Raising attainment a top priority at Dornoch Academy
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Dornoch Academy is committed to raising attainment and improvement over the next five years, its acting head teacher has said.
Norman Ross said the school’s key project would be to raise attainment “across our diet of national qualifications and wider achievements”.
Mr Ross set out the 378-pupil school’s top priorities during an address to the school community at its prize-giving on Monday, June 27.
The event was the first since 2019, having been cancelled over the last two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was also a combined event for both S1-S3 and S4-S6; in recent years separate ceremonies have been held for the junior and senior years.
“In terms of attainment and improvement, our message is simple,” said Mr Ross. “We are committed to raising attainment over the next five years.
“Our other key project will look at our provision of learning, teaching and assessment, with the clear aim of using those areas to raise attainment.
“Our internal evaluation makes it clear where needs lie and informs our improvement planning.”
Mr Ross acknowledged that during the last two years pupils’ health and wellbeing had been at the heart of improvement planning.
“We will not neglect health and wellbeing, but augment our existing counselling provision with drop-in sessions for Academy pupils as well as using the vastly broadened and improved pupil council as a conduit for our pupil voice,” he said.
Mr Ross continued: “Speaking of National Qualifications, we have delivered two years’ worth of NQs under unparalleled circumstances, using an inferred model and an alternative curriculum model, both relying on teacher professional judgement at the heart of assessment.
“The SQA diet of exams resumed this year with minimal drama, and we look forward to the results coming out in August.”
The school has also resumed much of its pre-Covid activities, including its participation in sports events and its own interhouse competitions have also started up again. Also restarted is a transition programme for new S1 pupils.
A trip to the World War I battlefields is planned for next year and Mr Ross said the response to it had been “overwhelming”.
The school’s Duke of Edinburgh programme was also returning to form and will begin next session with new S3 pupils.
There was also good news on the staffing front.
The school has said farewell to six members of staff including long-serving youth development officer Yvonne Ross, but has also welcomed others.
Mr Ross said that for the first time since 2016, the Academy would have a full-time history teacher and it was anticipated a new art teacher and PE teacher would shortly be appointed.
The youth development post has been advertised.
The acting head revealed that “almost all” S6 pupils leaving the school were heading to a positive destination, whether employment or further education.
“In there you can include hospitality, catering management, actuarial science and criminology,” he said.
“Some of you here have shared your aspirations. These include midwifery, gamekeeping, veterinary science and the armed forces. These destinations and aspirations are a measure of success attained and as importantly, success planned.”
Mr Ross told his audience that feedback would be sought in the new term from pupils, parents and staff regarding the tradition of awarding proxime accessit and dux prizes.
SPECIAL PRIZES
Dux: Isobel Blowers
Proxime Accessit to Dux : Bea Knox-Waller
Angus Murray Maths Prize: Isobel Blowers
Citizenship Award: Cameron Lyon
Dornoch Bookshop Literacy Prize - Tay Warner-Mackintosh
Dornoch Castle Hotel Vocational Prize – Leah Macdonald
Dornoch Fire Brigade Technology Prize - Finlay Gibson
James Ross Music Shield - Lucy Robertson
J M Campbell Cup for Physics - Hannah Grewcock
John Garvie Prize - Alistair Matheson
John Grant and Sons Art Prize - Caitriona Morrison
Johnson’s Chemistry Prize - Beth Sutherland
Ospisdale Geography Prize - Caitriona Morrison
Parkdean Holidays Languages Prize - Zara Macdonald
Patrick Murray Prize for Physics - Finlay Gibson
Service to Dornoch Firth Campus - Donella Ferrier
Ryan Hewitt Munro Prize (achievement in Support for Learning) – Cassandra Sutherland
SPORT
Junior boys sports champion - Joe Polson
Junior girls sports champion - Claire Mackay
Senior girls sports champion - Lauren Main
