After the Easter holidays our pupils from POD 1 and 2 had a trip filled week. They visited the Royal
Mile, completing a scavenger hunt quiz along the way, before eating lunch at Arthur’s seat. The trip
wouldn’t have been complete without a wee visit to the fudge shop on the way back up the mile to
catch the bus.
On Wednesday the pupils made the most of the great weather and had a fun filled afternoon at Fort
Douglas at Dalkeith Country Park. It was lovely to see them playing together as one big group and
encouraging each other to try new things.
Lastly on Thursday they visited the National Museum of Scotland. They explored the exhibits that
interested them which turned out to be al of them! Some of the favourites included the Animal
Kingdom as Pod 1 have been learning about animal adaptions. The explore area was also a hit as they
tested their reflexes and investigated changing technologies. They also visited the roof terrace and
enjoyed clear views of Edinburgh, including parts of the Royal mile they visited on Tuesday.
During these trips the pupils put into practise important life skills they have been learning in the
classrooms. These included using pupil transport and road safety. We are proud of our pupils for
representing our school with pride and respect throughout. They are already enthusiastically asking
their teachers when the next trips will be!
I am sharing an Outcome Report relating to the recent school day alignment consultation held over February and March. Over 2000 responses were submitted and on Thursday 25th April the Midlothian Business Transformation Strategic Group approved the proposal.
This means that from Monday 3rd of June 2024 all Midlothian secondary schools, including our school, will begin classes at 8.40am, (Monday through Friday). In each secondary school classes will finish at 3.25pm, (Monday through Thursday). On a Friday classes in each secondary school will finish at 12.15pm.
For those who travel by school transport we are working with providers to move to a morning drop-off no earlier than 8.20am. I’ll keep you informed as that work progresses.
It means that the overall length of the pupil/student week for all Midlothian secondary schools will be the same and organised across 32 x 50 minute periods. This is no change for LHS. All 32 periods, Monday Period 1 through to Friday Period 4, will start and end at the same time in each school.
Lunch in all schools will be set at 40 minutes, this is a reduction of 10 minutes for LHS, with a commitment to review this in autumn 2025 for possible revision in school session 2026/27. All schools are committed to reviewing this as the ‘result’ in the consultation was very close between those who agreed with the 40 minute proposal and those who didn’t.
Additional detail is contained in the Outcome Report, click here.
One piece of feedback received from last week. Helpful suggestion from a parent that I’ll address this Friday in my HT Update.
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. Feedback received, where appropriate, will be responded to and published each Monday on the school website.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: Significant calendar events next week; on Monday our Senior Phase Study Leave relating to the 2024 SQA Exam Diet begins; on Wednesday 64 S1 students are taking part in our Bannockburn Trip, on Wednesday and Thursday we have our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Practice Expedition.
Staffing: Congratulations to Harry Gaughan (Science) who has secured a permanent post at Craigroyston HS in Edinburgh. Harry takes up his post there from August. On Monday we welcome Amy Elliot to the Creative Learning team as a Learning Assistant.
Car Park: A reminder to all parents/carers that disabled bays should only be used by those that have a blue badge.
School Office: Our School Office will now close at 4pm on a Wednesday due to weekly team meeting. Reception and the phones will not be manned after this time.
SQA 2024: The SQA website has posted a recent item that may be of interest to parents/carers if you have children in our Senior Phase, click here.
SQA 2024: We are asking that parents/carers reinforce the following message if they have children in our Senior Phase sitting exams. Candidates/students must ensure that they arrive in plenty of time for their exam, they need to be here at least 15 minutes before the start time to be seated and logged in (if appropriate). In addition, it is vital that students check the boards when they come into school, we sometimes make changes to the rooms and seating, as issues arise, so students need to double check for updates when they arrive.
Student Support Update: As Mrs Main takes up an Acting Depute Head Teacher role, there are some changes to Student Support teachers within St Leonard’s. For this term, Miss McDonald will continue as Student Support teacher for 1SL1, 1SL3, 2SL1 and 2SL3. Mrs Main will resume her role as Student Support teacher for 3SL1 and her previous Senior Phase classes. Mrs Sharp continues as Student Support teacher for all other SL classes.
Recruitment Event: Midlothian have asked us to share the following: Leaving school or starting to consider a future career that will make a difference? Come along to a recruitment event at Edinburgh College’s Eskbank Campus on Friday 17 May between 4pm and 6pm and Saturday 18 May from 9am to noon. Teams from Midlothian Council’s Education and Children’s Services, Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership, Skills Development Scotland, the Department of Work and Pensions and the Third Sector will be on hand with information on job opportunities including apprenticeships and training.
The kind of jobs and careers information on offer will be:
Come along for a chat to find out what’s on offer, how to apply and funded training and support available. You can also apply online:
School Leavers: Any S4-6 student who is leaving in June needs to return their Chromebooks. They can retain them for the exam period and we understand many will want to do that. After that students need to return their Chromebook to school. Students can bring them in at any time but we’ll have a dedicated return slot on 31st May from 9:30 -11:30am as well. We’ll send a reminder about this. Click here to view a graphic to support students in preparing their Chromebook for return.
School Uniform: Click here to access a leaflet from Borders re their 20% discount off uniform which closes on Sunday 19th May.
If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Attached is a programme of Grade Booster sessions offered as final formalised support before exams. These are online opportunities for learners to check in with teachers, get last minute feedback and ask any questions ahead of the final exam. Exams that are on with this week will not appear, as students have been in school and have had access to staff in their timetabled classes.
Joining instructions will be shared on individual subject Google Classrooms.
Two responses from parents/carers this week. Both are confidential in nature and have been passed on to staff mentioned or staff with relevant responsibilities.
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. Feedback received, where appropriate, will be responded to and published each Monday on the school website.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: It was lovely to welcome the students back on Tuesday, I hope families enjoyed their time together over the Easter Break. Significant calendar events next week; on Monday the 2024 SQA Exam Diet begins; on Wednesday and Thursday we have Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Practice Expeditions; Friday is our April Dress Down Day.
Staffing: Goodbye and best wishes to Neil Stewart who leaves us for Newbattle HS next Friday and to Yvonne Chan who leaves us for Saltersgate School on Thursday. We are also delighted to announce the birth of Caroline Brown’s baby: Ruaridh Alistair Brown was on 12th April weighing 8lb 13oz. Mum and baby are both doing well.
SQA 2024: A number of our students opt to type rather than write their responses during their exams. A video is available on S4-6 Google Year Group Classrooms showing how to use a digital answer booklet. Students who are typing in exams should watch this to familiarise themselves with the format and how to avoid common problems and issues. Parents/carers can click here if they’d like to view the video.
SQA 2024: Early next week a timetable of Grade Booster sessions will be shared on Google Classrooms and posted on our website. These will be hosted virtually through subject Google Classrooms and give students the chance to ask last minute questions, get additional feedback or reassurance ahead of exams. Subjects with exams before the official start of study leave, on Monday 29th April, will organise these opportunities during timetabled classes.
SQA 2024: As SQA exams start next week, rooming across the school will be exceptionally tight. This is to accommodate those students who we can’t fit into the hall or who have bespoke arrangements. It means some S1/2/3 classes are moved to new rooms. This will be particularly true next week as students are not yet on exam leave. Today we held Assemblies with S1/2/3 students stressing the importance of responsible behaviours and a mature attitude during this exam period. Please ask your child about their Assembly and encourage them to show a high level of maturity as they move around the school and patience if their class is not in their normal room.
Fire safety: Due to fire safety regulations and the construction of our new POD outdoor grounds, we have relocated the assembly points for S1 students. Henceforth, the designated assembly points, if the school has a fire/emergency evacuation, will now be situated on the grass near the astro-pitch.
School Leavers: Any S4-6 student who is leaving in June needs to return their Chromebook. They can retain them for the exam period and we understand many will want to do that. After that students need to return their Chromebook to school. Students can bring them in at any time but we’ll have a dedicated return slot on Friday 31 May from 9:30 -11:30am as well. We’ll send a reminders about this. There’s a poster click here to support students in preparing their Chromebook for return.
Lasswade Book Day: Our Book Day will be held on Thursday 23rd May, save the date. Last year was a huge success, with staff and students participating in quizzes and treasure hunts, prizes and lots of dressing up! We are currently planning for more of the same this year. Staff and students are invited to dress up as a character from a book that day, and there will also be activities to participate in both in and out of class. Details to follow over the next few weeks.
Midlothian School Session Dates, 2025/26 and 2026/27: Midlothian wants to hear the views of parents/carers on the proposed Midlothian School Session Dates for 2025/26 and 2026/27. Please follow this link to comment on the proposed school sessions dates: click here – and we would welcome your comments on this proposal. I believe this consultation may be closing on Monday so a weekend activity. Apologies. A report on the consultation and the session dates will go to a meeting of the full Council for approval. Once agreed, the final dates will be on Midlothian website.
Parent/Carer Survey: Thank you to the almost 300 parents/carers who have completed our survey. Please click here to access the summary of the responses from our most recent parent/carer survey. You’ll see, and be able to compare results with two earlier surveys. We are looking to see greens and yellows in the ‘Positive’ column, and that seems to be the trend when we compare years. Although the numbers of respondents have declined over the 3 surveys, the response rate is still statistically valid. Questions 16, 26 and 27 are low due to these often not being relevant. for many parents. We’ll reflect further through this term as we complete more analysis, including looking at the comments. We’ll also delve deeper at our next parent Council Meeting
Friday Youth Club: This poster click here has been placed in all Year Group Google Classrooms
S1 Social Time: As of Monday it has been agreed that S1 will be allowed to go out in the community during break and lunchtimes. Expectations of them during this time will be reinforced at today’s assembly.
School Uniform: Please click here to access a leaflet from Borders re their upcoming 20% discount off uniform which opens Monday 22nd April and closes Sunday 19th May.
If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Two items of feedback were received from our last HT Update published just before the Easter Break.
The first was a question relating to our P7 Maths Challenge, we’ll pick that up directly with the parent. The second was from a parent thanking our staff for running the Easter School. The student had found the two sessions he attended really beneficial.
This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon. Given the holiday, it’s a Thursday edition this week! It’s a simple opportunity for you to also feedback/ask questions via the link at the bottom of each Update. Feedback received, where appropriate, will be responded to and published each Monday on the school website link. Again, given the holiday the response will be upon our return.
Key messages from this week
Calendar: School breaks up today and we welcome back all students and staff on Tuesday 16th April; please note our Easter School will run during the break, see below. Events on our first week back are fairly light: on Thursday we’ll hold HPV vaccinations and work with primary pupils on a P7 Maths Challenge; on Friday we’ll allow our S6 to be off-timetable prior to the SQA Exam Diet beginning, our School Captains are working on a special programme of events.
Staffing: The long awaited maternity for Mrs Brown began today. I’m pleased to say she was working right to the end, chairing a meeting with the Head Teacher’s of our associated primary schools. We’ve had the hot water and towels on standby for a wee while but thankfully they were not required. However, our Early Education and Child Care students are disappointed that an anticipated practical assessment opportunity did not transpire. It should not affect their overall qualification. This week Claire Main was appointed 0.4 full time equivalent Depute Head Teacher until the end of June 2024. Mrs Sharp and Miss MacDonald will step up roles and involvement in St Leonards House. Carly Heywood has been appointed full time Principal Teacher Humanities on an acting basis until March 2025. We also appointed Matt Dryden as a Principal Teacher within our Mathematics Team. Matt will join us in August. Today we also said thanks and farewell to two members of our Science Team, Rachel Paul and Jennifer Richmond, who are moving onto new schools after Easter. Rachel to Newbattle CHS and Jennifer to Whitburn Academy.
Quality Improvement Parent Carer Survey: We send out a general survey to parents/carers every two years. The link was sent initially on 15/03/24 as a text message to the main parent/carer contact of all our students. Last Friday we sent a reminder. Thank you to those, over 230 parents/carers, that have managed to complete the survey. We are getting close to a statistically valid sample. A final reminder text will be sent to all parents/carers later today (please ignore it if you’ve already completed the survey). Please take the time to fill it in if you’ve not. Your response helps us to confirm what we do well and gives us a basis to think about improvements to our work. We’ll close the survey on Tuesday 16th April.
SPOTY: Lasswade High School, in partnership with Active Schools, hosted the Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) awards last week. Teachers, parents/carers, VIPs and guests came along to celebrate and promote sporting success within the school. LHS PE staff, Sarah McKay, and Lasswade Active Schools Coordinator, Katie McPherson, organised the event with students from our Sports Council offering help and support. We are grateful to our Parent Council for supplying teas and coffees at ‘half time’. Mark Martin, hosted the evening superbly. Over 1600 votes for the finalists of the main award, Sports Personality of the Year, were cast with Harry Jackaman taking home the main award, for his achievements in rugby. This includes breaking into the Scotland U18s squad. He’s got a truly phenomenal sidestep.
Free School Meals: Reminder that Midlothian have asked us to share the following, click here in relation to free meal payments over the holiday period.
School Uniform: Reminder, please click here to access a leaflet from Borders regarding their upcoming 20% discount off uniform. The offer opens on Monday 22nd April and closes Sunday 19th May.
HPV Vaccinations: Please click here to see the attached schedule for Thursday 18th April. Information will be shared with students first week back.
SQA 2024: We posted an important story on our website today regarding the SQA Examination Diet, please click here.
Easter School: During the Easter Holiday Lasswade teachers are offering Easter School to help support revision for SQA Exams. An updated timetable has been placed in Year Group Google Classrooms. Today students, and parent/carers, should receive an email confirming allocated sessions. Some subject sessions have been oversubscribed and my thanks to Miss Whittingham and colleagues who’ve been working to resolve issues. It has not been possible in all cases I’m afraid.
If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below
Take Care
Campbell Hornell, Head Teacher
Exam Timetable
This week students were issued with their final exam timetables and copies of SQA’s Your Exams support document. An online copy of this is provided below.
Your-Exams-2024-school-edition
It is critical that students check their personal timetables carefully and report any errors to Ms Struthers in Rm 112, or to Mr Hunter in Creative Learning.
Below you will find a copy of the PowerPoint shared at assembly today, along with a full Lasswade High School exam schedule. Please note that most of our morning exams start at 8:30, this is to fit with the timings of the school day. Please note we have provided only the ‘main exam’ schedule – students who have additional time should adhere strictly to heir personalised timetables, given out yesterday.
In advance of the exams, the SQA have provided details of the services that are available to students if they are unable to sit an exam, for a reason ‘outwith their control’. The SQA have also outlined their approach to the Appeals procedure and how coursework will be graded this year. This full communication can be viewed here.
Exceptional Circumstances
There are times when student cannot sit an exam for reasons that are outwith their control – these are called ‘exceptional circumstances’. If your child cannot attend an exam it is vital that you let us know so that we can prepare alternative evidence for them. Alternative evidence is in the form of formal assessment materials that have been produced throughout the course of the session. It is important to note that not all absences from an exam are exceptional circumstances, and students must have completed all non- exam components (i.e. assignment, project…) to qualify for this service.
Grading
This year full course assessment returned in many subject areas. The SQA are mindful of the fact that students are completing coursework for the first time and will consider this in their grading decisions.
Appeals
In keeping with last year, appeals will be free for all students and open to all students for any of their qualifications. Appeals will involve a review of SQA marked exam or coursework only, and not any alternative evidence. More details on how to access this service will be provided in the coming weeks, and we will provide support for appeals following the publication of results.
Study Leave
Last week we published details of our study leave programme. Study leave will run from 29th April to 29th May (inclusive). Students who have an exam between 22nd April and 29th April are entitled to take an additional study day the day before an exam.