HT Update: Week-ending Friday 9th January 2026

Friday 9th January 2026

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.  

Feedback here

Take Care

Campbell Hornell,  Head Teacher

 

Share on Facebook