Berwickshire High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berwickshire High School |
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Duns
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| Established | 1896 |
Berwickshire High School is a large school in Scotland for students aged 11 to 18. It is located near the town of Duns in the Scottish Borders area. This school helps young people learn and grow for six years, from their first year of high school all the way to their final year before college or work.
Contents
School History and Growth
Early Days of Berwickshire High School
Berwickshire High School first opened its doors in 1896. The first head teacher was Walter John Mabbott. When it first started, the school could fit about 80 students. As more students wanted to attend, new parts were added to the building to make space for everyone.
Growing Bigger and a New Building
By the 1950s, the school had become very crowded. There wasn't enough room for all the students. So, plans were made to build a brand new school. This new building officially opened in 1958, giving students a much better place to learn.
Where Students Come From
The school welcomes students from a wide area across Berwickshire. This includes towns and villages like Duns, Greenlaw, Chirnside, Coldstream, Foulden, Paxton, Eccles, Leitholm, Allanton, and Swinton.
The School's Special Motto
The school has a motto, which is like a special saying or rule to live by. It comes from a famous poem called Ulysses. The motto is: "To Strive, To Seek, To Find and not to Yield." This basically means to work hard, keep looking for new things, discover them, and never give up on your goals in life.
How the School Organizes Students
The House System Explained
Berwickshire High School uses a 'house system' to organize its students. Students are divided into three different houses. This system helps to arrange classes and also encourages friendly competition among students. The houses are named after important people from the Berwickshire area.
Meet the School Houses
The three houses are called Scott, Home, and Douglas. Each house has its own special color. They also have a Head of House, who is a teacher, and student leaders called House Captains and Vice Captains. These student leaders are usually from the older years (S5/S6). There are also House Representatives from other year groups.
Friendly Competitions and Points
Throughout the school year, students earn points for their house. These points can be for good behavior, academic achievements, or winning inter-house events. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the special Interhouse trophy. It's a fun way to encourage teamwork and school spirit.
Modern School Buildings
A Brand New School Opens
A completely new high school building was officially opened in February 2009. Work on this modern building started in October 2006. The new school is located right across the road from the old building.
Modern Design and Partnerships
The design of Berwickshire High School's new building is similar to other schools built around the same time. These include Eyemouth High School and Earlston High School. All these schools were built through a special agreement called a Public Private Partnership with the Scottish Borders Council. This means that private companies worked with the local council to build the schools.
Well-Known Former Students
People Who Studied Here
Many talented people have attended Berwickshire High School over the years. Here are a few examples of former students who went on to achieve great things:
- Daniel Blades, Lord Blades: He became a very important judge in Scotland.
- Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay: Another former student who also became a respected judge.
- Ronald Mackay, Lord Eassie: He also served as a judge in Scotland's legal system.
- Helen Lowe: She was one of the very first women in Scotland to become a chartered accountant. This means she was an expert in managing money and finances for businesses.
