Dear Parent / Carer,

New session / term information letter

I wanted to write to you to give some updates for the new term and extend a warm welcome to our new S1 families and those who join us again for the new session. Young people return to school on Wednesday 20th August 2025. A reminder that Period 1 starts at 8.40am and all young people in S2-S6 should go straight to their P1 class.

Kirkcaldy High School – New Vision, Values and Aims

Last session, we consulted and worked with all stakeholders to develop our new Vision, Values and Aims (outlined below). Over the course of this session, we will continue to work with all stakeholders to unpack this and ensure this is a living part of our school.

Vision

At Kirkcaldy High School, our vision is to support every young person to develop their talents and strive to meet their potential—academically, emotionally, and socially—through high expectations, supportive relationships, and shared success. Founded in respect, inspired by ambition, and united in community, we live our motto: Usque Conabor — ‘I will strive to the utmost.’”

Dream big. Work hard. Be kind.

Values

Community, Ambition, Respect

Aims

We aim to:

• Ensure that every young person’s rights and needs are met
• Support every young person to improve wellbeing and health
• Engage every young person in learning, regardless of barriers faced
• Maximise every young person’s potential and talent through improved attainment and achievement, including in literacy and numeracy.
• Support every young person to gain the skills and qualifications needed to succeed in a positive destination after school.

New Staff information

As ever at the start of session, we have several new staff joining our fantastic team. They are:

Mhairi Stewart – PT Supported Learning
Viktoria Fedor-Szabo – Teacher of Maths
Jennifer Taylor – Teacher of RME
Rachel Thomson – Teacher of BGE
Jara Webster – Teacher of BGE / Business
Kyle Morrice – Teacher of Physics
Monika Solowczuk – Teacher of Physics
Angela Brown – Pupil Support Officer

SQA Results and information

As you will be aware, young people who undertook SQA qualifications and examinations last session received their results on Tuesday 5th August 2025. Well done to everyone on their many achievements, we are exceptionally proud of all.

The results continue to show an improving trend for KHS young people. This session, we were focussed on improvements for those young people furthest from achievement and we have seen an improvement in these measures, with a 7% increase in young people achieving at least 5 SCQF level 3 and level 4 awards by the end of S4. We have seen continued success in young people achieving at least 5 SCQF level 5 awards, with a modest improvement in this measure.

For young people in S5, we have had a slight improvement in the number of young people achieving 5 Highers at a grade A-D, and a 2% increase in young people achiving 3 or more Highers by the end of S5, both compared with last session.

Young people in S6 continue to do well, with modest improvements for those young people achieving 3 or more Highers by the end of S6. This, coupled with continued success in young people moving on to a positive destination, puts our young people in an encouraging position, now and for their future.

If any young person has a query or concern regarding their SQA results, please contact us, either by phone or e-mail and we will get in touch to discuss this.

S5/6 Re-coursing

Mrs Hamilton e-mailed all parents / carers of those young people who may wish to discuss their course choices for the coming session just after SQA results arrived. On Wednesday, 6th August 2025, Mrs Hamilton, Mrs Hume and I met with a number of young people and families to discuss course choices and next steps. Thank you to all who attended.

If your child wishes to discuss a change to their courses for S5/6 then they should meet with Mrs Hamilton on Wednesday 20th August 2025. Mrs Hamilton will be in the library P1, thereafter, will be in her office. Pupils should attend at the time they have the subject they wish to change. For those who made changes last week, they can receive a new timetable by attending the STEPS room prior to P1 on Wednesday.

If Mrs Hamilton is not available, learners can come to the Rector’s office for help and support.

First day arrangements

The new session starts on Wednesday, 20th August 2025. All young people in S2-S6 should report to their Period 1 class. Learners should then continue to follow their timetable as normal. Timetables were given to all S2 – S6 prior to the holidays. Parents / Carers can check these using the parentsportal app (S2-S6 only until Wednesday 20th August 2025).

If any learner does not know what class they are in P1, staff will be on hand around reception / STEPS room to support.

For our new S1 pupils, they should report to the assembly hall where they will be met by Staff and S6 buddies. Buddies will support all S1 classes throughout the first week of the new term, ensuring that young people know their way around. All S1s will leave class 5 minutes early to allow a smooth transition to their next class / break. For the first week, S1 will be allowed out 15 minutes early for lunch. Activities will be organised for the new S1 on the sports fields / Astro for lunch time. We would stress that S1s should not leave the school grounds during term 1.

Lastly, there will be year group assemblies on Wedensday 20th August to welcome young people back to school and re-enforce key messages. Information on this will be shared with pupils on Wednesday through the Blue Bulletin and class teachers.

Uniform

Before the end of term, we shared with you our school uniform policy. I have attached our uniform poster to this mail for your information. I would ask for your support in ensuring that all young people are appropriately dressed for school and adhere to our policy. If any family has any issue with uniform, please contact us and we can support.

If any young person does not have the correct uniform, we will provide this and expect young people to follow our policy.

N.B. shorts are not part of our school uniform policy (except for PE). Young people should not wear shorts to school (this may be reviewed if temperatures are unseasonably high). Moreover, young people should not wear PE kit to school if they have PE P1 or 2. Young people should bring relevant kit and change as required at PE.

Transforming Learning in Fife

We are delighted to share that, as part of Fife Council’s Transforming Learning programme, every young person from S1 to S6 will receive their own iPad—both for school and home use—on 16th and 17th September 2025. Every S1–S6 learner will have access to a personal device designed to enhance their educational experience through interactive learning and flexibility. Guidance on acceptable use policies and details regarding repair costs will follow shortly.
There is more information around the Transforming Learning programme online.

Notable dates for the term ahead

We are currently finalising the school calendar and will ensure this is with you by the start of the new term. At this time, please let me share the following important dates with you:

Parent / Carer Evenings

The dates for our parent / carer evenings are below:

S1: 5 November 2025
S2: 14 January 2026
S3: 17 March 2026
S4: 23 September 2025
S5/6: 4 December 2025

Dates for our parent / carer information evenings are below:

P7: 20 November 2025 – Family Learning Event
P7: 10 June 2026 – Information Evening
S1: 2 September 2025 – Maths/English Information Evening
S4: 11 September 2025 – Family Exam Support and Information Evening
S2,4 and 5: 30- Oct Curricular Information Session (Online Event)
S2,4 and 5: 2 Feb -Parents Curricular Pathways Evening

All Parent / Carer evening will be in person at KHS unless otherwise stated.

Reporting

All year groups will receive 4 tracking reports across the academic year. Reports will be accessed electronically using our tracking system Didbook – Progress. Information will be shared with families about how to logon and access reports early in term 1.

For S1 and 2, each report will include current CfE level and attitudinal metrics. There will be 2 full reports and 2 interim reports. Interim reports will include subjects such as Maths, English, Social Subjects, Science, Modern Languages and other subjects where young people attend at least 2 periods per week only. Full reports will include all subjects.

For S3, each report will include current CfE level and attitudinal metrics.

For S4-6, each report will contain their National Qualification level, target grade, working grade and attitudinal metrics.

A guide to help you access and understand reports will be issued in due course.

Reporting Dates:

S1-3: 10th October 2025, 19th December 2025, 13th March 2026, 15th May 2026
S4: 19th September 2025, 21st November 2025, 23rd January 2026, 3rd April 2026
S5/6: 19th September 2025, 21st November 2025, 27th February 2026, 3rd April 2026

Parent Council – Provisional dates (1 meeting per term):

Term 1: w/b 25th August 2025
Term 2: w/b 10th November 2025
Term 3: w/b 19th January 2026
Term 4: w/b 4th May 2026

Parent Council meetings take place online (TEAMS). All parents / carers are welcome. Agenda and link will be sent out to all parents / carers the week prior to the meeting.

Friends of Kirkcaldy High School (FoKHS)

Friends of Kirkcaldy High School (FoKHS) is a well established group of ex Kirkcaldy High School community, pupils and staff who work to support our school through volunteering, fundraising and support. FoKHS have helped to support our learners and school by providing funds for things like outdoor lunch benches for young people, improved sound and visual system for our assembly hall, kit for DofE expeditions and much more.

Over the course of a session, FoKHS host 2 events that are open to everyone in our community. They are:

• A race night, taking place on Friday 7th November 2025
• A ceilidh, taking place on Friday 6th March 2026

We would love to see as many of our community there as possible to support FoKHS and our school. More details will be shared shortly.

If you require more information or if you wish to join FoKHS, please contact Mrs Jennifer Davidson (DHT) who can share further information with you.

Finally, I hope you find the information contained in this letter useful. I look forward to working with you and your child(ren) over the coming session. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can support in any way.

Best wishes,

Chris McKay

Rector