Assemblies
This week’s assemblies have focused on Young Carers and Care Experienced young people to raise awareness as part of Carefest 2026.
School Uniform
As we head in to the colder weather, please can I highlight the need for pupils to adhere to our revised school uniform expectations. The items pupils can wear can be found here: school uniform. This was designed to reflect the views of our school community while ensuring that our young people continue to look smart and wear clothing that is appropriate for a learning environment.
We would be grateful for the support of parents and carers in encouraging young people to follow the agreed dress code. While the updated uniform guidance offers greater flexibility and a wider range of clothing options, we are still seeing some pupils arrive in attire that does not meet the agreed expectations.
We have worked hard to create a dress code that balances personal choice with maintaining high standards of dress code. Developing an understanding of appropriate dress for different environments is also an important life skill that will benefit them in future employment and other settings where dress codes are expected.
As a reminder:
- Hooded tops and crop tops must not be worn in school.
- Shorts should be tailored or dress shorts and not sports shorts or cycle shorts.
- Chains and dangling jewellery should not be worn as they present a health and safety risk.
We appreciate your continued support in helping us maintain a positive, safe and respectful school environment where high standards are encouraged for all. If you do wish some support with uniform we have lots of brand new black sweatshirts and shirts in our Essentials Hub so please just drop us an email and we can arrange for you to receive these for your young person.
Chromebooks
We are very privileged that every young person at Knox Academy has a Chromebook. However we have a number of young people arriving without them charged and ready for use. Please can I ask for parents/carers support in ensuring their young person brings their Chromebook every day (in a bag) and that it is fully charged and ready for use. (20 mins each evening charges it to almost full). Much of our learning uses digital technology and if they don’t have their Chromebook, this will impact on their learning. Thank you.
Rights Respecting Schools (RRSA)
The right of the week is Article 1 - No discrimination
All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, if they are a boy or a girl, if they have a disability, if they are rich or poor and no matter who their parents are or what their parents or families believe or do. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason.
Prelim Diet for S4-S6 Pupils
All parents/carers should have received a letter from me at the start of this week regarding the arrangement for Prelims which will run from Friday 20 November 2026 until Friday 11 December 2026 (inclusive). You should also have been emailed a letter from Mrs Wright with information about Alternative Arrangements.
Extra-Curricular Timetable
Please find a copy of our updated Extra-Curricular Timetable here. This is for subject study support only.
Revision Skills Club – Every Monday Lunchtime in Support for Learning!
Want to make revision easier, less stressful, and more effective? Come along to our Revision Skills sessions every Monday lunchtime in Support for Learning!
We'll be exploring practical revision techniques, smart study strategies backed by research, and exam tips that can help you feel more confident and prepared. You'll have the chance to try out different approaches and discover what works best for you.
These sessions are open to all S3 and S4 pupils, whether you're looking to improve your study skills, get organised for upcoming assessments, or simply pick up some new revision ideas. They may be particularly helpful for pupils who benefit from more active, hands-on revision strategies, including those who have dyslexia or are currently on the pathway towards identification.
The sessions also provide a relaxed opportunity to practise using assessment arrangements such as digital papers, digital readers, speech-to-text software, and other technology supports before assessments and exams.
Come along, bring your lunch, and give it a try. You might just find a revision strategy that makes studying a whole lot easier
Parental Engagement Evening
Following the above event held on 29 September, all presentations are now available on our website.
Careers Weeks
As part of Scottish Careers Week Skills Development Scotland is a webinars for parents/carers. This will take place on Thursday 12th November at 6.30pm. Click on the following link - SDS Parents and Carers Webinar: Scottish Careers Week 2026
Awareness Days/Weeks
Last week we had a focus on Dyslexia Awareness Week with young people discussing this in registration and information on posters around the school too.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Awareness Day takes place on Friday 16 October.
Did you know that DLD affects on average 2 pupils in every classroom of 30 pupils? Our staff at Knox Academy had training from Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) last week to help us ensure we have the skills to support young people with DLD effectively at our school. To find out more follow this link. If after reading this you would like more information, please contact your young person’s House Team.
Events/Trips
P7 Information Evening
It was wonderful to welcome so many P7 pupils and their parents/carers to our Information Evening. The event provided an excellent opportunity for families to tour the school, meet staff and take part in a range of engaging activities within subject departments.
From speaking with parents/carers and pupils throughout the evening, it was clear that everyone enjoyed the experience and valued the opportunity to see the school in action. Our fantastic S6 ambassadors played a key role in making the evening such a success, leading groups around the school, sharing their experiences and answering the many questions from our future pupils and their families.
We look forward to welcoming our P7 pupils back to the school for future events such as our Christmas Ceilidh.
S4/5 Graphics Trip to QMU
The S4/5 Graphics Class (who gain N5 Creative Industries and an NPA L5 in Visual Communications) visited Queen Margret University, they attended the brand new 'Digital Design and Graphics' suite which has not been used by the new Degree students yet; where they learnt how to think creatively and how to use critical thinking when designing. The pupils enjoyed refreshments and the learning was the same as 1st year Degree students. It was also an experience for pupils to be physically in a University campus and experience what learning at University is like. This project will continue back at school and the final Graphic Designs will be exhibited on the University Campus in November
S3 Career Inspiration Event 2026
On 30 October S3 will take part in a Career Inspiration Event. Nine different companies/ organisations will visit the school, with the aim of broadening their horizons in terms of possible career options. Each class will participate in four sessions during the course of the morning, finding out about the types of skills required to work in that particular field and the range of qualifications/ job opportunities that exist.
These events have proved to be very popular and informative in the past and we hope that the S3 will embrace it with enthusiasm and an open mind.
We are extremely grateful to all the staff who give up their time to facilitate these workshops and to Elaine Gorman, our DYW coordinator, who brings it all together.
Languages
The Modern Foreign Languages department is organising a trip to the University of Stirling for Wednesday 28.10.26. Fifteen S5 students have been invited to this Languages Taster Day.
Future Asset
On Wednesday 30 September five of our senior girls attended an event “You Belong Here!” along with Mrs Ferguson, at the Library of Mistakes in Edinburgh. The venue is a financial history library and operates as a charitable venture.
The event invitation came via Future Asset, a charitable organisation who, through a mix of competitions, events, educational resources, and mentoring opportunities, empower young women with the confidence, skills, and insight to explore careers in financial services.
The event was an uplifting and thought-provoking evening listening to Mandy Rawlinson, author and Head of UK and EMEA at Aberdeen Investments, in conversation with broadcaster, author and coach Dr Vanessa Collingridge. At the end, there was the opportunity to have a wider discussion with a range of people regarding the Future Asset competition the girls have entered. “Mandy discussed her career journey and the ideas behind her best-selling book, You Don’t Belong Here: Evidence-Based Practical Strategies for Overlooked Women Ready to Rise, Lead and Own Their Power at Work. We also had the chance to try out a couple of practical workshop exercises designed to help us reflect, build confidence and think differently about our own paths. The journey home allowed us to share insights and tips with each other such as how to identify irrational thoughts about your personal attributes and how to turn them into logical, positive reinforcement messages as well as reframing comments and recognising opinions, as opposed to thoughtful feedback, from others.” (By Hanna, Ava, Lexi, Nellie and Fabiana).
Halloween Disco
This will take place on Thursday 29 October from 7-9pm and is for S1-S3 pupils only. Tickets will be available soon via Parent Pay/IPay.
Winter Balls (Dates)
The Winter Balls will take place on Thursday 10 December (S1-S3) and Monday 14 December (S4-S6). These will run from 7-9pm. Tickets will go on sale nearer the time.
Pupils’ Successes
Debating Teams
A huge well done to the Knox Academy Debate Competition Team for their success in the Schools' Mace held at Currie High School through Young Speakers Scotland at the weekend! Our senior team, consisting of Poppy Davidson-Kelly and Ugne Victye, won one competition while our junior team, consisting of Aubin Motion and Merryn O'Sullivan, placed second, and all this after only practicing competitive debate for one month! We are over the moon with our young people, and we expect to see them climb the ranks in the future of their debating careers at Knox. We also received news this week to say our Junior Team has made the finals. This will take place on 27 February in Edinburgh. Very exciting and with lots of practice leading up to this we’ll be ready for a great debate! (By Ms Milligan, English)
P7 Info Evening
Thank you to many of our pupils, across year groups, who led some of our P7 Info sessions – the P7s and parents/carers were very inspired by you and by your confidence!
Thank you also to the wonderful musicians and singers who performed in the foyer, hall and music classroom. It was wonderful to showcase some of the many musical talents at Knox too.
Macmillan Fundraising Concert
A huge well done to all the musicians who represented Knox Academy at the IMS Macmillan Fundraising Concert at St Mary's Kirk on Wednesday 7th October. Knox Saxophone Group (Adam, Ben, Fraser and Ben) and Knox Jazz Band shone under the dynamic musical direction of Liz Woodsend. The student-led Goats' Toes folk band had a wonderful energy and a new S1 recruit on cello! Knox music teachers would like to thank Jen Marr and all the IMS tutors who support our students throughout the year.
Dates for your diary:
12-19 October School holidays for Pupils
12-16 October School holidays for staff – 19 October – staff in-service
5 November S4-S6 Parents’ Evening – 4.30-6.30pm
10 November S4-S6 Parents’ Evening – 4.30-6.30pm
The next HT’s update will be on Friday 30 October.
Our school calendar is updated regularly and should be used to access all information throughout the year. This will also allow you to plan ahead too for Parent/Carer consultations and other events too.
Sue Cook
