FP News 2021
5
Principal’s Report
An update from the Principal of ESMS, Linda Moule.
They demonstrated commitment, perseverance, and the ability to embrace every new challenge thrown at them.
I am delighted to write a report for the FP News Magazine as the Principal of Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools. This has been a year like none other, however, I have never felt so proud of my pupils in their determination to overcome the many obstacles triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019/2020 boys were unfortunately not given the opportunity to sit their examinations as they were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pupils were genuinely very disappointed not to be able to demonstrate their industry and knowledge which they had acquired throughout their studies. Instead, pupils were graded on teacher estimates based on their demonstrated and inferred attainment in each subject. The pass rate at National 5 was 97.4% with an A rate of 75.9%. At Higher level boys secured a pass rate of 98.3%, with an A rate of 67.4%. At Advanced Higher level the pass rate was 97.7% and the A rate was 63.3%.
Over the course of the summer boys had the opportunity to participate in various sporting and curricular trips. These included a cricket tour to Liverpool with two thrilling fixtures, a very wet Gordonstoun tour and our 1st XI hosted to compete for the David Gray Cup in the annual cricket festival. South Africa Hocky Tour was truly memorable on and off the pitch; 46 U18 rugby players travelled to Ontario, Canada for the SMC pre-season rugby tour. CCF camps (Army) to North Yorkshire and RAF in Hertfordshire; the annual trip to Malawi for S5 boys. Canoeists enjoyed the river Spey for a few days of canoeing and camping and our skiers a trip to Sestriere. During the October break, the Drama department led a successful trip to Hollywood, Geography trip to Iceland and the History department to Japan. Just before Christmas a group of 45 S2 boys headed to London for a weekend of history tours and sight-seeing,
Boys not only distinguished themselves on the academic front but have adapted and demonstrated great resilience to overcome the obstacles of working from home and online learning.
On the sports field, the boys Rugby team won the U18 Scottish Schools Cup, the final was played at BT Murrayfield against George Watson’s College. It was a fast-paced match
where both teams gave it their all, it was a truly memorable game. The boys 1st X1 Football team won the Independent Schools’ Cup with a 3-1 win over local rivals George Watson’s College in an entertaining final played at Falkirk Stadium. The 1st X1 Hockey team were silver medallists at the National Indoor Championships (a school) first. A group of boys attended the Scottish Schools Aquathlon Championships at the Michael Woods Leisure Centre where they all raced well. In the final race of the day one of our S6 boys retained his Scottish Schools title by running into 1st place with the fastest run of the day. The autumn term calendar was filled with special events and occasions, including Remembrance, The Pipe Band and Dancers’ Ceilidh and excellent performances of Alice in Wonderland, The Last Witch and Othello. Musical events included the Award Holders’ Concerts held in The Dean, followed by the Senior School Chamber Concerts. The Solo Piping and Drumming Competition was keenly fought at all levels from Chanter through to the Senior events. Keeping with tradition, our Carol Party followed by the Senior School Carol Services in St Mary’s Cathedral were the end to a special term. We were all hugely disappointed when we had to severely curtail our calendar of events at the end of term 2 due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, our pupils embraced this with many other ways to keep busy and support others: creating PPE at home, running a half marathon round their garden, taking therapet to local care homes, project Linus continued by sewing patchwork quilts from home, designing a child friendly hand sanitiser station and many more. This session has marked an extraordinary time for so many of us. Linda A Moule Principal
