Parent Information

(a) COMPLAINTS, ENQUIRIES, FAQs

We wish to ensure that we answer parental enquiries and respond to parental complaints courteously, speedily and effectively.

 

Routine enquiries by parents or carers about High School students at Wester Hailes Education Centre should be addressed to the appropriate Guidance Teacher and can be made by telephone or in writing. Any enquiries can also be made by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

 

If you wish to meet a guidance teacher or member of school management, please arrange an appointment by telephone or by writing.

 

If you have a complaint about our school you should contact the head teacher in the first instance. If the complaint is about school meals or transport, contact Education Department staff on the following telephone number: 0131 469 3000 or 0131 469 3991/3352 (transport).

 

If you are still dissatisfied you can contact the Education Department's Advice and Conciliation Service (telephone: 0131 469 3233). This service provides a helpline during office hours and can advise you how to take further action. Alternatively, you can put your request in writing to the Principal Officer, Advice and Conciliation Service, at the Education Department address as follows: Wellington Court, 10 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG. The Advice and Conciliation Service will investigate your complaint and try to help resolve it as quickly as possible.

 

After you have gone through our complaints process, if you are still not happy, you have the right to take your complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, 23 Walker Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HX, Telephone: 0870 011 5378. Generally if you want to do this, you must contact the Ombudsman within one year.

 

Your Questions Answered

 

Academic Standards

 

Q: Does the High School at Wester Hailes Education Centre offer the same academic opportunities and standard as neighbouring High Schools?

 

A: Yes. Wester Hailes Education Centre is a High School with the same range of Standard Grade and Higher courses as other schools in the neighbourhood. Our results continue to improve. In 2004 we achieved our best overall Standard Grade results ever and these have been maintained. In recent years a number of pupils have gained University places at Imperial College, London, and St Andrews University as well as at the local universities. Many others have advanced to good jobs offering training. In 2006 one of our students achieved a record by obtaining nine Standards Grades, all of them passed at Credit level. (Most students across Scotland sit either seven or eight Standard Grades). Of the nine Credits, eight of them were Grade 1s, the very highest grade possible. Wester Hailes Education Centre can support, challenge and stretch the most academic of young people as well as support, develop and encourage young people with difficulties.

 

Q: How does Wester Hailes Education Centre manage behaviour?

 

A: The vast bulk of our students are committed to learning and their behaviour is excellent. Thanks to our behaviour management scheme which rewards positive behaviour and punishes anti-social behaviour, we have an excellent record which compares favourably with other schools. To minimise class disruption, we have a base, manned by a senior teacher at all times, to which any pupil who disrupts a class is sent. As your local High School we do our best to meet the needs of all the youngsters in the area. A recent HMI report praised many aspects of our work with school pupils, including the

effectiveness of learning support and the quality of pastoral care.

 

Q: Does Wester Hailes Education Centre encourage homework?

 

A: The High School has a strong homework policy. All pupils at all stages are encouraged to do homework and are issued with a homework diary to help organise homework and after-school activities.

 

Q: How does the High School tackle bullying?

 

A: We have been commended for our tough policy on bullying. Thanks to our guidance system which encourages youngsters to talk about problems in confidence, and staff supervision of corridors and toilets, unique to the High School, we are able to minimise bullying. In addition, we have recently introduced a system whereby concerns about bullying can be communicated via a text message. All reports of bullying are treated seriously and dealt with in the strictest confidence.

 

Q: How does the High School deal with truancy?

 

A: We work hard with parents to encourage school attendance. We check attendance period by period during the day and communicate concerns immediately to parents.

 

Employment

 

Q: What does the High School do to ensure that youngsters leave school to worthwhile employment?

 

A: The High School has a carefully planned programme of activities which lead naturally towards employment. This includes sampling a wide range of job skills, a number of mock interviews and work experience for all, as well as support for application forms and CV preparation.

 

Q: How do employers view the High School pupils?

 

A: The High School has a good reputation with employers. We have strong links with many local employers. The record shows that employers have a positive regard to our pupils.

 

Q: What can our youngsters do to gain a job at the end of school?

 

A: All pupils who are about to leave for employment work intensively with our resident careers staff to clarify final career ideas. They then complete job application forms for all the job opportunities which are available.

 

 

Links: Careers Scotland

http://www.face-edinburgh.org.uk