SCHOOL NEWS
Term Dates 2008-2009
AUTUMN TERM 2009
Staff In-Service : Monday 31st August and Tuesday 1st September
Return : Tuesday 1st September at 7pm
Half-term : Thursday 15th October at 11am to Tuesday 27th October at 6pm
End of term : Wednesday 16th December at 8pm (after Christmas Service)
SPRING TERM 2010
Return : Tuesday 5th January at 6pm
Half-term : Thursday 11th February at 11am to Tuesday 16th February at 6pm
End of term : Thursday 1st April at 12noon (after Easter Service)
SUMMER TERM 2010
Return : Tuesday 20th April at 7pm
Half-term : Thursday 20th May at 11am to Tuesday 25th May at 7pm
End of term : Thursday 1st July at 1pm (after Leavers’ Service - 11 am)
Personnel Matters
Two new senior School appointments have been made – Deputy Head Teacher in November 2007 and Head of Care in January 2008.
Anne Cadden has taken the post of Deputy Head Teacher – and she has most recently been working as a Development Officer for Learning and Teaching Scotland, focusing particularly on Assessment for Learning. Anne has extensive teaching experience and has been Principal Teacher of Support for Learning and has acted as Depute Headteacher in East Dumbarton.
Anne is the mother of 3 grown-up children and in her spare time enjoys reading, gardening and cooking; she also likes to travel.
A new Head of Care – Fiona McGillivray – took up her post in January 2008. Fiona is a qualified Social Worker, has a Registered Manager’s Award and has undergone a significant amount of in-service training appropriate to the post in recent years.
She has significant experience of working with young people with Additional Support Needs, has acted as a Research and Development Worker for Perth Action on Autism, has managed a large team of Care Workers, and has lectured at Perth College on issues such as Child Protection and Learning Difficulties.
Buildings
School life is enhanced by the main building and its surroundings. It is a Victorian house set in several acres which include outbuildings, a large garden, tennis court, sports and assembly hall, and a computer centre. There is a games field as well as two other fields that the pupils are able to use. The stable block houses the science laboratory, reception and Bursar, general office, meeting room and the Headteacher’s office.
Provision for senior students includes The Lodge, a separate accommodation block which encourages students to further develop independence and confidence in preparation for transition to the next stage in their life.
School Improvement Programme
On the strength of considerable fundraising activity and investment over the years since the School was established, further developments have been undertaken recently which have also seen significant improvements in the School’s academic, vocational and physical education facilities. These include an information technology classroom, a new English classroom and an upgrade to provide a modern sports and assembly hall.
Looking to the future, the programme will seek to invest in expansion of the art and craft, design and technology classrooms, the home economics facility, and replacement of the present rented classroom cabins.
None of these initiatives would be possible with out the generosity of a great many individuals over the years, and also of the Scottish Executive and charitable organisations such as The Gannochy Trust and Wooden Spoon. The Governors are extremely grateful to all who have contributed in any way to the continuing development of the School.
Latest HMIE Report
A report by HM Inspectorate of Education and the Care Commission on The New School, Butterstone, Dunkeld was published on 07/02/2007. Click here to view the details.