WELCOME!!!

St Machan’s Primary School is situated in the west side of the village of Lennoxtown

in a rural position at the foot of the Campsie Fells. It serves the Roman Catholic

Communities of Lennoxtown, Haughhead, Milton of Campsie and Torrance.

There are 229 pupils on the school roll from P1 – P7. All children entering P1 have

attended local authority or private nurseries for at least one year. Our associated

secondaries are St Ninian’s High School in Kirkintilloch and Turnbull High in

Bishopbriggs.

The staffing compliment of 11.49 full time equivalent teachers includes the head

teacher, depute head teacher, principal teacher and a further 9 class teachers, two of

whom are job share. In addition we have an allocation of 0.3 Network Support from

the Local Authority and a visiting peripatetic teacher (brass tuition). As part of our

McCrone staffing allocation we have a P.E. specialist (0.4).

The school is also supported by three classroom assistants, five support for learning

assistants, two of whom are part time, two full time secretarial staff and a site

co-ordinator (janitor).

The School Support Co-ordinator who serves all of the primary cluster schools is also

based in the school.

The school benefits greatly from the hardwork and support of our P.T.A. and School

Board and from the dedicated commitment of our Parish Priests. Each year we share a

joint carol service with Lennoxtown Primary School held alternately in St Machan’s

and Campsie Parish Church. Further links with the wider community are encouraged

through ongoing work in religious education, environmental studies, local authority

initiatives and local community groups.

The curriculum covers all areas recommended in the National Guidelines and the balance of the timetable is monitored by both staff and S.M.T.  Each session every teacher is furnished with a timetable which ensures equitable use of shared resources and areas. This is monitored to facilitate breadth and balance across all areas of the curriculum. Time allocation for teaching Mathematics and Language have been increased to 20% for each and reflects our emphasis on raising attainment.

Mathematics – Scottish Heineman Maths is the core scheme for level A-D. Teejay Maths has been introduced at level E for P6 and P7 pupils as it was easier to identify themes and topics in level E which are covered in discreet blocks. Teejay Level C is also a resource which is used from P4 - P7 for specific groups of pupils as it does not have the same language content as Scottish Heinemann Maths.

Mental Interactive Maths and 100 board training (Local Authority Initiative) in staff development initiatives have been incorporated into the learning and teaching programme from P1 – P7. The core problem solving core scheme is North Lanark

(A-E) and the development of strategies is clearly displayed in the planning through the levels. Maths has been further developed through timetabling classes for an extra “computer suite” mathematics block which is supported also by additional support staff. The Easiteach Maths I.C.T. programme is used form P1 – P7. The Maths policy which has been reviewed and implemented takes account of all of the above and intervention and formative assessment strategies. Our liaison with St Ninian’s High School were further developed by visits from St Ninian’s Maths Department

Language

In Language the core reading resource is Storyworlds (P1 – P3) and Literacy World (P4 - P7). Jolly Phonics is the core phonics programme in P1 and P2. From P2 – P6 Spelling made Easy is the core spelling resource. This is superseded in P7 by Nelson Spelling. There is a termly focus in writing to ensure that all aspects are covered in detail in the school year.

The Local Authority Intervention Programme for 2005/2006 was in P7 and the theme was Reading into Writing. The Intervention Programme has had a significant impact on Staff Development as has the recent initiatives in Formative Assessment.

New schemes have also been introduced for Grammar (Nelson) and Comprehension (Nelson) (P3 – P7).

Our paired reading Project continues in the spring for 6 weeks for P2 and P6 pupils. Writing moderation and peer assessment with our secondary colleagues from the English Department in St Ninian’s also took place as part of the Intervention P7/S1 pilot.

The Religious Education Programme followed is the Alive O programme and the planners used are the Motherwell Diocese Planners. These planners include the study of Other World Religions and Sacramental Preparation in Primary 3 and Primary 4. The comprehensive R.E. programme is fully supported with strong links with our Parish Priests and R.E. and Diocesan Centre.

The P6 and P7 R.E. Sex and Moral Education programmes are delivered in P7 after considerable parental involvement at workshops.

Our P7 pupils visited the Glasgow Synagogue as part of their R.E. programme.

The May inservice included presentations on Inclusion from the S.E.E.D. and “The Dignity of The Child”.

As part of our responsibility of “duty of care” all our staff are alerted to recognise the emotional, physical and social needs of our pupils and it is seen as an all staff responsibility to act appropriately.

Staff strive to inculcate Gospel Values of mutual respect for each other and to reflect this in their interactions with pupils.

P.S.E. is also developed through circle time programmes as well as classroom standards/rules and monthly awards ceremonies. Pupils/Staff worship once/month at Mass and at assemblies.

Appropriate programmes of study are provided for P.E. Drama, Music, Art and Design. These programmes provide learning and teaching plans which meet national requirements. Progress and continuity are ensured by following these clear curricular programmes.

In Art and Craft there was a whole school inset for all staff (teaching & support) on the Borders pack and this scheme has now been implemented and resourced. We have a P.E. specialist (0.4) as part of our McCrone allocation and there are numerous after school extra curricular P.E. projects (P4 – P7).

The children enjoy a wide range of P.E. activities which cover all aspects of the 5-14 curriculum.

In Music the core schemes are Carousel and BBC Broadcasts. We presently have an instrumentalist for Brass tuition and our P4 pupils were taught the Ocarina by one of the class teachers.

The Drama scheme is the Strathclyde pack and classes have timetabled Drama blocks in the Assembly Hall.

Swimming is provided for P5 pupils and extra curricular soccer provided by E.D.C. soccer school.

Our P7 pupils participated in the E.D.C. Cycling Proficiency Scheme and P5 – P7 pupils from the Athletics Club represented the school at local and district level.

There has been considerable support from our Active Schools Co-ordinator for a host of activities – notably playground games in conjunction with P.T.A., sponsored walks, dance, Tops Sport, netball and fitness. Our Active Schools Co-ordinator has liaised with us to provide an enhanced P.E. curriculum. Similarly our Cultural Co-ordinator has worked with P5 on an Arts/Museum Project and our P3 pupils were involved in a film project with the Cultural Co-ordinator and a private company.

We have a fortnight of Burns Celebrations (supper, competition and concert) and our annual Christmas/Nativity show which our E.Q.D.S. officer attended.