Larbert High School
Encyclopedia
Larbert High School is a six year state, non denominational, school located in Stenhousemuir
, Scotland
. The school is run by Falkirk Council
Education Services on behalf of the Scottish Government. In August 2010, the school roll was 1932, and in 2005 the total running costs of the school were £5,852,498 or £3553 per pupil. The current Rector
(Headteacher) is Jon Reid. Since 1984, the school has had a twinning arrangement with the Gymnasium Michelstadt in the Odenwald
area of Germany
.
, means follow the best course in all things.
The school offers full time education for 11-18 year olds in S1 to S6. The national qualifications offered by the school are administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
, and in common with most other schools in Scotland
offers the examinable Standard Grade
qualifications for 15 to 16 year olds and the Higher
qualification for 15 to 18 year olds. Nominally students sit their Standard Grade
examinations at the end of S4 at the age of 15 or 16, but the school has opted to allow students to sit these examinations a year earlier - at the end of S3, when students will be aged 14 or 15. This is to allow students to study Higher
courses over two years, which is advantageous due to their demanding nature. Previously the first two years of school, S1 and S2 were used to give students a taster of all the subjects on offer, as well as "stream" students in S3 based on their performance, in preparation for the two year long Standard Grade
courses beginning in S3. In 2011 the school has come to adopt a new system named 'Curriculum for Excellence' which it will roll out for all years leading into 4th year. This new program will replace Standard Grades, but will not replace Higher examinations.
. However rising school rolls throughout the 1950s saw extensions added to the main building and the moving of departments. In November 1977 a new extension to the school was opened at Carrongrange around half a kilometre from the Main Street campus. In September 1996 the Carrongrange Building was itself extended with the English
and Mathematics
departments as well as the school library
, moving into a new purpose built extension.
From 1977 to 2000 the school operated on a split site basis. The original site contained the majority of the science
and technical departments, the modern languages department, religious studies
and classics
department, home economics
department, school assembly hall
and swimming pool
, and until 1996 the English and Mathematics
departments. The Carrongrange site contained the majority of the social science subjects, art
, music
, physical education
, computing
studies and business
departments and from 1996 the English and Mathematics
departments as well as the main school offices and medical bay.
The split site nature of the school meant that, at the change of periods, pupils had to travel, on foot (potentially up to 5 times per day), between the two buildings, which were some distance apart - a fact that was criticised in the 1999 inspection
of the school. However in 1998 Falkirk Council
opted to consolidate the school on the Carrongrange site, removing the need for students to transfer between different buildings. This was funded by the Private Finance Initiative
, (PFI) and construction on the new part of the Carrongrange building commenced in February 1999.
In the spring of 2000 the school was opened on the one site at Carrongrange and the original facilities on Main Street site were demolished, which now comprises a private residential housing development. All existing Main Street departments were moved to their new premises, which included a new swimming pool
, music
and drama studio as well as school dining facilities, social space and assembly hall.
Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town is north-northwest of Falkirk and directly adjoins to Larbert in the west. The villages of Carron and Carronshore adjoin Stenhousemuir to the east but...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The school is run by Falkirk Council
Falkirk (council area)
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire...
Education Services on behalf of the Scottish Government. In August 2010, the school roll was 1932, and in 2005 the total running costs of the school were £5,852,498 or £3553 per pupil. The current Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
(Headteacher) is Jon Reid. Since 1984, the school has had a twinning arrangement with the Gymnasium Michelstadt in the Odenwald
Odenwald
The Odenwald is a low mountain range in Hesse, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany.- Location :The Odenwald lies between the Upper Rhine Rift Valley with the Bergstraße and the Hessisches Ried in the west, the Main and the Bauland in the east, the Hanau-Seligenstadt Basin – a subbasin of...
area of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
School Motto
The school motto is Optimum Sequi, which translated from LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, means follow the best course in all things.
Overview
Pupils progress to Larbert High School at the age of 11 or 12, after completing seven years of primary education, from eight local primary schools, namely:- Airth Primary School
- Bothkennar Primary School
- Carron Primary School
- Carronshore Primary School
- Kinnaird Primary School
- Ladeside Primary School
- Larbert Village Primary School
- Stenhousemuir Primary School
The school offers full time education for 11-18 year olds in S1 to S6. The national qualifications offered by the school are administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...
, and in common with most other schools in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
offers the examinable Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
qualifications for 15 to 16 year olds and the Higher
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
qualification for 15 to 18 year olds. Nominally students sit their Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
examinations at the end of S4 at the age of 15 or 16, but the school has opted to allow students to sit these examinations a year earlier - at the end of S3, when students will be aged 14 or 15. This is to allow students to study Higher
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
courses over two years, which is advantageous due to their demanding nature. Previously the first two years of school, S1 and S2 were used to give students a taster of all the subjects on offer, as well as "stream" students in S3 based on their performance, in preparation for the two year long Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
courses beginning in S3. In 2011 the school has come to adopt a new system named 'Curriculum for Excellence' which it will roll out for all years leading into 4th year. This new program will replace Standard Grades, but will not replace Higher examinations.
Buildings
From 1886 to 1977 the school operated on from its primary site on Main Street, StenhousemuirStenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town is north-northwest of Falkirk and directly adjoins to Larbert in the west. The villages of Carron and Carronshore adjoin Stenhousemuir to the east but...
. However rising school rolls throughout the 1950s saw extensions added to the main building and the moving of departments. In November 1977 a new extension to the school was opened at Carrongrange around half a kilometre from the Main Street campus. In September 1996 the Carrongrange Building was itself extended with the English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
departments as well as the school library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, moving into a new purpose built extension.
From 1977 to 2000 the school operated on a split site basis. The original site contained the majority of the science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and technical departments, the modern languages department, religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
and classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
department, home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
department, school assembly hall
Assembly Hall
An assembly hall is traditionally a building used for the purposes of holding deliberative assemblies. An example is the Assembly Hall where the general assembly of the state of Mississippi was held. Some Christian denominations call their meeting places or places of worship, assembly halls, such...
and swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, and until 1996 the English and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
departments. The Carrongrange site contained the majority of the social science subjects, art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
studies and business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
departments and from 1996 the English and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
departments as well as the main school offices and medical bay.
The split site nature of the school meant that, at the change of periods, pupils had to travel, on foot (potentially up to 5 times per day), between the two buildings, which were some distance apart - a fact that was criticised in the 1999 inspection
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for the inspection of public and independent, primary and secondary schools, as well as further education colleges, community learning, Local Authority Education Departments and teacher...
of the school. However in 1998 Falkirk Council
Falkirk (council area)
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire...
opted to consolidate the school on the Carrongrange site, removing the need for students to transfer between different buildings. This was funded by the Private Finance Initiative
Private Finance Initiative
The private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
, (PFI) and construction on the new part of the Carrongrange building commenced in February 1999.
In the spring of 2000 the school was opened on the one site at Carrongrange and the original facilities on Main Street site were demolished, which now comprises a private residential housing development. All existing Main Street departments were moved to their new premises, which included a new swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and drama studio as well as school dining facilities, social space and assembly hall.
Faculties
For the purposes of management individual subject departments have been consolidated into 10 faculties:| Faculty | Department(s) |
|---|---|
| Business and Information Technology | Business Studies and Computing Studies |
| Creative Arts | Art and Music |
| English | English |
| Humanities | Geography, History and Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies |
| Languages | Modern Languages and Classics |
| Mathematics | Mathematics |
| PE / Drama | Physical Education and Drama |
| Science | Biology, Chemistry and Physics |
| Technology | Food & Consumer Technology and Craft, Design & Technology |
List of Rectors
| Term of Office | Rector |
|---|---|
| 1886–1913 | Hugh Martin |
| 1913–1930 | William R Young |
| 1930–1932 | James G. Lockhart |
| 1932–1937 | John Smart |
| 1937–1945 | John M Amess |
| 1945–1963 | James Yortson |
| 1963–1982 | James Hunter |
| 1982–1993 | Eric Jamieson |
| 1993–2004 | Rosemary Holmes |
| 2004–2009 | Neal McGowon |
| Aug - Dec 2009 | Ann Buchan (Acting) |
| Jan 2010–Present | Jon Reid |
See also
- Education in ScotlandEducation in ScotlandScotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom...
- List of schools in Scotland
- Her Majesty's Inspectorate of EducationHer Majesty's Inspectorate of EducationHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Education is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for the inspection of public and independent, primary and secondary schools, as well as further education colleges, community learning, Local Authority Education Departments and teacher...