Westray Junior High School
Our school is at the heart of a vibrant island community. Click below to find out more about the different stages in our school, or read our blog to see what we have been learning about recently.
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Important information for parents and pupils especially thoses in S4 re Covid
Exams 2022 and public health advice: a joint message from the Scottish Government and SQA
Friday 22 April 2022
As we move towards the beginning of the formal exam period on Tuesday, we know centres may have questions around public health guidance in relation to COVID-19.
This email provides advance information on the Scottish Government’s public health guidance, which is set to change in Scotland from 1 May, as well as an update on the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service.
Public Health Guidance
For exams taking place before 1 May, the current public health guidance remains in place with PCR testing available for individuals who are symptomatic, and contact tracing and isolation guidance also remaining in place. Population wide asymptomatic testing (LFD universal offer) ended in mid-April, including in schools.
What is changing from 1 May?
From 1 May, advice to people with respiratory symptoms including COVID-19 will change in Scotland in line with the Test and Protect Transition Plan published on 15 March 2022. The general public will no longer be advised to seek a test if symptomatic.
From 1 May, people with symptoms of respiratory illness in Scotland, including COVID-19, will be asked to follow general public health guidance which will be available on 1 May. As set out on the Public Health Scotland website, this new guidance will be published on NHS Inform and will broadly align with the current UKHSA ‘Stay at Home’ Advice.
In terms of children and young people the guidance will say:
When children and young people with symptoms should stay at home and when they can return to education
Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.
Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test result
It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.
What does this mean for the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service (EECCS)?
SQA, working with the Scottish Government and partners, has today (Friday 22 April 2022) updated the Examination Exceptional circumstances Consideration Service guidance for 2022 to reflect the above.
As has always been the case, the only supporting documentation that SQA requires from the centre in support of an EECCS request is a statement from the head of centre. Given public health guidance, that statement should confirm the individual candidate (or their representative) reported having confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 before 1 May, or more specifically, having a high temperature (37.8C or greater as per the NHS Inform website) and feeling unwell from 1 May onwards.
As part of that established process, for COVID-19 related absences (as with any other medical condition) heads of centre will continue to use their professional judgement to determine what documentation (if any) is needed by them to support an Examination Exceptional Circumstance request and hold that documentation locally.
There should be no requirement for an individual to produce evidence of a positive COVID-19 test for the purposes of the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service. As of 1 May it is not recommended that children and young people (18 years and under) are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
Learners who are absent from an exam owing to COVID-19 or COVID-19-related symptoms as per the relevant public health guidance, may have an Examination Exceptional Circumstance request submitted for them, by their centre, under the ‘personal circumstances’ outline reason and the ‘covid-related absence’ detailed reason.
EECCS – System User Guide
We have also now published an EECCS system user guide which is available on SQA Connect in the ‘Guidance for centres delivering National Qualifications’ section. This guidance provides detailed instructions, with screenshots, on how to use the system, including how to submit and create an EECCS request and the timelines for doing so. Please also note that you are asked to identify any learners who are identified as priority, with a conditional offer for university, college or employment in 2022.
Centres play a crucial role in the safe delivery of the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service, and we are grateful for your ongoing support.
Information for parents, carers and learners
We understand that parents and carers may be anxious about the impact public health guidance may have on whether learners should attend exams if they feel unwell, and we know that many will look to you for advice. To that end we encourage you to use the following information with your networks:
The exams taking place over the next six weeks are a chance for all learners to demonstrate their hard work, skills and knowledge.
Please continue to follow public health guidance, including during the exam period.
The Scottish Government’s current public health guidance remains in place up to and including 30 April. This asks individuals to self-isolate if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID and to book a PCR test.
However, as per the Test and Protect Transition Plan published on 15 March 2022, public health guidance is set to change in Scotland from 1 May.
As set out on the Public Health Scotland website, this new guidance will be published on NHS Inform on 1 May and will broadly align with the current UKHSA ‘Stay at Home’ advice that asks children and young people to stay at home if they have a high temperature and feel unwell.
It is important that you speak to the school/college if you cannot attend the exam for any reason so that you get the advice and support you need on next steps.
More information about attending exams can be found in ‘Your Exams 2022’ on the SQA website.
Exams 2022 and public health advice: a joint message from the Scottish Government and SQA
Friday 22 April 2022
As we move towards the beginning of the formal exam period on Tuesday, we know centres may have questions around public health guidance in relation to COVID-19.
This email provides advance information on the Scottish Government’s public health guidance, which is set to change in Scotland from 1 May, as well as an update on the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service.
Public Health Guidance
For exams taking place before 1 May, the current public health guidance remains in place with PCR testing available for individuals who are symptomatic, and contact tracing and isolation guidance also remaining in place. Population wide asymptomatic testing (LFD universal offer) ended in mid-April, including in schools.
What is changing from 1 May?
From 1 May, advice to people with respiratory symptoms including COVID-19 will change in Scotland in line with the Test and Protect Transition Plan published on 15 March 2022. The general public will no longer be advised to seek a test if symptomatic.
From 1 May, people with symptoms of respiratory illness in Scotland, including COVID-19, will be asked to follow general public health guidance which will be available on 1 May. As set out on the Public Health Scotland website, this new guidance will be published on NHS Inform and will broadly align with the current UKHSA ‘Stay at Home’ Advice.
In terms of children and young people the guidance will say:
When children and young people with symptoms should stay at home and when they can return to education
Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.
Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test result
It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.
What does this mean for the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service (EECCS)?
SQA, working with the Scottish Government and partners, has today (Friday 22 April 2022) updated the Examination Exceptional circumstances Consideration Service guidance for 2022 to reflect the above.
As has always been the case, the only supporting documentation that SQA requires from the centre in support of an EECCS request is a statement from the head of centre. Given public health guidance, that statement should confirm the individual candidate (or their representative) reported having confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 before 1 May, or more specifically, having a high temperature (37.8C or greater as per the NHS Inform website) and feeling unwell from 1 May onwards.
As part of that established process, for COVID-19 related absences (as with any other medical condition) heads of centre will continue to use their professional judgement to determine what documentation (if any) is needed by them to support an Examination Exceptional Circumstance request and hold that documentation locally.
There should be no requirement for an individual to produce evidence of a positive COVID-19 test for the purposes of the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service. As of 1 May it is not recommended that children and young people (18 years and under) are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
Learners who are absent from an exam owing to COVID-19 or COVID-19-related symptoms as per the relevant public health guidance, may have an Examination Exceptional Circumstance request submitted for them, by their centre, under the ‘personal circumstances’ outline reason and the ‘covid-related absence’ detailed reason.
EECCS – System User Guide
We have also now published an EECCS system user guide which is available on SQA Connect in the ‘Guidance for centres delivering National Qualifications’ section. This guidance provides detailed instructions, with screenshots, on how to use the system, including how to submit and create an EECCS request and the timelines for doing so. Please also note that you are asked to identify any learners who are identified as priority, with a conditional offer for university, college or employment in 2022.
Centres play a crucial role in the safe delivery of the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service, and we are grateful for your ongoing support.
Information for parents, carers and learners
We understand that parents and carers may be anxious about the impact public health guidance may have on whether learners should attend exams if they feel unwell, and we know that many will look to you for advice. To that end we encourage you to use the following information with your networks:
The exams taking place over the next six weeks are a chance for all learners to demonstrate their hard work, skills and knowledge.
Please continue to follow public health guidance, including during the exam period.
The Scottish Government’s current public health guidance remains in place up to and including 30 April. This asks individuals to self-isolate if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID and to book a PCR test.
However, as per the Test and Protect Transition Plan published on 15 March 2022, public health guidance is set to change in Scotland from 1 May.
As set out on the Public Health Scotland website, this new guidance will be published on NHS Inform on 1 May and will broadly align with the current UKHSA ‘Stay at Home’ advice that asks children and young people to stay at home if they have a high temperature and feel unwell.
It is important that you speak to the school/college if you cannot attend the exam for any reason so that you get the advice and support you need on next steps.
More information about attending exams can be found in ‘Your Exams 2022’ on the SQA website.
Another Thank You!!
Westray Junior High would like to say a Massive Thank You to Cooke Aquaculture Orkney for their amazingly generous sponsorship donation of £4434.75 towards the cost of new play equipment for our pupils, and some storage. We have a specific list of equipment that we said we would purchase including skipping ropes, racket ball sets, netball hoops etc. Photos will follow once we have ordered our equipment. Thank you to Cooke Aquaculture again.
Westray Junior High would like to say a Massive Thank You to Cooke Aquaculture Orkney for their amazingly generous sponsorship donation of £4434.75 towards the cost of new play equipment for our pupils, and some storage. We have a specific list of equipment that we said we would purchase including skipping ropes, racket ball sets, netball hoops etc. Photos will follow once we have ordered our equipment. Thank you to Cooke Aquaculture again.
Thank You
Westray Junior High would like to say a Massive Thank You to Westray Community Association who donated £133 from the Coffee Morning and Table Top Sale to the Ukraine Save the Children Appeal! Thank you. This money has been paid to the Charity.
Westray Junior High would like to say a Massive Thank You to Westray Community Association who donated £133 from the Coffee Morning and Table Top Sale to the Ukraine Save the Children Appeal! Thank you. This money has been paid to the Charity.
Red Nose Day
Friday
18 March 2022
Red Nose Day is back and here’s what we’ve got planned…….
Baking stall with baking from the Secondary HFT department, Lower Primary and Nursery (donations)
Bead stall with items made by the Upper Primary (donations)
Beat the Teacher ball skills event for the Middle Primary (donations)
Red noses for Comic Relief from 2021 are now 100% plastic-free, and plant based. The new Red Nose is made from bagasse, a natural by-product of sugar cane, chosen for its widely celebrated sustainable qualities.
Red Noses will be available to buy for £1.50 on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th
Other suggestions for supporting red nose day by pupils are painting egg carton boxes red and making a nose from it, using red face paint to paint a nose on etc.
There will also be a donation box if anyone would like to donate. However much we raise, it will change lives, both here in the UK and worldwide.
We’ll also be using Red Nose Day as a learning opportunity to explore the issues facing young people across the world, and how the money we raise can help.
We really appreciate your support.
Friday
18 March 2022
Red Nose Day is back and here’s what we’ve got planned…….
Baking stall with baking from the Secondary HFT department, Lower Primary and Nursery (donations)
Bead stall with items made by the Upper Primary (donations)
Beat the Teacher ball skills event for the Middle Primary (donations)
Red noses for Comic Relief from 2021 are now 100% plastic-free, and plant based. The new Red Nose is made from bagasse, a natural by-product of sugar cane, chosen for its widely celebrated sustainable qualities.
Red Noses will be available to buy for £1.50 on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th
Other suggestions for supporting red nose day by pupils are painting egg carton boxes red and making a nose from it, using red face paint to paint a nose on etc.
There will also be a donation box if anyone would like to donate. However much we raise, it will change lives, both here in the UK and worldwide.
We’ll also be using Red Nose Day as a learning opportunity to explore the issues facing young people across the world, and how the money we raise can help.
We really appreciate your support.
For our S4 Students
E-Sgoil's Easter Study Support School 2022 is open for registration.
The e-Sgoil Easter Study Support programme runs between April 7th and April 14th, providing live interactive daytime webinars.
There will be eighty webinar groups covering sixty-six courses, ranging across levels from N4 through to N5, Higher and AH. Each group will meet for three different online sessions. For further information, and to register please visit https://www.e-sgoil.com/study-support/#ss
E-Sgoil's Easter Study Support School 2022 is open for registration.
The e-Sgoil Easter Study Support programme runs between April 7th and April 14th, providing live interactive daytime webinars.
There will be eighty webinar groups covering sixty-six courses, ranging across levels from N4 through to N5, Higher and AH. Each group will meet for three different online sessions. For further information, and to register please visit https://www.e-sgoil.com/study-support/#ss
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Click here to read our 2021 - 2022 school development and improvement plan.
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We are proud to have achieved the highest level of FairTrade school award.
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We have a link with Chitengu School in Malawi, as part of the Malawi-Scotland partnership. The link helps us learn about life in Malawi, and we fundraise for the school,
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