I have received a very warm welcome from the staff and pupils at Knox Academy since I arrived last Monday. There is a lovely buzz around the school as staff and pupils enjoy being back and everyone looks rejuvenated and ready for learning, teaching and the year ahead. I enjoyed meeting all pupils at a series of assemblies I held on the first day back. At these I asked pupils to reflect on Knox Academy’s values of ambition, respect and community and gave examples of how these can be applied in everyday life in and around our school and community. I encouraged pupils to be the best they can be in all that they do and by practising the Knox Academy values, they will achieve their potential.
EXAM RESULTS
S4
Knox Academy’s exam results showed improved performance from both 2015 and 2017, although marginally down on 2016’s results. 74% of S4 pupils attained five or more qualifications at National 3; 69% achieved five or more passes at National 4 and 47% achieved five or more passes at National 5 at grades A-C and 55% at grades A-D. There were some outstanding individual performances in S4 with eight of our candidates achieving seven A passes at N5. These results are a really strong foundation to build S5 performance upon and I would encourage all parents/carers to continue to support their child to study at home as the transition from S4 to S5 in terms of challenge and pace moves up a few gears and much more study is required, especially at Higher level.
S5
The performance of our S5 pupils in their Higher exams was down on the three previous years. 55% attained one or more Highers; 35% three or more and 16% attained five or more Highers. Twenty two of our pupils achieved five Highers and some with straights As across all subjects. Many other pupils achieved a mixture of Higher and National 5 awards and will build upon these in their 6th year.
All returning S4 and S5 pupils (going in to S5 and S6 respectively) had an interview with their Depute Head Teacher last week to review their course choices and to speak about their attainment in their exams. This was to ensure that they were coursed appropriately for the year ahead. The DHTs commented what a valuable experience this had been for both the pupils and them as they got to speak to all pupils about their learning, achievement, attainment and aspirations.
S6
This showed an improving trend over the last four years at Higher level. Those attaining one or more Highers was 62% and then added to their results from S4 and S5 (accumulate) this rose to 76.22% having achieved one or more Highers over S5/S6 (1% lower than last year which in terms of statistics is not significant). This is more than a 13% increase since 2015 and 2016. 30% of the year group attained three or more Highers and the accumulate total was 66% (12% more than last year and the highest value in four years). No pupil in S6 achieved five Highers (this is not unusual as many do a combination of National exams, Highers or Advanced Highers). 45% achieved (accumulate) five or more Highers over S5/6. Again, an improving trend over the last four years. 29% of pupils in S6 attained one or more awards at Advanced Higher and this was in line with previous years.
I congratulated all the S4 and S5 pupils on their performance during my assemblies and said the coming year(s) offered them a great opportunity to build upon these achievements and their skill set ready for university, college, employment or apprenticeships. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the pupils who have just left S6. The Knox Academy community wish them well for their future and hope they will keep in touch and come back and visit us so we can use their skills in the future development of the young people at the school.
STAFFING
We are interviewing for Biology, Technologies and Maths teachers this week. The Home Economics Auxiliary post has just closed and we will be organising interviews for that shortly. We also have adverts out for a teacher of Support for Learning (part-time permanent) and a School Business Manager.
PUPIL NEWS
Melissa Smith has been performing in the Captive Productions Schools Edition of Les Miserables at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Charlie Gates – represented Scotland U16 Hockey at a tournament down in England.
Congratulations to them both.
FORMER PUPIL NEWS
I received a very nice letter from the University of Aberdeen informing of us of our former pupils’ achievements.
- James Beacon, Master of Arts in History
- Jordan Currie, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- Alasdair Hastings, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- Roisin Kennelly, Master of Arts in Anthropology
- Thomas Muir, Master of Arts in Economics-Politics
Congratulations to all the above.
WORLD RECORD – RUGBY
A new Guinness World Record was set on Sunday 12 August at Haddington Rugby Club. The Knox Academy School of Rugby players, coaches and parents all played a big part in the event as 458 players helped beat the previous record of 442 in the largest number of players taking part in a continuous game of touch rugby.
When it wasn’t raining it was pouring, however despite the worst weather of the summer it was great to see so many of the SOR players from S1 to the Under 18s and the Girls rugby all taking part in the fun and becoming World Record Holders.
Well done to all involved!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
- Tuesday 28 August – Parent Council – School Library at 6.00 pm
- Thursday 30 August – UCAS Evening for Parents/Carers 7-8.30 pm
- Wednesday 5 September – Senior Phase Information Evening 7-8 pm
- Friday 14 – Monday 17 September (inclusive) – Holiday
- Wednesday 10 October – P7 Open Evening
S Cook
Head Teacher
