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
Our fourth planned Parent Council Meeting of the session will be held on Thursday 12th February 2026. The meeting will be held on-line, via Teams. Parents/carers will be sent the link to the meeting, to their phones, on Thursday morning. The meeting begins at 7.00pm and should last just over an hour, and certainly finish no later than 8.30pm.
At the meeting we plan discussions on
All parents/carers are welcome to ‘attend’. As stated, we’d love to see some new folk!
Please send in any questions, via email and with ‘FAO Parent Council’ at the top of message by lunchtime on Thursday 12th February, to
Or, post a question to the Parent Council Facebook page
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
On Tuesday 3rd February we are pleased to welcome Andy Caunce from Progressive Masculinity to the school. Andy will facilitate a parent/carer session for 75 minutes from 6.00pm. Parental Session Description
The topic is as current as it gets and we’re recommending the evening unreservedly. The session will be held in-person, in the school, in our Assembly Hall. Doors will open from 5.40pm. Andy knows the school and delivered our student workshops in October.
Please find Andy’s bio below:
‘Young people of today deserve time to discuss the positives about masculinity and have an opportunity to openly express their feelings.
I have worked in secondary education since 2004 (wow, 21 years!) and have enjoyed many roles from teaching assistant to senior leadership. Working in this sector is not a job it is a true vocation. I have been lucky enough to work in both mainstream and more recently alternative provision and truly believe that I have made a difference to many lives along the way. Working with pupils that have grown up with challenging backgrounds, I utilise this to be able to relate and create a positive environment quickly.
Empowerment, pride and respect are my main values and I endeavour to instil these in every young person I meet.
Having started as a PE teacher, leading a team in PE as a head of department then progressing through the pastoral team, incorporating the role of DSL, safeguarding of children has been central in all my roles and giving young people opportunities they may have had the chance to experience is something I am proud of.
More recently, leading in an alternative provision has allowed me to hone my skill set and work with vulnerable young people from the ages of 11 to 23, all this experience has set me up for this next adventure.
I love sport, whether it’s looking for my golf ball in the trees or sitting and watching (literally anything) on the TV, sport has always been my biggest passion.
With a family of my own I have seen how growing up in the current world can be tough and the impact that not only the media has, but society in general, on boys and girls. If I can make a difference to just one young person then that is job done!’
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
FRIDAY 30Th JANUARY – DRESS DOWN DAY!
Parents, carers and young people are invited to attend our Online Senior Phase Course Choice Evening on Wednesday 28th January, 5:30–6:30pm.
The session will provide a clear overview of the course choice process, key timelines, and signpost the range of options available.
The evening will include:
A link to the session will be shared next Tuesday via Groupcall.
We look forward to seeing you there, if you are unable to attend you can find the course choice guide and video here