Rector
James Bellshaw
Welcome!
It is now almost a year since I became the 9th Rector of Queen Anne High School, so it would seem appropriate to look back over the last twelve months. Staff and youngsters continue to work hard and achieve great things. You don’t just have to take my word for this; Her Majesty’s Inspectors returned in March and reported favourably on the improvements they had seen. In May the Senior Management Team was strengthened by the appointment of two permanent Depute Rectors. Additional promoted staff have also been appointed to the Mathematics and English departments. Extra classroom teaching time has been devoted to all classes in S5 and S6 to further improve examination performance at Higher. We continue to enjoy strong support from our parental body, now formally represented by the Parent Council. Rewards presentations for pupils in S1, S2, S3 and our Sporting Colours Ceremony were attended by over 700 parents and our revamped Award Ceremony in front of a full hall in July. The extent of parental support for our drive to improve school dress is particularly welcome. School management and representatives of the teachers’ Professional Associations have formally agreed the Staffing and Pupil Support Plans resulting in an increase in the number of Guidance teachers. Morale amongst staff is excellent and a large number of volunteers assist the Depute Rectors with supervision of pupils inside the school and in the surrounding area before school, at interval and lunchtime and boarding the buses. School trips to far flung places and to more local venues continue. Once a week, each pupil attends an assembly where successes are celebrated and pupils are reminded about the high standards expected of Queen Anne youngsters. Each day the Daily Dozen initiative brings a number of randomly selected pupils to the Rector’s office. This provides a valuable opportunity to listen to pupil opinion and check up on their work and attitude to their studies. The Remembrance Service in November; Celebration of Christmas in December and recent Holocaust Commemoration Assemblies epitomise so much of what is good about Queen Anne High School. The excellent conduct of our pupils creates a sense of occasion such that these events will live long in the memories of those present.
The school is undoubtedly in good heart.