Parent’s Area

Partnerships

Partnerships are an essential component of education, providing the opportunity to broaden the scope of pupils’ experience, understanding, and involvement in their changing physical, social and personal world. As well as the essential partnership between pupil, parent and school staff, Turriff Academy has also encouraged and developed a variety of additional ones in order to enhance opportunities and enrich the experience of those in the learning community.

Parents

The involvement and engagement of parents in the development and progress of their child’s learning experience is a key aspect of partnership. This partnership is encouraged through Parent Consultation Meetings, Parent Information Evenings, the reporting programme, liaison with Guidance, Learning Support and Pupil Support, Parent Newsletters, the Parent Forum and Parent Council, the PTA, Parent Newsletters, Drama/Music productions and social events.

Parent Council

Please see Parents’ Area which includes Weekly Bulletin, Parents’ Calendar, Newsletters, What’s on Guide, Handbook, Parent Council Information and PTA (Parent Teacher Association) Information.

Pupils

Establishing a rewarding partnership between pupils and staff is the core of successful learning. As well as providing as stimulating a learning environment as possible and interesting and engaging course materials, we constantly try to provide as wide a range of additional experiences as we can to help foster productive relationships between pupils and staff at all levels. Trips and excursions, visits, residential stays, clubs and societies, Pupils’ Council, opportunities for responsibility, study clubs and groups, sporting activities, enterprise activities, etc, all encourage the development of positive partnerships, mutual respect and a common goal of the fulfilment of potential for all, both in the school and the wider community.

Community

The local community and its business community also form an important component of our partnerships. Business & Enterprise Education (part of the Technologies Faculty) actively seeks cooperation with local businesses and has forged strong ties and developed a highly successful ‘mock interview’ programme for pupils in the senior school. In addition, many subjects have productive links with industry and other external bodies and Personal & Social Education, amongst others, has links to the Charities sector. The local Public Library has close links with the School Library and has cooperated in programmes developed by the Academy and another of its key partners, Community Education. The Lifelong Learning Committee, chaired by Community Education, involves many of our partner organisations.

Primary Schools

The local primary schools are a vital part of our learning community and there are well established formal links which allow regular dialogue and cooperative planning, enabling benefits for both pupils and staff. These include:

  • Induction visit for Primary 7 pupils prior to their move to the Academy.
  • Guidance visits in preparation for the above.
  • Joint work programmes in subjects to aid primary/secondary transition.
  • Shared aims in the development of ICT and Enterprise skills.
  • Working groups to share assessment practice, standards and mutual understanding of needs.

Further Education

Turriff Academy has a long history of working with the Further Education sector. Collaborative programmes were established with Banff & Buchan College of Further Education in the late 1980s; these have expanded significantly and now include a formal partnership arrangement with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). The SQA Skills for Work courses now form an important part of the Senior Phase and are delivered by college staff either in school or at College Outreach Centres. In S5 & S6 pupils have the opportunity to ‘fast-track’ into Engineering courses via the Higher+plus programme. As well as these, the college cooperates with the Academy in wide ranging and constantly evolving programmes including, Sociology, Haidressing, Energy and taking part in a Motor Vehicle Hub.

Higher Education

Guidance staff liaise with Higher Education establishments and UCAS to provide senior pupils with the skills and knowledge to move confidently into this new learning environment. Visits to universities and colleges, attendance at lectures, links with university libraries and study facilities, visiting speakers and presenters, development of CVs and related skills, and opportunities for increased responsibility, all help to support this important transition to life beyond school.
SQA

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the body that organises and oversees the national examination system in Scotland. The Senior Management Team (SMT) within the Academy, along with Support for Learners and subject staff, work closely with the SQA to ensure that pupils are examined appropriately at a level that enables them to progress along pathways relevant to their age and ability. The member of the SMT directly responsible (SQA Coordinator) maintains regular formal and informal contact and, along with Learning Support staff, ensure that the necessary support is in place to provide all pupils with the opportunity to achieve their best in these important national examinations.

Many Academy staff work as SQA markers and in other support capacities and all staff are encouraged to take part in SQA Professional Development Workshops and utilise other support mechanisms, either directly or via the many web-based facilities.

Other Partnerships

Similarly, Guidance staff work closely with SDS (Skills Development Scotland) and employers to provide a programme of work, presentations, experiences and opportunities to give pupils a springboard into life beyond school and the world of work.

Senior Management, Guidance, Learning Support and Pupil Support have established vital partnerships and close working relationships with a wide range of agencies and support services in an effort to provide the maximum support for pupils and their families. These include Health Services, Social Work and Family Support, Legal and Law services, Psychological Services in the public sector and many agencies in the charitable sector, such as Barnardos. Regular meetings are held to review progress and development of casework.