Lesmahagow High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The new school building opened in 2007.[2] The current head teacher is Barbara Lee.[3][4] The school has four deputy head teachers: David Robertson, Linda Wright, Pamela Docherty and Alistair Gray.[5][6]

Lesmahagow High School
Lesmahagow High School, new building (2008)
Address
Map
Strathaven Road
Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire
ML11 0FS

Scotland
Coordinates55°38′36″N 3°53′16″W / 55.64327°N 3.88766°W / 55.64327; -3.88766
Information
Motto"Aspire to be our best"
Established2007 (2007)
AuthoritySouth Lanarkshire
Head teacherBarbara Lee[1]
Scottish Highers1st Years – 6th Years
GenderMixed
Enrollment541
Colour(s)     
SEED Number8550131
Websitewww.lesmahagow.s-lanark.sch.uk

Overview

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The school's catchment area includes the villages of Lesmahagow, Auchenheath, Blackwood, Coalburn, Hawksland, Kirkmuirhill and surrounding areas.[5] The school uses a traditional house system. The pupils are organised into one of three guidance houses. The three houses are Kerse (red), Logan (yellow) and Milton (blue).[7] The head teacher Barbara Lee took up the post in August 2021,taking over from Richard McGowan .[8][9]

Lesmahagow's affiliated primary schools include Bent Primary in Kirkmuirhill, Blackwood Primary in Blackwood, Milton Primary and Woodpark Primary in Lesmahagow and Coalburn Primary in Coalburn.[10]

History

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According to photographer David Hall, "In 2004, South Lanarkshire Council began an ambitious School Modernisation Programme to modernise or replace all primary and secondary schools in its area. In Lesmahagow, Lesmahagow High School and Woodpark and Milton Primary Schools were all replaced with new buildings."[11]

The new school building opened in 2007, replacing the former Lesmahagow Higher Grade School buildings. The school consists of two buildings, linked by a footbridge.[3] Like other schools in Scotland, Lesmahagow aims to fulfil the requirements of Curriculum for Excellence.[12]

Lesmahagow High School was inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) in November 2009. Following the publication of the report in January 2010, the Head Teacher and staff prepared an action plan to address the main recommendations; an interim report on progress was published in 2011.[12]

In 2012, a report by EKOS Consultants for South Lanarkshire County Council noted that pupils' Year 4 attainment was typical for Scotland, but "examination results for both 5th and 6th years are aubstantially below local and national levels".[13] The report also notes that unemployment for the school's ex-pupils was higher than average.[13]

The school has celebrated National Science and Engineering week[14] and provides pupils with careers advice.[15] In 2015 Keith Anderson the CEO of Scottish Power visited the school.[16]

In 2016, a pupil at the school achieved grades that were among the highest in Scotland that year.[17]

The school has longstanding adoption of a strong anti-bigotry policy.[18]

Buildings

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The new school building was built close to the original site.[5] Demolition of the old school building started in mid-December 2007 and was completed in 2009.[19]

Notable alumni

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Lesmahagow Higher Grade School

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Lesmahagow High School

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References

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  1. ^ "Welcome". Lesmahagow High School. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Lesmahagow High School South Lanarkshire, United Kingdom". www.tes.com. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Lesmahagow High School Lanark School Road, Lesmahagow". www.educationbase.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  4. ^ Robertson, David (24 March 2020). "Pupil Support and Support for Learning Update" (PDF). lesmahagow.s-lanark.sch. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Lesmahagow High School Handbook 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Information for Primary 7 Parents and Pupils" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Contact Us | Lesmahagow High School". www.lesmahagow.s-lanark.sch.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ "New Head Teacher". Lesmahagow High School. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Eilidh and Eddie chosen as captains at 'Gow High". Daily Record. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Education and learning > Secondary school information > Our secondary schools > Lesmahagow High School". www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk. South Lanarkshire Council. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  11. ^ Hall, David. "Lesmahagow Schools". www.djhweb.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b Follow-through report - Lesmahagow High School (PDF). www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk (Report). South Lanarkshire Council. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Lesmahagow Village Centre: Socio-Economic Baseline and Health Check Review". EKOS. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  14. ^ Goldthorp, Craig (18 April 2014). "Lesmahagow High Science Week Slideshow". Carluke Gazette. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  15. ^ Bartynek, Shirley (11 February 2020). "Advertiser reporter heads to Lesmahagow High School for annual world of work week". Hamilton Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  16. ^ "A Powerful Pow-Wow: Scottishpower's Ceo Keith Anderson Meets Pupils at Lesmahagow High School". www.scottishpower.com (Press release). Scottish Power. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  17. ^ McCourt, Stefanie (14 September 2016). "Lesmahagow student heads to Oxford University with an incredible 17 A grades". Hamilton Advertiser. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Sectarian shock on Lesmahagow High Facebook site". www.carlukegazette.co.uk. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  19. ^ Halls, David (22 February 2021). "Demolition of the old Lesmahagow High School". www.djhweb.co.uk.
  20. ^ Scott, Andrew C. (15 February 2020). At the Crossroads of Time: How a Small Scottish Village Changed History. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9833-5.
  21. ^ Robert Waller; Byron Criddle (2007). The Almanac of British Politics. Taylor & Francis. pp. 592–. ISBN 978-0-415-37824-6. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Jimmy Hood obituary". the Guardian. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  23. ^ Alasdair Gray (7 February 2019). Of Me and Others: 1952–2019. Canongate Books. pp. 242–. ISBN 978-1-78689-521-9. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
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