together your responses here, and anything you send to the "JGPSC" box or tell us in person by Feb 25th, 2009.

If you want to be anonymous, that's fine, but if you state your children's year group that will help us to group responses together.

Note that for everyone's benefit, this post will be fully moderated; only comments that are courteous and constructive can be posted!

Council Constitution

The JGPS Council constitution can be found here (PDF, 42Kb).