Dear Parent / Carer,

End of term letter July 2026

Welcome to the last letter / update of session 2025/26. I hope that you find the information contained in this letter useful. I hope that all young people and families have a safe, happy and enjoyable summer.

Highlights from the session

It has been another successful year for our young people and community. Below are some of the key highlights.

• A positive report from HMIE Inspectors for KHS with lots for our community to be proud of. It is clear that young people, families and colleagues are proud of their school and community, and we have made great progress in developing leadership, promoting well-being, supporting all learners and improving learning, teaching and assessment across our school.
• From our recent S1-3 well-being survey, almost all young people continue to feel safe in school (97.4%) and almost all feel that they are included in decisions that affect them (94%).
• Attendance for this session is 86% down slightly (1%) from last year (Fife average is down 2.8% from last year)
• Almost all young people continue to move on to a positive and sustained destination post school
• In S3, almost all learners are achieving Third level Literacy and Numeracy compared to most achieving this last session (Literacy from 86% to 91.6%, Numeracy from 88.7% to 91.2%).
• In S3, the majority of learners achieve Fourth Level Literacy and Numeracy (Literacy from 61% to 69.5% and Numeracy from 58.4% to 61.1%)
• Lastly, it was great to see so many young people achieve success in various ways through our annual prizegiving and finishing the year with the fantastic school production of ‘The Little Mermaid’!

School Improvement Plan and Pupil Equity Fund update

Following feedback from all stakeholders, HMIE inspection and reviewing our improvement plan from last year our draft school improvement priorities continue to be:

• Improving attainment of our middle 60% of learners through improved curriculum experiences and focused attainment and achievement interventions
• Learners will increase engagement, participation and leadership in learning, leading to an increase in confidence, motivation and achievement through digital technology and embedded KHS Learning Standard
• Ensuring a Rights-based approach to supporting young people, underpinned by our shared Vision, Values and Aims and leadership at all levels

This was shared with families on Sunday.

Our full draft School Improvement Plan, Pupil Equity Fund Plan and Standards and Quality Report are available.

As ever, we would love to hear from you on these documents. Please use the form sent by “Groupcall”.

Changes to Kirkcaldy High School Management Structure 2026/27

Over the last 3 /4 months, we have been working with all colleagues to discuss changes to our management structure. At the end of last week, consultation with colleagues in school closed and agreement sought to change this structure. Our new structure has been agreed as follows:

From August, the number of Depute Headteachers will reduce from 5 to 4 with Mrs Davidson retiring in August.

This change will allow us to increase the number of Guidance teachers from 6 to 8. This will mean a reduction in caseload for each Guidance teacher from approx. 240 to max. 180.

Remits for Senior Leaders are available.

From October 2026, how we support learners in KHS will also change. Each DHT will be responsible for a House and not a year group. We will seek to create a fourth House (called Beveridge provisionally). Each house team will consist of a DHT, 2 x PTG, and 1 learning support link. This will be complimented by 2 House leaders to support. PSOs will work across the houses.

Over the course of term 1, we will be consulting with stakeholders on house names, identities and the make-up of each house (caseload). Our guiding principles for this change and caseloads will be as follows:

We aim to:

• Ensure optimal communication with families and key partners so that a school-based Team Around the Child exists for every young person
• Provide consistency of support for young people and families
• Increase capacity of Guidance and support staff so that they can engage in meaningful contact with young people across their caseloads, with renewed focus on attainment and attendance

As a result, we will be reviewing all caseloads and allocating each YP to the most appropriate house from October 2026. This may result in a change of Guidance teacher. Further details will be shared next session.

Qualifications Scotland (QS) Results and Appeals

Young people who sat QS examinations and / or undertook qualifications will receive their results on Tuesday 4th August 2026. Certificates will arrive on 4 August and if your child signed up for My Qualifications Scotland they will get their results by text or email on 4 August too.

Please see a letter from Mrs Davidson regarding information around QS appeals, including key dates.

We wish all the very best for results day. As ever, we will be here to help and support any young person / family as required.

Changes of courses / qualifications (S5/6)

Following young people receiving their results, some may decide to re-negotiate their option choices for session 2026/27. We would ask anyone who wishes to discuss a change to their courses, to meet with us prior to the start of the new term. Further information about this will be sent to relevant families at the beginning of August but this will take place on Wednesday, 5th August 2026. Mrs Hamilton and other Senior Leaders will be on hand to support.

Cost of the School Day

To support families, we have put together an information sheet, highlighting the many ways we try to keep the costs of school down (attached). Moreover, we have added information and supports that families can access. Our Pupil Support Officer, Jayne Preece, works during the summer holidays and can support with applications for financial entitlements. If you wish to contact her, email kirkcaldyhs.enquiries@fife.gov.uk .

Uniform

Next session, we will continue to work towards all young people following our uniform policy. Please find a poster to help families with planning for the new term. Your support is greatly appreciated.

If you have any pre-loved uniform that you wish to donate, please hand in to reception. This will be added to our uniform bank to support others.

Transforming Learning – iPads

Please ensure that pupil iPads are kept somewhere safe over the summer and charged regularly. Remember that there are charges for lost or damaged devices. All pupils should be starting back in August prepared with a fully charged iPad each day.

Staffing updates

New staff

I am pleased to update you that we have completed our recruitment for next session. We are pleased to welcome the following staff to KHS from 17th August:

On permanent appointments:

• Aimee Warrender – Teacher of English
• Bradley McKay – Teacher of HE
• Viktoria Fedor-Szabo – Teacher of Maths

On Temporary appointments for next academic session:

• Philipa Thapa – Teacher of English
• Elizabeth Asady – Teacher of BGE
• Pamela Tinney – Teacher of BGE / Maths
• Natalie Gelley – Teacher of Biology
• Stuart Macmorris – Teacher of PE
• Nittiya Srakaeo – Probationer Teacher – Geography

Fond Farewell

As ever, at this time of year we say goodbye to several staff who are moving on from KHS. They are:

• Jennifer Davidson – Taking early retirement
• Michael Sanderson – Moving to new post in Dundee
• Morag McDougall – end of temporary contract
• Louise Mclean – end of temporary contract
• Jenna Heath – end of temporary contract

All key information is contained in our key information sheet, should you need to contact us.

Finally, we hope all our young people and families have a great summer and we look forward to welcoming all young people back to KHS on Wednesday, 19th August 2026.

Best wishes,

Chris McKay

Headteacher