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ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL BUTE AND COWAL

COMMUNITY SERVICES 9 JANUARY 2007 ______

DUNOON GRAMMAR SCHOOL: ACHIEVEMENT REPORT 2006

1. SUMMARY

A report on the performance of all and Bute pupils in the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) examination results was presented to the Strategic Policy Committee on 16 th November 2006.

This report, presented by the Head Teacher, Mr Joe Rhodes, outlines the major achievements of the school in 2005/6 and includes the SQA examination results for pupils who sat examinations in May/June 2006. The results are based on pre-appeal data.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS

The Area Committee are asked to note the continuing improvement in the performance of pupils and the commitment of staff in their examination successes and in the wider aspects of achievement across the school.

3. DETAILS

The details are included in the attached report from the school.

4. IMPLICATIONS

Policy: None Financial: None Personnel: None

Equal Opportunities: None

For further information contact: Mr Joe Rhodes, Head Teacher Grammar School

Telephone: 01369 705010

Argyll and Bute Council Community Services Education

Dunoon Grammar School Report on Achievement, 2005-2006.

IN 2002, HMI judged the overall quality of the curriculum as very good, with the overall breadth and balance and opportunities for pupil choice seen as a key strength of the school.

During the year 2005 -2006, the statement of the HMI report was continued, and was even broader than in 2002, with the introduction of several courses at Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 in, particularly, practical courses. Home economics, for example, had broadened its choices from hospitality (highly successful and popular) to cake decorating (again highly successful and popular) with all candidates achieving A passes. Technical had introduced courses in both practical woodworking skills and practical engineering skills

The relaxation of Age and Stage regulations allowed mathematics to present its S3 cohort for Intermediate 1, essentially a year early, and this was very successful.

Future developments on the curriculum will focus on the development of ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’, the Scottish Executive Education Department’s view of the future of Scottish Education. Launched in Dunoon Grammar School in August of 2006, this will be the framework for work over the next few years.

The school has a standing target to raise attainment for all pupils across the curriculum, concentrating on raising boys’ achievement.

Attainment in 2006 was good. Last year’s highly achieving S4 maintained their excellent performance in the Scottish Executive Education Department’s benchmark of 3+ higher grades by achieving 24%, above national standards. 35% of S4 achieved 5+ standard grades at credit or equivalent. The gap between boys and girls narrowed with more than 30% of boys achieving this figure, the best in the school so far. Very encouraging is the fact that the current S4 and S3 is potentially showing even greater narrowing of this gender gap, a national problem, which has shown itself particularly problematical in the school.

Departments which achieved particularly good results included Geography (19 A passes at Higher) and Art (12 passes at Higher), with one candidate achieving national recognition for her work in an exhibition of good practice.

5-14 attainment in S2 in 2006

The percentage of the S2 roll attaining or exceeding the 5-14 Level E was as follows:- School Argyll & Bute % % Reading 74 71 Writing 50 58 Mathematics 65 63

SQA results 2006

The percentages of pupils gaining the National Qualifications shown were as follows:- School Argyll & Bute % % % In S4 5+ Level 3 (SG foundation or equiv.) 95 94 90 5+ Level 4 (SG general or equiv.) 72 80 76 5+ Level 5 (SG credit or equiv.) 35 37 34 In S5 1+ Level 6 (Higher) 43 45 38 3+ Level 6 (Higher) 24 25 21 5+ Level 6 (Higher) 08 11 09 In S6 3+ Level 6 (Higher) 26 28 30 5+ Level 6 (Higher) 18 18 19 1+ Level 7 (Advanced Higher) 12 13 12

In addition, the government’s National Priorities for Education framework, requires reporting on the cumulative successes of pupils by the end of S6. This analysis adds together all examination achievement of all pupils by the end of S6, i.e. an addition of all successes achieved in S4, S5 and S6. The measure is a three-year average, 2003-2006.

School Argyll Scotland & Bute % % % 5+ Level 3 (SG foundation or equiv.) 95 96 91 5+ Level 4 (SG general or equiv.) 80 86 79 5+ Level 5 (SG credit or equiv.) 43 53 47 1+ Level 6 (Higher) 42 49 43 3+ Level 6 (Higher) 29 33 30 5+ Level 6 (Higher) 18 21 19

(above data from Standard Tables and Charts, Scottish Executive, 2006, pre-appeal)

Achievements in 2005-6

Sport

Boys and girls football ran at various levels, and with great success. In particular the under 15 football team reached the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup. The under 18s continued their good form of last season, reaching the final of the under 18s tournament. The girls’ team entered the Coca Cola football competition. Individual pupils were selected to represent Scotland at football and shinty.

At the Scottish Schools Swimming Championships, the boys’ team won gold in the Freestyle and individual Medley competition. Three pupils from the school were members of the successful Argyll athletics team which qualified for the UK final of Sports Hall Athletics.

Badminton players entered the Scottish Schools Badminton championships, as well as the championships. Trophies were won in a number of classes. A badminton club ran throughout the session.

Dunoon Grammar School won the boys’ football, swimming, and outdoor sports competitions at the Argyll and Bute S1 and S2 Youth Games. Several pupils entered the ECKO orienteering group, which has led to significant success for individual pupils over many years. As well as the various competitions held within the school, a fencing club was started.

The continued success of the school’s cheerleaders showed them at various events throughout the year, including the Cowal Games, and taking part in the Scottish National Championships at the Braehead Arena.

In the Tall Ships experience, four pupils from S6 sailed in the Prince William from to . . Art

All Advanced Higher students achieved Art School status, and one student’s jewellery folio was selected by the SQA as an example of good practice. There was a successful project with P7 pupils to prepare a ceramic tile project for the new school, and a successful mural was completed for the new school during activities week.

Music

The Pipe Band continued its good work by winning 12 trophies in the Games circuit, at both Juvenile and Novice Juvenile grades. Three concerts were held during the year, and the wind Band retained the Spence Trophy, winning their section at the Mid Argyll Music Festival. Various pupils and groups won individual competitions. All bands were well supported by parents with various fund raising activities taking place. The wind band took part in a concert held at the RSAMD, playing with the Junior Academy Concert Band.

At the highest level, various pupils represented the school in the Scottish Youth Pipe Band, the National Children’s Orchestra, the West of Scotland Concert Band and Orchestra, the newly formed Argyll and Bute Wind Band, and the National Youth Jazz Band. Several pupils were selected to join the Junior Academy band.

Within the school, other areas of music were catered for, eg guitar workshops taking place. A Choir was formed, for both S1 and S2 pupils, and for seniors. A marching band was formed which took part in Cowal Choral Club’s performance of ‘The Music Man’. Several other pupils from the school took part in this performance.

Charities

The school made major efforts at year group and individual level to involve itself in charity fundraising, and in all some £6,000 was distributed to various charities. The S6 Charities Committee were responsible for co-ordinating and distributing the money raised.

In particular, following the tragic death of one of our S2 pupils, a collection was held which raised £1,000, which was sent to the Fraser of Allendar Ward of Yorkhill Hospital which had supported him throughout his young life. Yorkhill also benefited from a sponsored silence.

Scotaid, Children in Need, Befrienders (Argyll), Cancer Research, Scottish International Relief, backpacks to Malawi, McMillan Nurses, Dunoon Stroke Club, the Pakistan Earthquake appeal and Oxfam were all given donations from the school.

Enterprise

The young Enterprise team, Cowal Publishers ‘n Enterprise’ continued their success by winning the best presentation at the Argyll and Bute competition. Young Enterprise in Dunoon Grammar School was recognised by winning the Argyll and Bute Award at the awards ceremony in Oban. In recognition of the school’s outstanding Young Enterprise activities over 20 years, the school was presented with a major award at the council’s Excellence awards ceremonies.

In the last two years, Dunoon Grammar School has won the Argyll and Bute best company competition, sharing the best presentation this year and going forward to represent Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Championships in . Young Enterprise has been a major strength of Dunoon Grammar School’s S6 for 20 years. It has led many young people to gain their first experience of business, and has led young people to go forward into business. The chairs, for example of the last two companies have entered Strathclyde University’s prestigious Business School.

Work Experience

All of S4 had the opportunity to complete a week’s work experience, usually in the month of June following the Standard Grade exams. A number of companies and organisations were involved and many took more than one work experience candidate. All have been thanked for their very kind co- operation.

What else happened?

The success of the Home Economics department has led it to take part in a number of competitions, within and outwith the school. A major Cook Off Special competition was held in the school, with teams of pupils and staff preparing meals, judged by a panel led by a former pupil and restaurateur. Thirty pupils undertook their work experience week in the hospitality department of Metropolitan College.

A Citizenship Day was held for S2 pupils, an emergency simulation of which was acted out at the stadium and involved the new school builders, the Fire Brigade, Police, Ambulance, Coastguards, and required the visit of a Sea King helicopter, whose visit was cut short by being required to be called out on a real emergency.

Seventy S1 and S2 pupils from DGS took part in this year’s Junior Maths challenge, run by the UK Mathematics Trust. The school’s success in this competition was excellent, with 6 pupils receiving a gold, 10 pupils receiving a silver, and 28 obtaining a bronze. The very large number of golds was noteworthy, being 50% more than the national average, while the massive 40% of bronzes was double the national average.

Motivational speakers were used with S3, S4 and S5 classes to enhance exam performance and encourage positive attitudes for the future. In particular, learning and teaching classes were used with pupils and parents to look at study techniques.

The annual exchange with our partner school in Germany took place in June.

Higher German pupils visited Marburg in Germany in a German immersion exercise, while Advanced Higher French pupils undertook a similar trip to Paris. Both these trips took place under the auspices of ‘Partners in Excellence.’ All Higher German pupils took part in a whole day immersion programme at the Goethe Institute in Glasgow.

S6 organised, in co-operation with GRAB, the environmental trust, recycling boxes within the school. All S2 pupils were visited by a GRAB representative to discuss environmental issues

Two pupils were selected to visit the Scottish Space School seminar in Inverness. One of them was then selected to spend a week’s residential course at Strathclyde University’s Scottish Space School.

SMILE is the organisation of Senior pupils who help as mentors to younger pupils in the school. As part of S6 induction, the senior pupils were trained in their roles in June. All prefects also received training in their roles, receiving Welcome Host accreditation as part of their training.

The drama department organised the annual Playfair Day, which encourages S1 pupils to be aware of anti bullying and anti racism in the school. The Playfair Day was put forward to the Authority’s excellence awards, and won a highly commended award.

The annual prizegiving took place, with the principal guest by Matthew MacIver, Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council of Scotland

Expeditions.

Eight Senior Pupils went to Costa Rica during the summer for the second year, helping in an environmental project. Three other pupils went to the British Schools Expedition Society events, this year in Peru, and to the Amazon basin. Over the years, Dunoon Grammar School has proved to be the most active of all Scottish schools and comes second in the UK in the BSES expeditions.

Six pupils went on the Tall Ships expedition, this year through the west coast of Scotland, deliberately, to get good wind. In this they were successful, coming through a Force 8 gale, happily, it appears.

Appendix 1: Comparator Schools

This is the group of the most similar schools across Scotland. The list is derived from Principal Component Analysis (PCA) which recently replaced the previous analysis based solely on free school meal entitlement (FME). The components of PCA are: free meal entitlement; the percentage of households whose mothers have degrees; the percentage of households where the head of household has never worked; the percentage of the lowest 15% of achievers nationally are in the school; the number of pupils with additional support needs and the number of pupils living in large city areas.

The comparator schools for Dunoon Grammar School are:

Prestwick Academy ( ) Buckie High ( ) Tain Royal (Highland ) Lanark Grammar School (South ) Loudoun Academy ( ) Keith Grammar (Moray ) Lesmahagow High School ( ) Perth Academy (Perth & Kinross ) Ullapool High (Highland ) Speyside High (Moray ) Fraserburgh Academy ( ) Hawick High ( ) Kirkwall Grammar ( Islands ) Jedburgh Grammar (Scottish Borders ) Invergordon Academy (Highland ) Brechin High (Angus ) Charleston Academy (Highland ) Lockerbie Academy (Dumfries & ) Alva Academy ( ) Crieff High (Perth & Kinross )

Appendix 2: Boxplots

The boxplots show the distribution of results for our group of 20 comparator schools. The box represents the values between the lower and upper quartiles (50% of the group) and the horizontal line in the box indicates the position of the average (median) result. The diamond indicates the result achieved by the school. The vertical line represents the range of all results in our comparator group.

Boxplot 1: 5+ Level 3 by the end of S4

Boxplot 2: 5+ Level 5 by the end of S4

Boxplot 3: 3+ Level 6 by the end of S5

Boxplot 4: 5+ Level 6 by the end of S5