Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

It’s been another exciting year here at Cathedral and our 2024/25 Improvement Plan has helped our school and nursery community drive forward change to improve outcomes for our learners. Cathedral’s Annual Improvement Report can be accessed via the link at the bottom of this post.

Here are a few highlights of Cathedral’s improvement journey during our 150th anniversary year:

• As of 19th June, Cathedral’s overall pupil attendance was 93.78%, above both the local authority and national average.
• Staff have continued to work together to further develop Cathedral’s Active8 approach to learning, teaching and assessment, providing pupils with the highest quality learning spaces, experiences and interactions. This continues to result in highly engaged learners across the school who are attaining and achieving to their full potential.
• Cathedral has had a dedicated focus on our Catholic ethos this year, with teachers working together to make Religious Education lessons more engaging and regular opportunities for pupils and staff to grow in their faith.
• We have continued to give learners opportunities to develop their computing skills and use digital technology across the curriculum.
• The National Schools Singing Programme, funded by Motherwell Diocese, continues to give our Primary 4 learners weekly access to high-quality music lessons. Cathedral school choir has continued to go from strength to strength.
• To ensure we are outward looking, Cathedral has worked in partnership with St Andrew’s Primary, Falkirk, and St Mary’s Primary, Bo’ness as part of this year’s improvement journey.
• Our ‘Attainment Team’ has continued to deliver a range of targeted interventions, supporting high levels of attainment in literacy and numeracy across the school and helping Cathedral Primary continue to make positive headway in closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
• Cathedral achieved its third Gold Sports Award in March.
• And, of course, although we are unable to give specific details, Cathedral Primary had a very successful inspection in May 2025. We look forward to the report being published after the summer holidays!

Cathedral’s 2024/25 Annual Improvement Report, which provides detailed information on the school’s improvement journey over the past twelve months, can be accessed via the link below:

Cathedral Primary School AIR June 2025 – Copy (1)

Along with a number of other Scottish delegates, Mr Young had the opportunity to attend an international Catholic education conference at St Mary’s University, London, on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th June. There were a wide variety of presentations over the two days and Mr Young found it particularly fascinating hearing how the Catholic education sector in Scotland compares to that of other countries including the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland (a lot of food for thought and a fresh appreciation for what we have here in Scotland).

Although it was an informative two days and an exciting opportunity to network with educators from across the world, Mr Young was pleased to return to Cathedral Primary on Wednesday 18th June, where he always feels most at home 😊.

Primary 7 learners joined pupils from St Bernadette’s, St Brendan’s and Our Lady’s High School on Monday 16th June for a cluster pilgrimage to Carfin grotto. The journey was made on foot and, once there, our young pilgrims enjoyed a number of activities led by 6th year pupils including a scavenger hunt around the grounds. The day included an opportunity for the four schools to come together for Mass.

What a wonderful way for OLHS cluster to mark the 2025 Jubilee year, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

Seven members of the Cathedral team attended the Catholic Schools’ Festival at Glasgow Caledonian University on Saturday 14th June.

The day opened with Professor Tracey Rowland from Notre Dame University, Australia, speaking about being voices of hope. There were various workshops during the course of the day including prayerful input from pupils from St Aloysius College on imaginative contemplation and an inspiring reflection from Fr Adrian Porter SJ (pictured above) on the call of Catholic educators to be a voice of hope for pupils, parents and communities.

An important part of the festival was the opportunity to network with others involved in Catholic education including delegates from the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland and from across Scotland.

The day concluded with evening Mass in St Andrew’s Cathedral followed by a reception hosted by the Lord Provost of Glasgow.

What a wonderful opportunity for Cathedral staff to strengthen their vocation to serve in a Catholic school!

As part of this term’s World War II topic, Primary 7 learners had the opportunity to choose an area of interest to delve deeper into. On Friday 13th June, our young historians showcased their learning to other classes in an impressive range of ways including models, Power Points, posters, leaflets and displays of authentic artifacts.

Well done, Primary 7, for being such enthusiastic leaders of your own learning!

This Primary 3 learner delivered a fascinating solo talk on the Solar System on Friday 13th June. Rather than using Power Point, like many of his classmates, our young astronomer decided to create a fantastic poster to help structure his presentation. He now plans to put this up in his space-themed bedroom at home.

Well done on delivering such an informative talk with Cathedral confidence!

There was a packed hall on Friday 13th June for Cathedral’s 2025 nursery graduation. Our young learners shared what they would like to be when they are older and entertained their families with different songs about moving on from nursery to Primary 1.

There was barely a dry eye in the house when each child came onto the stage, dropped their nursery shoes into the ‘Class of 2025’ box and received their new school tie.

Many congratulations to our nursery learners on all your successes and achievements over the past two years. Whether you’re staying here at Cathedral, or moving on to a different school, we wish you well!

It was perfect weather for this year’s Sports Day on Thursday 12th June. Primary 7 led classes in an enthusiastic warm-up before everyone headed to the pitch for traditional races including three-legged, sack, egg and spoon and sprints.

Well done to all Cathedral learners for their enthusiastic participation and congratulations to this year’s medal winners!

Primary 6 learners spent a fascinating day at Glasgow Science Centre on Wednesday 11th June. The fun started even before they arrived as all three classes made the trip to Glasgow by train.

Once there, our young scientists spent time exploring the various floors to try out different experiments including using friction to burn a hole in a piece of paper. Given their current topic, the children were particularly interested in the human body section where they investigated the difference between a smoker’s lung and a healthy lung and attempted to run as fast as an athlete.

The main highlight of the trip was the planetarium, where the children had the chance to visit Mars, Jupiter and find out more about Planet Earth.

Following lunch in the sun by the River Clyde, Primary 6 jumped back on the train for their return journey to Motherwell. What a fantastic day of learning!

It is with a heavy heart and much sadness that I share the news that Zac Gunn passed away on the evening of Monday 9th June, surrounded by his mum, dad and gran. Zac received a lung transplant in Great Ormond Street Hospital on 17th May and put up a brave fight right to the end.

During his short life, Zac lifted the spirits and brought deep joy to more people than most of us could ever hope to touch in our lifetime. Zac was, quite simply, the most beautiful, gracious and courageous boy I ever encountered and he never failed to live his wee life to the absolute full. Zac leaves a huge hole in each of our hearts and in the Cathedral school community. He will be sorely missed.

We send our sincere condolences to Zac’s family, particularly to his mum and dad, big brother and gran, assuring them of our love and prayers at this sad and difficult time.

There wasn’t a more devout wee boy than Zac. We ask Jesus to receive him into his loving arms in heaven, where there will be no more tears, pain or suffering.

Eternal rest grant unto Zac, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Zac’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Mr Young