At the High School of Dundee, they are working hard to give their pupils the best school experience during these unprecedented times.
Online learning and teaching
Just as if pupils were in the school itself, a timetable of lessons is in place with most of them delivered live using Microsoft Teams. For example, last week more than 600 live lessons took place in the Senior Years and around 150 in Junior Years.
The teachers are also creating pre-recorded lessons and continuously uploading resources to its Virtual Learning Environment.
The school’s Learning Skills Team continues to provide timetabled support. The Junior Years teachers have devised activities which ensure that pupils stay engaged with one another and have a chance to work and play alongside their friends virtually, whilst the Senior Years Guidance Teachers meet their groups online every week and continue to provide one to one pastoral support.
The school has also been running a Care Hub at Mayfield for children of key workers.
Building essential skills
Now more than ever, the High School of Dundee wants to be sure that it’s also building skills in creativity, resilience and confidence so that its pupils are able to adapt to our ever-changing world and take responsibility for their own learning in the widest sense. It is providing as many co-curricular activities as it can. As well as taking part in weekly Sport and Cookery challenges, pupils have been creating wellbeing podcasts, producing their own lockdown newsletter and much more. PE Lessons and music tuition are also taking place online.
A flexible future
What the High School has put in place in response to Covid-19, is also a crucial part of its future.
It’s working hard on plans for the reopening of the school and nursery. Its remote learning programme ensures that all pupils can continue with high quality education regardless of where they are learning.
Wellbeing and values
Rector Lise Hudson says: “The wellbeing of our pupils is always our number one priority, and is something we have worked hard to protect and safeguard during lockdown; listening to our pupils concerns and feedback and responding to their needs.
“We are a community that works to support each other and kindness is at the heart of all that we do. As we move towards a reopening we have learnt how precious our shared humanity is and the power that we have to change the world for the better through our individual and collective actions.”
Around 20% of families receive bursary support. Many of families have been affected financially by the Covid-19 crisis, but the school’s mission is to ensure that no child leaves the school due to financial reasons. It is working hard to support all families; putting in place fee variations to help those who need it and its fees are frozen for the forthcoming year.
You can still join during lockdown
At the High School of Dundee, there are children joining all year round and even during lockdown. In fact new pupils have joined the school within the last few weeks.
One parent of a pupil who recently joined the school said: “My son has been very happy with the process so far. There is a good quantity of information/resources available for him. The interactive teaching makes a big difference in enabling him to feel some confidence in the process of settling into a new school.
“To meet the teachers and to have some very basic interaction has been helpful for him to begin to feel a part of the school. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming.”
The admissions team is ready to answer your questions, give you a flavour of life at the school and to arrange meetings with key members of teaching staff.
*If you’d like to find out more about joining the school, please email: admissions@highschoolofdundee.org.uk
