HT Update: Week ending 23rd September 2022

Friday 23rd September 2022

This concise weekly HT Update will be published every Friday afternoon with 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 on Monday afternoons on the school website link. 

Key messages from this week

Let’s Talk Scottish Education:  The Scottish Government is inviting everyone who has an interest in the future of our education system to join the National Discussion.  This is an opportunity to have your voice heard and help develop a vision for the future of education in Scotland. What kind of education, skills, knowledge and support do you think young people will need 20 years from now?  To find out more and complete the survey click here The consultation closes in early December.  Please note that at our most recent Parent Council Meeting we completed a similar exercise and will use this to inform our Lasswade HS response.  

SQA 2022 Attainment Meetings: Since our return in August our subject teams have been reviewing their SQA 2022 results. Next week we will begin meetings with teams. We have consistent key focus points for discussion at each meeting with the HT, DHT link, PT and teaching staff in attendance. The purpose of the meeting is to explore areas of strength and improvement.  Thereafter, we confirm with teams associated action on a ‘Stop/Continue/Start’ basis. 

SQA 2023 Timetable:  Please note that this week SQA updated the 2023 Exam Timetable.  This followed an error in the initial publication relating to the length of the Fashion and Textile Technology Higher on Friday 19 May. The 2023 exams diet starts on Monday 24 April and finishes on Thursday 1 June. Results Day will be Tuesday 8 August.  The timetable and dates for all exams can be viewed on the SQA website click here

Senior Phase Awards Ceremony 2022: On Thursday we celebrated the achievements of some of our S4-S6 students. 75 of our 107 award winners were able to attend (the challenge is the availability of last year’s S6, many of whom are now away at university) and nearly 150 awards were handed out in person. There were outstanding performances by the school Ceilidh Band, Senior Guitar Group, a range of talented soloists as well as a special performance by the Academy of Performing Arts students. We also thank Gavin Oattes for his superbly judged Keynote Speech on the importance of values and ‘doing the right thing’.  Senior Art & Design students also shared some of their exhibition pieces.  Our School Captains expertly compared the entire evening.  News reports will follow on our website next week and in the meantime please have a look at our social media for some footage of the evening. 

Calendar: Upcoming significant events next week include activity related to Maths Week Scotland and the European Day of Modern Languages.  S5/S6 students will have SQA Assessment Calendar Assemblies on Wednesday afternoon.  Next Friday is a Dress Down Day with students asked to contribute what they can for this privilege.   Monies raised from staff and students goes to our identified charities and the School Fund.

Staffing: This week saw the departure of Mr Scott Henderson from our Creative Design team. Scott has secured a well earned promotion and takes up a Principal Teacher post at Hawick High School.  We thank him for his work within our school and wish him well.

If you have any feedback/questions relating to this update please submit them via the link below

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell and Ali Mitchell,  Head Teachers

Tweet  Share on Facebook