HT Update: Week-ending Friday 12th September 2025

Thursday 11th September 2025

This concise weekly HT Update is generally published every Friday afternoon.  This week, given the holiday weekend, it’s posted on Thursday.  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.  Maybe Tuesday this time if the weather is nice!

Feedback from last HT Update:  click here

Key messages from this week  

Calendar:  Significant events week beginning 15/09/25;  Monday is a holiday,  students should return to school on Tuesday;  on Wednesday and Thursday we have students involved in a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition and in the evening it’s our ‘Lasswade Stars’ Evening;  on Thursday we’ll have students involved in the Midlothian Learner’s Conference,  in the evening there is our S1 Student Support Consultation Evening, see below;  on Friday we’ll issue the first Senior Phase Report via parentsportal, see below.

Staffing:   We have two posts currently live on myjobscotland,  a Teacher of Mathematics (Permanent) and a Teacher of Art & Design (Temporary).  Both close on 23/09/25.

S1 Student Parent/Carer Consultation Evening:  Please note that this evening will allow parents/carers of S1 students to book an online meeting with their child’s Student Support lead.  This member of our Student Support Team has an overview of students in their ‘caseload’.  This is the first year we have offered this evening and we think it will serve a positive purpose, both for the school and parents/carers.  Further details are on the website,  click here.

Senior Phase Report 1:   Please note this will be ‘issued’ next week, via parentsportal.   Parents/carers of S4/S5/S6 will not be able to access the report unless they ‘sign-up’ to parentsportal.  We do not plan to issue paper copies to students.  Details on how to sign up are available on the website,  click here.  We’ll continue to reach out and support parents/carers who are not yet registered.

Senior Phase Awards Ceremony 2025:  Last night we celebrated the achievements of 120 students across 174 awards.  We were joined by parents/carers of our students.  Congratulations to these young people and their families.  In addition, I’d like to thank our guest speaker Ally Hollins-Kirk as well as the School & House Captains for presenting and hosting.  We were entertained by our music soloists and S6 Dancers between presentations.  As always our students worked well to provide sound and lighting.   Particular thanks, and an apology to our Photography students,  Gemma, Isla, and Georgia, for their work at the event.  I foolishly forgot to mention them.  Thanks also to Burges Salmon for their kind financial donation to support the event.  Finally,  to Mrs Bowman for supporting Mrs Brown around the organisation and associated logistics of the event.  The evening is truly a highlight of our school year.

Free School Meals: Midlothian have asked us to share the following information,  Help with school meals during school holidays | Free school meals and clothing grants | Midlothian Council

SQA Appeals:  We shared the outcomes of ‘priority’ appeals with students last week. We are now able to confirm that we will issue the remaining appeals outcomes at the beginning of October.  SQA have informed schools they’ll communicate with us on Thursday 2 October.  We’ll share the outcomes with students ASAP after that.  It means that all students will receive their appeal outcome(s) before the October holidays and in good time for the 15 October UCAS deadline. SQA will also send updated certificates for students.  SQA have asked us to remind students, and parents/carers,  that: 

• because this is a robust process that includes a marking review of their SQA-marked assessments, the outcome is final and there is no further means to appeal. 
• in line with the marking process for August results, SQA cannot provide individual feedback on appeals outcomes.

Former Member of Staff:  David Haire was an Assistant Principal Teacher in our History department in the 1980s.  He has reached out to the school recently and I’m happy to facilitate his request.  He, and his 1986/87 Standard Grade History class, organised the making of a World War One video which involved quite a few students in his class. He believes he has the only copy of the final result. The film was entitled ‘SIW’ (Self Inflicted Wound).  As time has passed he is wondering if the students involved would like to have a copy themselves.  If this ‘rings a bell’ with any former students, in his 1986/87 school session class, please send me contact details via the feedback option below and I’ll pass them onto Mr Haire.  

 

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher

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