S5/S6 Prelim information Hamilton

Dear S5/S6 Parents

I hope the recent interim report card was informative about your son/daughter’s progress in their courses. The Parents Evening will be online on 30 November from 1700 – 1900 and I trust this will provide you with further information.  As already intimated Mr Charman, Headteacher, will be holding an Open Forum session running from 4pm – 4pm:50pm.  After his short presentation, he will take some time to answer any questions you may have about this year group, the School or you may wish to take the opportunity to ask him questions as the Headteacher. If you would like to present Mr Charman with any questions, please do email them to [email protected] and he will ensure to answer them on the evening. It may be we will be able to answer questions provided to Mr Charman through the ‘chat’ on the Teams call on the evening. This session will run from 4.00 pm to 4.50 pm, which will allow you time to prepare for the 5.00 pm start. Please use this live Open Forum link. Please note that by participating in this meeting you are agreeing to share your email address with other participants.  If you do not wish to disclose your name or email address to other meeting attendees then please do not join this meeting.

I have attached the Prelim Timetable for the forthcoming prelim diet in the New Year.   The prelim diet this year will operate on the following days.

• S5 & S6 study leave is from Monday 17 January 2022 – Friday 28 January 2022 inclusive.

Prelims are very important exams as they are a diagnostic tool for shaping each student’s next steps in their learning.  They also give teachers a clear indication whether to present the pupils at this level of examination. 

During the prelim diet pupils can be in school and study in the School library or parents may choose to allow pupils to study at home.  When in the school building for exams or for studying, pupils must always be in school uniform.  Facemasks must be worn, and pupils will be asked to sanitise hands and observe usual COVID protocols.  All pupils must sign in and out and cannot leave the school between papers.

These prelims will be invigilated by external invigilators to ensure rigor and procedures mirror the SQA exams in May (for S5 and S6).

The first few pages of the Prelim Timetable explain the SQA procedures for the examinations, please ensure that your son/daughter is aware of these. 

Ms McCulloch (learning support) should have confirmed any assessment arrangements with you by letter.  Pupils will receive a separate timetable from Mr Browning, the SQA Co-ordinator, detailing their personal adjustments in due course.

Supported study sessions have been running across subjects and teachers are available at lunch times and/or after school, to assist pupils providing extra support. Times for these can be found on the Team for each subject. Learners also have the opportunity to use the School library for study and homework and this facility is open until 1700.  The librarian, Mrs Lane, is also on hand to support learners and assist with accessing resources. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions regarding these prelim examinations.  I wish every student the very best in these exams.

Yours sincerely,

Heather Stark

Head of Upper School