No feedback received from HT Update posted on 06/02/26.
This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.
Feedback from last HT Update: Click here.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Significant events week beginning 09/02/26; on Tuesday we’ll hold Ramadan Assemblies with S1, S3 and S5 year groups; on Thursday we’ll share subject/course/level recommendations with S3 students as they make choices for S4, we’ll hold our Student Parliament and in the evening it’s our Parent Council 4, held via Teams, see below
Staffing: Our PT Pathways Post is live on myjobscotland and closes on Monday. Interviews this week identified a new Teacher of Chemistry
Parent Council 4: Our next Parent Council Meeting will be held, via Teams, on Thursday 12th February from 7.00pm. Further detail on the website, click here.
Former Students: Ellie Noble is a former student of LHS. She will be running the Barcelona Half Marathon next weekend in memory of Kyle McIntosh, also a former student, who sadly passed away last year. Kyle and Ellie attended Lasswade High School together and were family friends since they were toddlers. Ellie is raising money for Headway, an Edinburgh charity that supports individuals and families affected by brain injury. Click here to access the donation link if you’d like to contribute.
School Session Date Consultation: Reminder. The consultation closes on 09/02/26. It would be worthwhile stating your view as you’ll see 2 options centred on the timing of the Christmas Holiday in 2028/29. The link takes you to the consultation on Citizen Space. Click here.
Spring Formal S3 & S4: Reminder. A group of S3 students are organising a Spring Formal party for all S3 & S4 students. It’s the first time we’ve attempted this event and I’m hoping you’ll encourage your child, assuming they are in S3/4 to attend. The event will take place on Thursday 12th March from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. As the name suggests, this is a formal event. Students are encouraged to wear spring-coloured dresses, shirts, and ties. The evening will include a DJ, drinks, snacks, and plenty of fun. Tickets are on sale at £5.00 and available via ParentPay.
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Response to feedback submitted from HT Update week ending 30/01/26.
| My Question | Comment | Suggestion related to the school this week is: | HT’s Response |
| I am coming to the progressive masculinity event but didn’t receive a text about it. Are the boys to come too or is it parents and carers only? Is it ticketed or do we just show up? Thanks. | Text was sent to all parental contacts. I’d advise checking we have the correct details. You can do this via Parent Portal. The session is parent/carers only. It’s not ticketed. |
This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.
Feedback from last HT Update: Click here.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Significant events week beginning 02/02/26; on Monday we’ll begin our course choice process with S4 and S5 students as they prepare for S5 and S6 next session; on Tuesday we’ll hold a Foundation Apprenticeship Assembly, it’s the Pod Parents’ Evening and we’ll hold our Progressive Masculinity Parent/Carer Evening, see below; on Wednesday our Global Infrastructure students are back at Heriot Watt University; on Thursday we have visitors in school looking at the positive impact of our work with IT
Staffing: Today was Jordana MacDonald’s last day before she heads off to her new PT role in Edinburgh. We wish her well and thank her for her work. In particular, she has been a driving force in what is sector leading work. The success of Global Infrastructure Built Environment to date is in large part due to her knowledge, skill and commitment. On myjobscotland we have readvertised our PT Creative Industries & Pathway post. Interviews this week identified two new Maths teachers with interviews scheduled for other recently closed posts.
School Session Date Consultation: I sent this out earlier in the week but thank you to the eagle eyed amongst you. The consultation closes on 09/02/26 not 02/02/26. It would be worthwhile stating your view as you’ll see 2 options centred on the timing of the Christmas Holiday in 2028/29. The link takes you to the consultation on Citizen Space. Click here.
Progressive Masculinity. All parents/carers should have received a text on Tuesday for this upcoming event. Click here for details. Hope to see many of you there.
Senior Phase Course Choice: On Wednesday evening we held our online Senior Phase course choice information session. A huge thank you to our guests David Aaron from Heriot Watt University who spoke about Graduate Apprenticeships and Ailsa Morgan from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) who discussed Pathways and Support. Slides from the session and a walk through of the course choice process can be found here.
Mobile Phone Consultation: Thank you to the 577 parents and carers who have completed our Mobile Phone Consultation. If you would like to share your views about mobile phone use at Lasswade High School, please take a few minutes to complete this short survey . The survey will close on Wednesday 3 February.
Spring Formal S3 & S4: Reminder. A group of S3 students are organising a Spring Formal party for all S3 & S4 students. The event will take place on Thursday 12th March from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. As the name suggests, this is a formal event. Students are encouraged to wear spring-coloured dresses, shirts, and ties. The evening will include a DJ, drinks, snacks, and plenty of fun. Tickets are on sale at £5.00 and available via ParentPay.
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Response to feedback submitted from HT Update week ending 23/01/26.
| My Question | Comment | Suggestion related to the school this week is: | HT’s Response |
| I had a good phone call with the school nurse Melanie. I was unaware this service was available and my daughter didn’t know either. Would be great for the nurse to have more contact with the students during PSE etc to make the children more likely to use the service | Mel is with us every Thursday. I’m afraid one day only. She does drop-in sessions in the Library Classroom at both the junior and senior lunch. The rest of her time is picking up referrals that come through Student Support. We publicise her service through our usual channels, Google Classrooms, TVs in social areas and via Student Support. We’ll have a think about expanding our ‘marketing’. |
| We saw that you are in the process of reviewing your mobile phone policy. We would like to be recorded as “no mobile phone in the school”. Thanks a lot, parent of future S1/current P7 | Thanks for the prompt. Mrs Yule will link in with the primary schools to initially get their approval to consult. (I’m sure it’ll be fine). Thereafter, we’ll send Google Form links to parent/carers and students in P7 to hear what they think too. |
| I see that there is to be a consultation regarding the school’s mobile phone policy and that a survey will be sent to parents. Is it possible the parents of next year’s S1 students to take part in this survey too? I would be keen to do so. | see above |
| Could the parents of P7 children in the Lasswade catchment give views on the mobile phone policy please | see above |
| Please include P7 parents in mobile phone policy questionnaire as it will relate to our children in the next academic year | see above |
This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.
Feedback from last HT Update: Click here
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Significant events week beginning 26/01/26; on Wednesday we’ll have students involved in Midlothian’s Leadership Pupil Voice meeting, we’ll also hold our Senior Phase Course Choice Information evening, click here; on Thursday we have S3/S4/S5 Course Choice Assemblies, our S6 Holocaust Assembly and more students involved in Midlothian’s Leadership Pupil Voice meeting; Friday is our January Dress Down Day, click here.
Staffing: On myjobscotland we are looking to recruit a Teacher of Chemistry. Interviews begin next week for recently closed posts.
Raising Teens with Confidence: This free, 6-week course aims to help parents / carers and people who work with teens understand how they can best support teenagers to develop confidence, build resilience and promote emotional wellbeing. This course will be run by CLLE and our Home School Practitioner(s) in the Lasswade Library. If interested, book your free space(s) online, click here. For more information visit our website, click here.
Bike Repairs: We are restarting the Friday morning Dr Bike sessions. They started today and will run every Friday during term time. We’re looking for students to bring their bikes into school to get checked and repaired. The bike mechanics will be set up at the front of the school from 0830 and finish up at 1230. My thanks to Mr Fallon, Creative Learning, for organising.
Positive Rewards: All S1-S3 pupils from St Leonards (SL) will get an early Lunch on Monday 26th January. This is a consequence of SL students doing well in our House Points system. We’ve asked teachers to allow all S1 to S3 St Leonards students to leave class at 12.00pm.
Spring Formal S3 & S4: A group of S3 students are organising a Spring Formal party for all S3 & S4 students. The event will take place on Thursday 12th March from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. As the name suggests, this is a formal event. Students are encouraged to wear spring-coloured dresses, shirts, and ties. The evening will include a DJ, drinks, snacks, and plenty of fun. Tickets are on sale at £5.00 and available via ParentPay.
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW): Our DYW Coordinator, Caroline Rosie, has highlighted to me a Newsletter that will be of interest to parents/carers. We ask that you go through the same link on a regular basis, Caroline plans weekly updates. I’ll remind you periodically via this update. If you want to have a look DYW Opportunities Newsletter
Mobile Phones: As you know, we are in the process of reviewing our approach to mobile phones ahead of the 2026/27 session. To date, we have liaised with a number of schools in Edinburgh and Midlothian which have changed their mobile phone policies and we have been impressed by the positive impact these have had on learning, behaviour and ethos. We have also engaged with our Parent Council at meetings on September 23rd 2025 and December 9th 2025. They are supportive of us undertaking a consultation to inform a potential change to policy and procedures.
We are seeking your views to help shape a clear, balanced and evidence based approach that supports learning and wellbeing. You will receive a text message on Monday 26th January with a link to a survey to gather your views on your child’s mobile phone use. Completion of this would be appreciated as your views will shape the approach we adopt going forwards. This survey will close on Wednesday 3rd February.
Sutton Trust UK Summer Schools: We placed the following message this week in relevant Year Group Classrooms regarding an opportunity for students thinking about university, Sutton Trust Summer Schools
ParentsPortal: Thank you to the increasing number of parents/carers using the portal to report absences. Our first S1 report will be issued next week on ParentsPortal, if you have not already registered, details on how to sign up are available on the website, click here.
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Response to feedback submitted from HT Update week ending 16/01/26. We also had a couple of contacts for our VIP request. I’ve emailed the parent/carer to thank them for their help.
| My Question | Comment | Suggestion related to the school this week is: | HT’s Response |
| Can I ask what the protocol is for when parents can not get parents evening slots? To hold a parents evening to get only 1 slot for all class is very disappointing? I’ve emailed the email as stated on link and school email and have had no response? | I’m sorry that’s been your experience. If parents/carers can’t secure appointments they should go through the allocated Student Support caseload person. The emails you mention should make there way to the relevant staff member in Student Support. I’ve seen them this morning and asked them to make contact with you. |
This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.
Feedback from last HT Update: Click here
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Significant events week beginning 19/01/26; on Thursday evening we’ll hold our S6 and Staff Burns Supper
Staffing: Best wishes to Sophie Donaldson Science and Ellie Wood, PE who finished up with us this week. As of Monday Sophie has a gentler commute and Ellie a permanent contract to/in their new schools. Thank you and best wishes to both. On myjobscotland we are looking to recruit a Teacher of Mathematics and Numeracy (BGE), a Teacher of Chemistry, a PT Creative Industries and Pathways and a Senior Support Assistant (IMS).
S6 ‘Last Day’: For planning purposes please be aware that we expect S6 students to be off timetable on Thursday 2nd April from Senior Break onwards. This will facilitate their S6 Celebrations.
Parking/Waiting in Disabled Bays: You may be aware that I reported on this issue on Monday, see link above to feedback from last HT Update. The update on that is, vehicles in disabled parking bays should display a ‘Blue Badge’, essentially allowing them to be there, either parking or waiting. ‘Blue Badge’ parking is for people with disabilities. Midlothian Parking Attendants have been alerted and it is likely that there will be random patrols at the beginning and the end of the school day. They have the authority to enforce those in breach of ‘Blue Badge’ procedures. Please, if you don’t have a ‘Blue Badge’, drop-off/pick up in the main carpark.
Summer School Show: Students were advised this week, via our usual communication channels, that Dance Auditions for this year’s Whole School Production of ‘Legally Blonde The Musical’ will take place on Wednesday 28th January from 3.30pm – 5.00pm in the Assembly Hall. Auditions are open to all students, regardless of their year group. To apply, students should fill out the Google Form posted in Google Year Group Classrooms.
Coldwells Art: Coldwells Art have worked with us for a number of years. They are in the process of closing operations as of Sunday 25th January 2026. The business will transfer to UrPix which should be seamless to both LHS and parents/carers. However, there are legal requirements to share the information below to parents/carers, in compliance with ICO guidelines, regardless of whether you choose to use UrPix. In accordance with ICO’s guidelines, to comply with GDPR and all other relevant regulations, the following information is communicated to you as parents/carers. UrPix will be the sole recipient of data from Coldwells, enabling the fulfilment of all parent/carer requirements, such as historic orders, current leavers sets, class groups, or archive and data requests to remain possible. Please find below the statement from Coldwells that must be shared with parents/carers for compliance.
‘After many years of working with our school photographers, Coldwells Art is unfortunately closing. However, UrPix will continue to provide services to both the school and parents, serving as your primary contact for all data administration. This ensures all historic orders, current Leavers Sets, class groups, or archive and data requests remain possible.
What This Means for You and Your Data:
VIPS: Reminder. Do you know any VIPs that could support the school with a video message or in-person visit to LHS to provide their thoughts, knowledge and experience of the impacts of poverty on individuals or families. If yes, please contact me via the ‘Feedback here’ link below and I’ll forward things onto the students planning an upcoming event.
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Response to feedback submitted from HT Update week ending 09/01/26.
| My Question | Comment | Suggestion related to the school this week is: | HT’s Response |
| I was wondering what could be done about the amount of parents/Carers who are using the Disabled Bays without Blue Badges during drop off and pick up? They are stopping Disabled People from using these Spaces. | Periodically this does appear to be an issue. Thanks for raising it. We usually do a couple of things, and will again, that often helps for a while. 1. Reminder to parents/carers asking them not to do this 2. linking in with our Campus Cop who can and does organise checks with his colleagues. |
Happy New Year everyone. All the best for the year ahead. This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Any feedback received will be responded to and published on Monday afternoon on the school website.
Feedback from last HT Update: Click here
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Significant events week beginning 12/01/26; on Monday we’ll hold an S1 Student Voice Meeting; on Tuesday we’ll hold our S3 Student and Parent Consultation Evening for parents, see below; on Wednesday our Foundation Apprenticeship Global Infrastructure students visit Heriot Watt University; on Thursday we’ll hold S3/S5/S6 Student Voice Meetings; on Friday we’ll hold an S2 Student Voice Meeting;
Staffing: Congratulations to our 4 NQTs who have successfully completed Block 1 of their year. On myjobscotland we are looking to recruit a Teacher of Mathematics and Numeracy (BGE) and a Senior Support Assistant to support our work with the Instrumental Music Service. Congratulations to Emily Jack who is now a permanent member of staff in Biology.
Parent Council: The minute from our last meeting on 09/12/25 is now live on the website, click here. Please ‘save the date’ for our next meeting on 12/02/26. Note this meeting is held online, via Teams.
Late Coming: We are increasingly concerned about the number of students arriving late to school in the morning. This is a pattern that developed pre-Christmas and has been evident again this week. Significant numbers of students are arriving at school after 8:40am which is the start of period 1. This lateness is a concern because students miss the start of lessons and cause disruption to learning and teaching for their peers. Going forwards, we are going to be monitoring late coming more closely with a view to introducing a range of interventions and consequences to encourage punctuality. More information to follow.
S3 Student and Parent Consultation Evening: the following website post gives details regarding this on-line evening, click here.
VIPS: Do you know any VIPs that could support the school with a video message or in-person visit to LHS to provide their thoughts, knowledge and experience of the impacts of poverty on individuals or families. If yes, please contact me via the ‘Feedback here’ link below and I’ll forward things onto the students planning an upcoming event.
Message from Police Scotland: PC Dow our ‘Campus Cop’ has asked me to share the following information with all parents/carers. The message is in the context that the items named in the following message may have been recent Christmas gifts. ‘It is a criminal offence to use e-scooters and off-road bikes (pit bikes, surron’s etc) on roads, pavements and on other public spaces such as cycle paths, parks and school playgrounds. The only legal place to use these vehicles are on private land with the landowner’s permission. If you already own one of these vehicles, I urge you and your child to not use these in public places to avoid risking the safety of you, your child and others. If stopped using one of these vehicles, it may be seized, and the driver may be charged with road traffic offences if applicable. To ride an electric bike, you must be at least 14 years old and the bike must comply with specific requirements. The following link provides more information regarding these requirements – Riding an electric bike: the rules – GOV.UK Should you have any questions regarding this, you can contact Bonnyrigg community officers on the following email address – bonnyriggcpt@scotland.police.uk.’
Wider Achievement News: Reminder. If you’ve not managed so far please have a look at the latest Wider Achievement News. It’s the December 2025 Edition and you’ll find it here on our website, click here. Be aware there’s a lot in it and it might take a minute to load. My thanks to Rebecca Hardie who works in our Creative Design Team for her leadership on this.
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher