Queen Anne High School acting head praises pupils
SUPPORTING children at risk and raising attainment across the school is the focus of Queen Anne High’s new acting headteacher.
Angela Robertson took on the position at the start of the year when former head Ruth McFarlane was seconded to Levenmouth Academy.
Already, she has praised the “amazing young people” at Queen Anne, saying that there will be a focus on “attainment and attendance” to support pupils in continuing to adjust to life after the pandemic.
She told the Press: “It’s about improving life chances for everyone.
“The improvement plan is under way and we will undertake a self- evaluation in the summer, we will be focusing on raising attainment and supporting children who are at risk.
“Young people have been out of learning and are just getting their heads back into it.
Having started teaching in 2007 at Kirkland High School in Methil, which has since closed, Ms Robertson has worked previously as a senior English teacher in Buckhaven High and Madras College in St Andrews, before becoming depute head at Glenrothes last year.
Before that, she studied English and Spanish at university and worked in human resources and sales.
She says it was the training work which she took on as part of those roles, as well as her love of reading, which led her to a career in the classroom.
Ms Robertson wants to “build a community” in the school, and aims to be visible to pupils both inside and outside the classroom.
“I’ve loved it so far,” she continued. “Closures have created some gaps for learners. We will be providing skills to deal with times being hard and there are strategies we can offer to young people.”
Striking Fife teachers had raised concerns to the Press over a rise in physical violence towards school staff in November, while this month a video showing a fight between pupils in a classroom at Waid Academy was raised at Holyrood.
But Ms Robertson, who expects to be in the role for a minimum of one year, says that incidents of violence were not something she is “personally worried about” at the Dunfermline school.
She added: “We deal with them as and when they happen but we are very visible.
“I’ve met lots of young people and have met with the senior team captains – they see me out and about and know to say ‘good morning’.
“My job is to get the best from young people, you just have to have faith in your team and make sure you’re mixing with all different year groups.
“I’ve spent time in different departments – this morning I was in an English class and they were all working well, it’s just about being around, being seen and seeing them.
“I’m here to do the best I can – one of the school’s values is ‘ personal best’, we need to focus on that, it means being in school and focusing in lessons.”
THE start of work on a second
Royal Navy frigate at Babcock in Rosyth was celebrated this week with a steel- cutting ceremony.
The event marked the official start of HMS Active’s build programme, which is part of a project to deliver five Inspiration Class warships.
Coming just 16 months since steel was cut on the first ship, HMS Venturer, Babcock welcomed senior guests from the UK Government and Royal Navy, alongside international industry, to witness the traditional shipbuilding tradition.
Also attending the ceremony were veterans from the former Royal Navy Type 21 frigate and namesake HMS Active, which played a key role in the Falklands conflict.
A key component of the UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Type 31 programme will support a direct UK workforce of around 1,250 people, including 150 apprenticeships and a further 1,250 people in the supply chain at the height of the programme.
Additionally, Babcock has created 250 new Production
Support Operative ( PSO) roles to support the programme and beyond, with a focus on recruiting people who are not currently in education, employment or training, with recruitment undertaken in conjunction with Fife Council, Fife College and local employability programmes.
Babcock’s chief executive officer, David Lockwood, was “immensely proud” to be marking another key milestone in the programme.
“The first cut of steel for HMS Active is a momentous occasion for this critical UK defence programme as we put another ship into production,” he said.
“The Type 31 programme is a game- changer in the delivery of naval platforms, and we are already witnessing the tangible benefits that the programme will deliver; not just the emergence of a fleet of cuttingedge frigates for the Royal Navy, but also increased employment, new technologies and infrastructure investment. It’s a real honour to share this occasion with Minister for
Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk; and Andrew Bowie, Minister for Export; our workforce, our customers and our partners.”
Mr Chalk KC said the Type 31 programme would deliver key warships for the Royal Navy and continue to support British industry through national shipbuilding.
“This work delivers growth across the country, supports thousands of jobs, and showcases the strength of the union. This is great for Scotland and great for defence,” he added.