Staffing

Teacher of PE from October2025 - December 2026– interviews took place on 10 October and Kathryn Coats has been appointed to this post.

Acting Curriculum Leader of Communications (English and Languages) - Emma Reynolds (English) has been appointed to this post for the next 6-8 weeks. The 6-8 month temporary post, which will run until the end of April/May, will be advertised today.  The post is to backfill Ms Machen, who is currently acting DHT whilst Mr Illingworth is at Preston Lodge High School.

Mhairi Chalmers, one of our teachers at Meadowpark, will be finishing with us on 13 November. I would like to thank her for all her hard work and commitment during her time at our school and wish her all the very best for the future.

Lucy Thom, also a teacher at Meadowpark, will be leaving us on 5 November to take up a teaching position at Earlston High School. I would like to thank Lucy for her work with pupils, staff and parents/carers at our school and wish her well in her new post.

Leighton Thomas, our Head Janitor, retires following work next Thursday (30 October 2025). We would like to thank him for all his hard work at Knox Academy over the last 20 years and wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement.

Posts currently being advertised/about to advertised:

CDT/Computing – temporary until SQA exam leave – went live on 17 October for 2 weeks

A Pupil Support Worker – 27 ½ hrs a week – permanent

Acting Curriculum Leader of Communications (English and Languages) – until April/May 2026.

Information for all parents/carers

S1-S3 Tracking Report

The first S1-S3 Tracking Report of the session was issued digitally through Parents' Portal on Wednesday. For those who have not signed up, paper copies have been issued to young people. Due to a technical issue, S2 History and Modern Studies Tracking Reports have been sent separately by email. If you have not already done so, please do consider signing up to the Parents' Portal as this is the preferred method for sharing reports in the BGE.

S4-S6 Parents' Evening

S4-S6 pupils will be issued with their sign-up sheets on Monday, ahead of the Parent's evenings on Wednesday 6 November and Tuesday 11 November. The sign-up sheet will be double-sided to allow young people to choose appointments on the most suitable date. By providing two evenings, we do hope to see as many parents/carers as possible. This is sure to be a valuable evening ahead of the prelim diet (beginning 18 November 2025)

Assemblies

This week our assemblies have been on anti-bullying. Anti-bullying week takes place from Monday 10 – Friday 14 November. More information can be found here.

Rights Respecting Schools

The Right of the Week (these are written by the UNCRC) is Article 10:

If a child's parents live in different countries, the child and parents have the right to stay in contact and the child has the right to visit both parents.  

Pupils’ Success Stories

Karate

Congratulations to Bella Gold (S6), whom, during the October break, travelled to Kidderminster to train with Sensei Tsukada, 9th Dan, Sankukai karate. During this she was awarded her adult 2nd Dan black belt. What a great achievement!

Squash

Good luck to Jamie Pearman (S6) who is competing in the British Junior Squash Championships in Sheffield at the end of next week. He will play in the U17s event.

Music

Robin Mitchell (S1) achieved a distinction in his Grade 7 piano exam. What an achievement!

Dates for your diary:

Tuesday 28th October – PTA - 6.30pm in the School Library – All Welcome

6 and 11 November – S4/5/6 Parents’ Evening – 4.30-6.30pm

20 November – Parent Council – all welcome – 6.30-8pm (School Library)

3 December – S2 Parents’ Evening – 4.30-6.30pm

11 December – Christmas Concert – 7pm – Assembly Hall

11 December - S1-S6 Flu Vaccinations (library)

Our school calendar is updated regularly and should be used to access all information throughout the year and allows you to plan ahead too.

 

Sue Cook

Quick Links:

remote learning resources, course choices, supported study and careers news. Clicking on these headings takes you straight to these pages.

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