The Braes Context
Welcome to the Pupil Equity Fund update from Braes High school. In this update we bring you information about the supports put in place this session to support our families and to close the poverty related attainment gap.
During session 2022-2023 we received £67, 375 in Pupil Equity Funding from the Scottish Government.
Whole School
- 1051 school roll
- 6 cluster primary schools
- 11.4% entitled to FSM
- 9% living in SIMD 1-3
- 21% in SIMD 4-7
- 70% in SIMD 8-10
- The majority of young people entitled to FME are living in SIMD 4-7
- Just under 30% total school roll are included in Onwards & Upwards
Our Approach
Our motto at Braes is "build respect and earn success - be part of it". We are a community focused school who understand we all have a part to play in ensuring the best outcomes for our learners. By collaborating with our pupils, Parents/Carers, staff, and partners we have developed an approach to closing the attainment gap that is targeted towards providing individuals with the right support at the right time and ensuring clear progression pathways towards positive destinations.
We understand that being eligible for free school meals is not the only indicator of need. With this in mind our Onwards & Upwards programme includes all pupils eligible for FME, all pupils in SIMD 1-4 and any pupil referred by a member of staff where they feel there is need. This open referral system ensures that no young person is left behind and that everyone has what they need to succeed.
Through our targeted approaches we continue to build on the positive relationships we have with our learners and their families.
The main areas for development:
- attendance
- attainment
- engagement
- confidence
- health & well-being
Our vision acknowledges and addresses the significant barriers faced by families living in poverty and ensures equity of opportunity for all our Braes community. Our plan creates a space where all pupils feel part of our community. We have a restorative and reflective approach when things go wrong that supports young people to address harm and rebuild relationships. Family learning and engagement are key to ensuring young people have the support needed at home and that our families feel confident participants in their young person's learning journey.
Our Onwards & Upwards strategy to close the poverty related attainment gap focuses on key two priorities as part of our SIP:
- 1b - enhance attainment
- 1d - enhance equity of opportunity and achievement
O&U1: raise attainment to ensure equity and enhance educational outcomes for young people affected by poverty
We will:
- Provide strong progression pathways for pupils and families participating in O&U
- Increase attainment of target attainment groups through Year Lead commissions
- Support and improve pupil engagement
- Continue to develop Family Learning and Engagement
- Strengthen supports already in place
O&U2: develop a whole school approach to equity through Cost of the School Day
We will:
- Include DIP action points for ensuring equity
- Raise awareness of attitudes to tackle the stigma surrounding poverty
- Develop and improve communication and engagement with current supports
- Reduce the cost of the school day and maximise income for families
Impact
This session we have
- provided 110 additional qualifications in S4
- 21 additional qualifications banked for our S3 cohort
- introduction of cluster COSD pupil groups supported by Child Poverty Action Group
- provided additional financial support for 25+ families through our Income Maximisation Support Officer leading to over £35,000 additional support for families
- increased engagement with Parent's Evening through our Year Leads
- increased our offering of in person and online support for learners and their families
- continued our strong links with Barnardo's, CLD, Canine Concern Trust, Child Poverty Action Group and CAS Falkirk
Targeted Attainment Groups
Our Targeted Attainment Groups supported by our Year Lead teachers are proving successful in supporting learners to achieve and building strong relationships between home and school. We created close and open track groups for our O&U programmes. Year Leads tracked and monitored pupils throughout the year and were able to intervene early and provide more one to one support as needed. Pupils had a specific teacher they could go to for help and someone they knew would support them across their subjects and support them with the social, health and wellbeing aspects of school as well as the academics.
Each group had core time with their O&U Lead to work together on coursework, additional qualifications, skills development and build relationships. This approach has proved extremely successful and popular with pupils and families.
S1
Our S1 group consisted of 62 pupils in total. The key concerns for this group were attendance and the development of skills in literacy and numeracy. Further support was given with the transition from primary to secondary school.
Within this year group two close track groups were formed. One focusing on Health & Well-being. The other on Literacy & Numeracy.
Focus areas within these groups were:
- Confidence
- Literacy & Numeracy
- Resilience
- Peer Relationships
The introduction of a Monday lunch club proved particularly successful in supporting young people to build and develop relationships with their peers as well as with staff. Throughout the year we have seen increased attendance at lunch club and more pupils requesting to bring friends along to join in club activities. This has been a real positive in supporting young people's health and well-being and has increased confidence and developed social skills easing the transition from primary to secondary. Pupils worked together with our school Therapet, Jamie to develop their confidence in reading and literacy.
Impact:
- 403 positive referrals
- 100% of pupils in our core group received recognition at Junior awards ceremony
- 91% average attendance
- Increased confidence and improved social skills and emotional regulation
- increased attendance and engagement with S1 lunch club
- increased confidence in reading and contributing to class discussion
Flourish
Flourish are a a self-described "small but mighty" group of S1 students who work on developing a variety of skills to be used in their everyday lives.
Using skills-based activities such as upcycling furniture to use at home or rewilding the community using seed bombs the group supports young people to build friendships and gain confidence in their own abilities.
Through Flourish we have seen friendships formed and confidence increasing. Pupils also identified a decrease in anxiety about being in class as the felt more comfortable and supported by their peers.
S2 Strides
Our S2 group comprised of 55 pupils 37 of whom were participants in our close track group.
The gap from this group was identified as:
- anxiety
- peer issues
- attendance
- low-level behaviour issues
Early intervention and providing the right support at the right time is key to ensuring our pupils can succeed. Pupils on the open track group were monitored at each track and moved to close track should further support be required. This involved liaising closely with Pastoral and other Key Teachers and seeking outside agency support where appropriate including regular contact with Parents/Carers.
Our Strides group continued to run each Wednesday lunchtime offering pupils further support and a chance to socialise while having lunch. There have been regular check ins with pupils following referrals being made and at every opportunity, celebrated the successes and praised learners for gaining positive referral’s and contributing positively to the school ethos.
Impact:
- 98% received recognition at the Junior awards ceremony
- 80% took part in extra-curricular activities
- Average attendance of 85% within 4 points of whole school year average meeting our stretch aim for this session
- 6 pupils referred to participate in the Go! Youth Trust holiday programme
Support for Strides lunch club:
safe place where I can get help’
a fun place to be’
S3
Our S3/4 programme provides additional support to learners in our Onwards & Upwards group. Working with small targeted groups throughout the school year our S3 & S4 Year Leads were able to support young people with their classes and coursework whilst also working on additional qualifications to increase opportunities and develop their skills.
S3 Onwards and Upwards Cohort this year had 64 pupils. 36 of which were closely tracked with small numbers of between 8-10 working in Core Groups.
The main areas of focus for this group were:
- attendance
- engagement in school
Impact:
- 21 additional qualifications banked through core group
- 35% increase in attendance at core group
- 8% increase on the number of pupils achieving recognition at this year's Junior awards
- 12 pupils attended Columba 1400 Leadership Academy
I feel like Columba 1400 changed me for the better, I feel so much more calm and able to let other people talk.
A focus this year has been the engagement of parents with three from our S3 group regularly attending "Braes Brew and Blether" run by Cheryl (Open Doors Listening Service) and Helen (Barnardo's Home School Partnership). Parents have also accessed support from our Income Maximisation Officer, Braes Pantry and clothing pop up shops.
I would like to thank Miss Godfrey and the Onwards & Upwards team for their support over the last year, they have been very kind with help with a number of things, through a really difficult time for myself and family, they have supported my daughter who has found school difficult at times and someone has always been there and offered her support and or myself their help has been tremendous."
S4
Our S4 Onwards and Upwards programme provides additional support to learners in SIMD 1-4, FSM pupils and learners referred by Pastoral. In session 2022-2023 there were 69 pupils in total, with 29 pupils closely tracked. Within the close track group there was a group of 14 vulnerable pupils who were all at risk of not attaining.
The focus of the interventions for our S4 Group were:
- improving attendance
- raising attainment
Impact:
Qualifications
- 86 additional qualifications at levels level 3, 4, 5
- 64 National qualifications at Level 3,4 and 5
- 22 wider achievement qualifications at level 4 and 5
- 12 Pupils achieved their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award
- 12 Pupils are currently completing their Level 5 First Aid award
- Supported 15 pupils to complete Nat 4 maths and Nat 4 numeracy
- Our 17 pupils in receipt of FSM’s gained 21 additional qualifications from Level 3,4,5
- Our 8 pupils from SIMD 1 to 3 gained 12 additional qualifications from Level 3,4,5
- All 12 Vulnerable pupils gained at least 5 National qualifications.
- All 12 pupils gained their Bronze Dofe award
- All 12 pupils gained work experience with local companies including Falkirk Council and Falkirk Football Club and the Inchyra Hotel
I was able to use my core periods to help me improve my grades in my final exams as I was able to study by myself and was able to focus so I got a lot of work done. It gave me more confidence going into my exams as I felt like I knew more information. My confidence grew and I felt less pressure going into the final exams"
I feel that everything that used to affect me doesn’t anymore and I don’t go a day without thinking about how Mr Deane made coming to school easy and not seem like a job which it used too, he helped me with everything he could do and I’m very thankful along with my mum and dad who have noticed a change in my attitude and the way I now feel about school. I’m also on work experience every Friday at Falkirk Football club and doing it again in S5 which I love'
Positive Transitions were supported by school staff and our Community Learning and Development worker. This group have a bespoke timetable focusing on building their employability skills with a view of securing a positive destination beyond school. This session our positive transitions group have achieved:
- 100% gained their Bronze Dofe award
- 100% gained work experience with local companies including Falkirk Council, Falkirk Football Club and the Inchyra Hotel
Columba 1400 - Leadership Academy
This year saw us return to partnership working with Columba 1400 as we sent 18 pupils and staff to the Leadership Academy on Skye. Throughout the week the group did various activities aimed at developing leadership skills and core values.
One such activity was the search and rescue where teams had to locate an injured person, build a stretcher and navigate a way back to base carrying the casualty. This was a challenging task and required development of communication skills as well as problem solving and resilience.
Other activities included were visual explorer, mug design and beach walks. This gave pupils to opportunity to express themselves and also to reflect on their values and ambitions for the future.
Upon returning to school the group is working towards a formal qualification in leadership by implementing a pupil designed and pupil-led project to benefit the Braes community. So far the group have presented their initial ideas to our Senior Leadership Team and planned their next session with the Columba 1400 team to start their project.
My young person had an amazing experience in Skye and it has really helped her with her confidence. She has come back so passionate about making a change in the school, thank you’
Family Learning & Engagement
Under the leadership of Miss Kelly our Family Learning programme continues to gain momentum providing a variety of learning opportunities for Parents/Carers as well as enhance our support for families to engage with school and their young person's learning.
- BGE Family Learning Skill Builders Evening
- Family Learning YouTube Playlist
- ASN Family Learning Web Resource
- Senior Family Learning Resource
- Autistic n Awesome Family Evening
- Parent Support Group and Whatsapp Chat
Pupil Premium Funding
This year has seen our biggest spend of Pupil Premium funding so far with a variety of different approaches from intensive study support sessions to providing resources for pupils to learn at home.
By providing detailed feedback to staff on the impact of different opportunities to spend Pupil Premium and target the gap in the classroom we have seen targeted support that really address barriers to learning in specific subject areas.
The most popular use of PP funding has been the provision of intensive study sessions or small group tutoring. Some Faculties, such as Modern Languages, opted to deliver a one-off session focused on preparation for a specific assessment, in this case Talk. Staff noted that when sitting their SQA Talking Performance pupils were more confident in their delivery.
Some other uses of PP funding this session were:
- the provision of micro amps in Music so pupils can practice at home
- whole school access to Digital Theatre allowing pupils to access practical performances and theory resources online
- a whole school license for Achieve Learning which can be accessed from home and provides revision resources and allows pupils to set targets for improvement and test their knowledge over a variety of subjects and levels
- the development of alternative qualifications at National level
- targeted supported study sessions to support National qualifications
Braes Brains
Braes Brains, our peer tutoring programme, harnesses the skills and experience of our Senior pupils who work in small groups or one to one with pupils over a 6 session period to improve their skills and confidence in particular areas of study.
This session we had fifty Braes Brains volunteers supporting whole classes, small groups or working one to one. This session we’ve seen a increase in requests for this type of support coming from pupils themselves showing the positive impact of this support.
Braes Buddies
Jamie (our school Therapet) and Janette continue to support us targeting improvements in literacy. This session saw us piloting a project in functional reading exploring how we can better support literacy across the curriculum. Each faculty provided literacy based tasks for pupils in the BGE which were then used by Janette and Jamie when working with pupils. This has allowed us to refine and develop the programmes of support we currently offer.
Supported by two of our Braes Brains, Jamie has also worked with S1 and S2 English classes to build confidence in reading. Last week our new P7 pupils had the opportunity to meet our "dyanamic duo" and to hear about all the wonderful work they do at Braes.
Braes Pantry & Festive Boxes
Building on our successful Festive Parcels initiative this year we have been providing families with food parcels throughout the year especially during school holidays. We were delighted to receive support from ASDA, Lidl and funding from the National Lottery to purchase a fridge and freezer to allow us to offer an increased variety of fresh and frozen food. This session we also provided families with festive boxes full of treats and activities for during the festive break.
Braes Backpacks
This year we have provided over 20 backpacks to our new S1 intake providing them with all the resources necessary for a successful start to their secondary school career. The most valuable item is definitely the hero messages from our current Senior pupils welcoming pupils to Braes and offering support and advice.
Pop-Up Shops
As an eco school we have seen our reduce, reuse, recycle theme encouraging pupils, staff and parents/carers to make use of our pop-up shops to find pre-loved items to refresh their wardrobe. The online catalogue has proved particularly popular with Parents/Carers while our young people had great fun before the winter break "shopping" in our market place.
Cluster COSD Pupil Group
Our pupil COSD group aims to:
- be the pupil voice around cost of the school day and reduce costs for pupils and families
- improve communication and increase uptake of the supports already in place
- look for opportunities to provide further support to our school community
This year our pupil group began by raising awareness of supports available.
One of the areas of focus this year was to provide early access to the supports available at Braes by working with our cluster primaries to introduce COSD Pupil groups. We began by presenting to cluster Head Teachers before working with Primary Pupil Council members to plan and then deliver a session to pupils in two of our cluster primaries.
Achievements this year:
- Increase in Take What You Need trolleys across the school
- Awareness raising during Challenge Poverty week
- Introduction of Share What You Can encouraging our community to give any items they can spare for others to use
- Development of Cluster COSD pupil groups
- Sessions delivered to primary schools
- Contributions towards CPAG's Child Poverty network "Big Question" leading to our COSD superheroes
- Developing our use social media such as Tik Tok and YouTube to publicise supports at Braes
Income Maximisation Officer
We began working with Falkirk Community Advice Service Benefits and Advice team during session 2021-2022. The trial was so successful that we increased our offering of a dedicated Income Maximisation Officer for Braes High families this session. This gave us direct access to refer families to an Income Support Officer who can work with families to ensure they are getting all benefits to which they are entitled.
This session our IMO has supported 24 families. As a result of this support Braes families have received an additional £35,718.06. We have also noted an increase in families requesting support from our IMO and other supports in school. There is greater participation in school life and an stronger relationships between home and school as we work to be seen as a safe space for families to get support.
We were recently asked to discuss this project as part of an event held by the Improvement Service and Public Health Scotland.
Barnardo's Home School Partnership
Helen, our Barnardo's support worker, is based in Braes one and a half days a week. Working closely with Year Leads, Pastoral Heads and Pupil Support staff, Helen discusses and agrees what type of intervention would be most suitable for each young person/family to a create tailored support package. This session Helen has supported 16 pupils and families in the following areas::
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Promoting pupils strengths and resilience
- Positive pupil attitude to learning - school attendance
- Parenting advice and tips
- Social health and wellbeing
- Family difficulties/challenges
- Conflict resolution -friendships and peer groups
- Braes Brew and Blether Parent/Carer group
I enjoy seeing you and find the Emotional Wellbeing programme helpful. It's given me the strategies to help when I'm feeling low" - Pupil
I've made good friends and we now have our own wee support group chat" - Parent on the Brew & Blether group
During the summer, October and Easter holidays Helen offered additional contact with pupils and families as and when needed. These contacts were made through telephone calls, text, emails, and home visits.
Barnardo’s were successful in a bid for Fairer Falkirk Funding. This funding allowed worker to offer families vouchers for trips to bowling and cinema. Additionally vouchers for Asda and Tesco were made available to families during the holiday periods.
This year Barnardo’s Cost of Living Crisis fund was accessed by worker and 6 applications were made to support families. Six families benefited from this funding, most of the money came in the form of vouchers. One family who were experiencing benefit changes and difficulties were pain cash directly into their bank account. This enabled them to pay bills and buy what they needed from any source.
Impact:
- Positive relationships built between home and school with Parents stating they feel part of the Braes community
- Financial support for families totalling £350 in direct cash and £1,100 in vouchers
- Two Parents/Carers in our Brew and Blether group have achieved their Level 2 Food and Hygiene certificate
If you hadn't kept phoning and coming to my house I wouldn't be sitting here filling in an application for a job, thanks for doing that." - Pupil
Coming to the parent group has made such a difference to me. I left school with no qualifications an hope to get some by coming here" - Parent/Carer
Helen from Barnardo’s has been supporting my daughter in school she has also provided vouchers for food and fuel at Christmas to help with the current cost of living crisis. We have also received e-gift cards to get my daughter items for a trip... This will make her the same as everyone else with nice new clothes. As a family we really appreciate everything Braes does" - Parent
“I was surprised when you called me to offer support with buying clothes for my daughters forth coming school trip. It was very much appreciated by us. Braes have been a great support to us as a family.” - Parent
Making a Difference
This session we we delighted to be finalists in the Making a Difference (Secondary) category at the Scottish Education Awards alongside fantastic programmes such as St. Modan's Autism Provision and Arbroath High school.
We attended the ceremony with members of our Cost of the School Day Pupil Group and were delighted (and surprised) to be announced as winners in our category. We are thrilled for the hard work of our Onwards & Upwards pupils, staff, partners and community to be recognised and we will be working even harder next session to make sure we can continue to make a difference in the lives of our learners and their families.
Creating Sustainable Change
When children are supported, when children are well nourished, when their health and well-being is being looked after, when their families have more income they will succeed more in school" - David Leng, Head of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, Scottish Government
Creating the right culture for sustainable and lasting change is vital moving forward. We are a school that values community, kindness and inclusivity and we have the foundations of strong relationships between home and school to build on our work so far. We are still feeling the impact of COVID in the classroom and recovery remains a focus next session. We will continue with our main focus areas of closing the attainment gap and reducing the costs of education.
Aims for session 2023-2024:
- strengthen attendance
- support the development of positive mental health and emotional regulation strategies
- Literacy & Numeracy recovery programmes in S1-S2
- maintain our approach to additional qualifications for S3 & S4 pupils
- increase our learning opportunities for Parents/Carers
If you would like any more information on the Onwards & Upwards programme at Braes High please see our previous updates or get in touch.
School Website:
Socials:
Twitter: OnandUpBHS
YouTube: Subscribe Braes High
Credits:
Created with images by Pixel-Shot - "Frame made of school stationery on grey background" • Melinda Nagy - "back to school concept pile of books against chalkboard" • fotofabrika - "Study theme with pink piggy bank with chalkboard"