What time does the school start and finish?
In a “normal” term:
Registration is at 8.40am.
Period 1 starts at 8.50am.
Period 7 ends at 3.35pm.
How long are the classes?
Each class lasts 50 minutes, and a double period lasts 1 hour 40 minutes.
How long are breaks at intervals and lunch time?
Morning break lasts 15 minutes, from 11.20am to 11.35am.
Lunchtime lasts 40 minutes, from 1.15pm to 1.55pm.
There is no afternoon break.
How many different subjects would you get each day?
There are 7 periods in the school day.
S1 classes are for a single period, apart from one double period of P.E. during the week.
What types of Science will we do in S1?
In S1 you will be introduced to the Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as how these different sciences are linked to each other.
Do we do Science experiments?
You will be taught lab safety so that you can conduct experiments which your teacher will demonstrate to you first.
Google and lab coats will have to be worn and hair must be tied back when conducting experiments.
I’m a bit nervous about doing Maths – what will I learn?
Your primary school will tell us what different levels of Maths you have all reached so that when you do Maths at high school you can get any support you need from your Maths teacher and our Support for Learning department.
How many subjects do you get in S1?
We try to keep the number of teachers you have each week down, so you will get some subjects up until Christmas and then change to another subject at the same time in the timetable.
What subjects will we do in first year?
Core subjects are: English, Maths, Science, PE, Religious and Moral Education, Art, Music, Drama, History, Geography, Modern Studies, ICT, French, Home Economics, Technology
How much homework do you get?
You will be given different amounts of homework in different subjects.
Sometimes the homework will be to finish incomplete classwork, sometimes it will be to develop what you have learned in class.
You might be given project homework which could take 2 or 3 weeks to work on.
When will we get our timetables?
You will get timetables for the week before you come to school in August.
Do we get a timetable on the first day so that we know what we’re doing?
On the first day in August your registration teacher will explain your timetable to you and there will be older pupils to take you to your classes for a week or so, until you know your way around.
Do we ever get to choose a class?
During S2, you will get the chance to opt for the subjects that you want to study in S3, and you then make more options each year after that.
How many teachers are there in the full school?
Some teachers work part-time, so there are a different number of teachers each day, but each day there are between 60 and 70 teachers in school.
In addition, we have several classroom assistants as well as janitors, facilities managers, office staff, cleaners, technicians canteen staff and a librarian.
How many pupils are in a class?
In S1, “practical” subjects such as Science, Drama and Home Economics have a maximum of 20 pupils, because of the movement around the room and equipment required in the room.
In other subjects in “traditional” classrooms such as Maths, English, History and Geography there is a maximum of 30 pupils.
Can you bring a packed lunch?
Yes, many pupils bring packed lunches and eat them in the canteen.
Is food at high school free?
Food has to be paid for at the canteen during break and lunchtime.
Some pupils have a free meal entitlement, just like in primary school.
Will there be a transition day where we meet teachers, get a tour, be sorted into our Houses and be able to meet people from our Houses?
This can’t be confirmed at present because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Will we be able to have our 2-day visit this year?
Hopefully we will be able to allow you to experience some time in school before the summer when you can meet your teachers and fellow House pupils, as well as get taken around the building.
We will definitely create a “virtual” transition like we did last year, with video messages from staff and also some input from our current S1 pupils and our senior pupils.
Hopefully you will be given as much information as you need.
Will my older brother/sister be able to tour me around the school?
If we can get you into school for a tour with the other P7 pupils, it will be with a senior pupil who will guide your whole registration class.
When will we find out what House we will be in?
You will know your House in advance of your 2-day visit.
If the 2-day visit cannot happen your parents and carers will be e-mailed with the information about your House.
If you don’t have a brother or sister, how do you choose the Houses?
You will be placed in your House (you don’t choose your House) based on information received from your primary school.
We try to make sure that all of our S1 pupils have a chance to learn with pupils from other primary schools.
Will we be able to see our guidance teachers anytime we want?
Yes! You will know where the Pupil Support office is, and you will also know where their classroom is.
Your Pupil Support teacher may not be able to spend a long time with you as soon as you go to see them but they will arrange a time to see you later if necessary.
Will I get help from other teachers if I am struggling with something?
There is a large wider Support team in the school including a Depute, the Support for Learning staff and other teachers who help out with specific subjects or counselling.
Is it ok to talk to your teacher if you don’t understand what they are teaching?
Absolutely, we would encourage you to tell your teacher if you want something explained to you.
How will you get help if you’re really struggling with a subject?
Your teacher will help you.
We also have classroom assistants who are in some classes and can move from pupil to pupil to help them with their classwork.
In addition, senior pupils help out in some classes.
We have a Paired Reading programme where senior students help some S1 pupils develop their literacy skills.
Are high school teachers strict?
We hope you don’t think so!
We have a Promoting Positive Behaviour system in school which means that pupils know that their learning is best helped by respecting each other in the classroom.
If I am new and I do something wrong will I get in trouble?
We all know that it will take some time to get used to being at high school so you will not be “in trouble” for making any mistakes, don’t worry!
If you forget where your class is and you are late will you get in trouble?
Absolutely not. Your S6 “Buddies” will show you around the school when you start with us, until they feel that you know your way around.
Do the girls need to wear skirts?
Girls can wear skirts or trousers.
Can you wear jewellery or belts?
Yes. Belts should be black or grey in line with the school uniform.
Do you allow a bit of make-up, like mascara and lip gloss?
Yes. You will see that pupils who wear make-up keep it to a minimum as they understand that they are in school and not out on a special occasion.
Do you have any clubs?
There are a variety of extra-curricular activities in school.
Some take place at lunch time and others after school, although these have not been able to take place in the last year because of COVD-19 restrictions.
Do we get to play in the MUGA?
The MUGA is open during break and lunch time for pupils to use.
No eating is allowed in the MUGA.
Do you get to go on fun trips?
There have been no trips for the past year.
However there are normally trips which can be subject-related or are “rewards” for positive behaviour.
The school has run residential trips in Scotland and abroad in the past and hopefully these can start again when permitted.
We will have to follow guidelines from the government about trips.
If COVID-19 is still here will we be in the one class or going around the school?
Currently we have a system of double periods to reduce the amount of “traffic” around school, since a lot of subjects have to be taught in a specific place like a drama studio, kitchen, science lab, woodwork room or computer suite, so you have to go around the school, but all stairs, bannisters and door handles are cleaned literally every period and there are hand sanitisers in every classroom.
