Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Boy zone ‘bye’ to primary school
Male-only class making big step up to secondary
A Coatbridge school waved a fond farewell at the end of term to its unusual senior class who have formed an exclusive boys’ club.
This year’s Primary Seven class at Shawhead Primary was made up entirely of 13 boys – and even with three different pupils transferring out and a further three joining the group over their seven years at the school, the class started and finished with the same number and all boys.
Described as “a very unusual occurrence” when the Advertiser covered the pupils starting school together in 2013, school staff had added at that time: “Everyone is joking that there are enough players for a full football team and two substitutes!”
Class teacher Pauline Mill taught the lucky 13 for the past three years and shared the class this year with colleague Michael Cookman.
She said: “They’re such a lovely group of boys, and right from the first day, they all got on so well.
“There are great friendships in there and they’re so encouraging of each other and their interests. They’ve been so good for each other during lockdown, keeping in touch online in various ways and looking out for each other.
“Before this I’d never taught a class which was all boys, although you actually forget until you’re together with another group like when we went to Kilbowie with Townhead.
“I’ve taught them for three years, since Primary Five – they’re a great group and love to discuss things and have a particular interest in science. I’ll remember them as the chatty boys!”
Although the special group’s leaving celebrations were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, like those of hundreds of pupils across Monklands, staff still found ways to mark the end of their time at Shawhead Primary.
Pauline added: “We made a year book for them, gathering as many photos as we could from throughout their journey with us, and tried to get in as many messages as we could.
“Each of the boys received a copy of it and a certificate, plus their leaver hoodies and were presented with their tie for high school.”
The P7 boys’ departure from the school at the end of term was especially emotional for their muchloved teacher, who is also leaving Shawhead Primary after 15 years there.
Pauline said: “It’s a fabulous school – it’s a real community at Shawhead as it’s a small school and everybody knows everybody, and all of the staff, parents and families have been brilliant.”