FAQs
Q How many teachers are there?
A About 50, but you’ll only have 14 of them and no more than 6 or 7 on any day.
Q How many subjects are there in S1?
A You’ll have 14 in total: English, Maths, French, Geography, History, Religious Education, PE, Art, Music, Science, Technical, Home Economics, IT and Social Education.
Q Why am I in different classes for different subjects?
A Some classes have to be smaller because they involve practical work, like cooking in Home Economics, woodworking in Technical, or experiments in Science. For safety reasons, practical subjects can’t have more than 20 pupils. The maximum is 20 for English and Maths too. Your ‘small’ class is 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E or 1F. You go to that class for English, Maths, Art, Music, Science, Technical, Home Economics, and IT. You go to all your other subjects in your ‘big’ class – 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4.
Q What are the ‘Houses’ for?
A The school is divided up into smaller groups so that one Pupil Support teacher has a smaller number of pupils to look after. We call these smaller groups ‘Houses’. The House is also the basis for registration, Soc. Ed., sports competitions, the rewards system, etc.
Q What house will I be put in?
A If you have older brothers or sisters at the school you’ll probably be put in the same House as them. By now you know your Registration class. That’s also your House group:
1.1 Davaar
1.2 Bengullion
1.3 Kilbrannan
1.4 Knockscalbert
Q Are the subjects harder than in primary?
A The work you did in P7 was different to the work you did in P1. In the same way, it changes as you go up through secondary school. But you shouldn’t think of it as getting harder. You yourself are getting older, developing more skills and knowledge. You are capable of doing more as you grow up. So don’t think of the work as getting harder. It will always be at a level that you can do, while ‘stretching’ you to do a little bit more.
Q When is Registration?
A First thing every morning, from 9.00 until 9.10, except on the day your House has Assembly.
Q Where is Registration?
A 1.1 Room 1.2 Mr Harrow
1.2 Room 1.1 Mr Baxter
1.3 Room 3.8 Mr Lewis
1.4 Room 3.6 Mr Haggarty
Please note - you may not start the year in these rooms. It will depend on whether or not the building works are complete when we come back.
Q When do I have Assembly?
A You’ll have Assembly once a week:
Bengullion (1.2) Tuesday
Davaar (1.1) Wednesday
Kilbrannan (1.3) Thursday
Knockscalbert (1.4) Friday
When it’s your day for Assembly go straight to the Hall at 9.00. Sometimes you will have a special Assembly led by one of the school Chaplains. You’ll be told about this in the daily notices.
Q How long are the breaks?
A Morning interval is 15 minutes and lunch is 50 minutes. There is no afternoon interval.
Q Are there lockers for pupils?
A We don’t have space for lockers at present, but there are bag racks in the cloakrooms and at the foot of the main stair.
Q Do you have to carry all your belongings around all day?
A You should only bring what you need for each day. Take your bag to all your classes, as you won’t have time to keep going back to the cloakrooms between classes.
Q Are you tired at the end of the day with all the walking up and down stairs?
A You may be tired at first, but remember you won’t be walking up and down the stairs all the time!
Q How long do you get to finish your work?
A Your teachers will give you enough time to do your work, but if you’re finding it difficult to get it finished tell the teacher. This is important! Don’t struggle silently!
Q How much homework do you get?
A The amount of homework you get will vary. Some subjects will give more than others. On average, you should have about 45 minutes to an hour’s homework each night.
Q Can I get extra time with homework if I am away on a weekend?
A That’s up to your teacher. Homework given out on a Friday is not likely to be for Monday, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Q How do you catch up on homework given out when you were absent?
A Your friends may be able to tell you what was given out so you may be able to start on it before going back. If not, ask your teachers what you missed. They’ll give you any worksheets you need and time to get the work done.
Q What do you do if you lose your homework diary?
A We call it the homework planner now! If you lose it, just ask for another at the school office. It’ll cost you £1 and the money goes to charity.
Q What do you do if you lose your timetable?
A Ask for another at the school office. It’ll cost you 10p and the money goes to Children in Need.
Tip – write your timetable in your homework planner!
Q Can we get a plan of the school to help us find our way around?
A If you need one, it’s at the back of the Handbook which was sent home earlier in the year.
Tip – here’s an easy way to remember where your classes are. Look at the room numbers on your timetable. The first part of the room number is the floor it’s on: G for Ground, 1 for first floor, and so on. The next part is the room number on that floor, so G1 is room 1 on the ground floor. 3.10 is room 10 on the 3rd floor. Rooms with low numbers (1, 2, etc) are at the end of the building nearer the town. Rooms with high numbers (9, 10, 11) are at the end of the school nearer Bengullion. So, Room 2.2 is on the second floor at the end nearer the town. Room 3.10 is on the third floor at the end nearer Bengullion. Easy!
Q How long do you get to go from one class to another?
A There’s no set time. Just be as quick as you can and don’t dilly dally on the way!
Q Do you get lost easily in the Grammar School?
A You might find it a bit confusing at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. Don’t worry about it. No-one will give you a row for getting lost (well maybe they will if you’re still getting lost by October!).
Q What do you do if you get lost?
A Ask someone the way. Or look for the signs at the entrance to each corridor. They’ll tell you what subject is in that corridor. If you’re really stuck, head back down the stairs to the janitor’s box in the foyer and ask for directions there.
Q What happens if you go to the wrong class?
A Turn around and go to the right one!
Q Are there signs pointing to the different departments?
A Yes – there are signs on all the stairs at the entrance to each corridor.
Q How do I work the Young Scot machine?
A You’ll be shown how to use it on day 1. It’s very easy. Even Mr Farren can do it. Basically you put the money in, swipe the card and press the red button. You mustn’t forget to press the button.
Q What do I do if I forget my dinner money?
A Go to the school office and they’ll give you a loan which you must repay the next day.
Tip – instead of paying at the card machine every day, why not give in enough money for the week? You can bring large sums or cheques in an envelope to the kitchen before 9.00 any day. Cheques should be made out to “Argyll and Bute Council”.
Q Am I allowed out of class to go to the toilet?
A No, unless there is a medical reason, in which case it will be allowed. For everyone else, by secondary school you’re usually able to ‘keep it in’. No-one has ever ‘burst’.
Q Will I make one dish per Home Economics session?
A You might not make any in a given period. It might be a period when you learn about hygiene, for example. But you will make something a lot of the time.
Q Is there a school motto?
A Actually there isn’t, but if there were, it would probably be “Work hard and do your best”.
Q Are there security cameras in the school?
A There are about 15 cameras covering both inside and outside areas. These are nothing to worry about. They’re for your safety and security.
Q What do I do if my coat or bag goes missing?
A First, ask at the janitors’ box to see if it has been handed in there. If it’s not there, ask at the school office. Don’t worry, things usually turn up!
Q Are there school trips?
A There are quite a lot of trips. Some are organised by subject departments. Some are for specific year groups. Others are for anyone who wants to go. You’ll be given details at the time.
School Uniform
Q What kind of shoes do I need to wear?
A Plain black shoes.
Q Will I have to wear plain back shoes or can I wear black with pink?
A Plain black shoes.
Q Can I wear trainers?
A Plain black shoes.
Q Do I have to wear black socks?
A No.
Q Do I have to wear school trousers?
A Yes. No jeans, joggers, cargo pants, etc. Just plain black school trousers (or a skirt of reasonable length (for either girls or boys)).
Q Can I wear a black polo shirt or does it have to be white?
A It says white in the Handbook, but we don’t mind if you wear a black one.
Q What jewellery is allowed?
A One stud-type earring per ear and one plain ring. And absolutely no face piercings of any type.
Q Are there any non-uniform days?
A Yes, we will have occasional non-uniform days when you pay £1 or £2 to come in ordinary clothes. The money raised goes to charity, for example Children in Need.
Mobile Phones
Q Are mobile phones allowed?
A Yes, but they MUST be switched completely off during class times and you’re not allowed to take photos or videos with them.
Q What happens if someone phones me and my phone rings?
A Your phone will be confiscated. It should have been switched off.
Q When and where will I get my phone back if it’s confiscated?
A At the end of the day at the school office, unless it has been confiscated before, in which case it will be kept until collected by your parent.
Feeling unwell during the day
QWhat do I do if I feel unwell during the day?
A If it’s during a class, ask the teacher if you can go to ‘Medical’ then go to the school office. You’ll be looked after in the medical room and if you have to be sent home a parent will be asked to come and collect you. DON’T just phone home and ask someone to come for you. You have to get the office staff to do it for you so that we know what is happening to you.
Q What should I do if I have a sore head?
A Go to the office. If we have a permission letter on file, we can give you a paracetamol. DON’T carry your own paracetamol around the school.
Q What do I do if I have to take medication during the day?
A If you have a ‘Health Care Plan’ we can give you the medicine. Get your parent to speak to your Head of House about this as soon as possible. Please DON’T carry your own medicine around the school.
Q Where is the Medical Room?
A On the first floor, near the Staff Common Room.
Q Where is the school office?
A On the first floor, next to Mr Baxter’s History room (1.1).
Being Absent
Q What should you do if you’re going to be absent?
A Your parent should phone the school before 9.00 to let us know.
Q If you’re not well in the morning but feel better later, can you come in after lunch?
A Of course!
Q Do you still have to bring a note when you come back if your parent has already phoned?
A Yes please.
Q Do you get a punishment if you forget your note when you come back?
A No, but bring the note next day please.
Lunch
Q Can first years use the stage diner?
A Yes.
Q Do first years get out of class early for lunch?
A Only on the first two days back at school.
Q Is there a choice of menus in the canteen?
A Yes, and a range of food from sandwiches and snacks to main meals.
Q When can first years start going down the town for lunch?
A We prefer first years to stay in school for the first couple of weeks at least, but there is no rule stopping you going down from the start.
Q What happens if pupils jump the queue?
A They are caught and put to the very end of the line.
Q When can we use the vending machines?
A At any time except during classes.
Q What do you do if you forget your card?
A Go to the school office, where they’ll give you a temporary one.
Q What do you do if your card doesn’t work?
A It should, but if there’s a problem, go to the school office.
Q What do you do if you lose your card?
A Go to the school office, where they’ll give you a temporary one and help you order a new one.
Pupil Support
Q What should you do if you’re being bullied?
A Tell someone. The best person to tell is your Pupil Support teacher, but you can tell any teacher or one of the sixth year students in your House. People sometimes think that telling someone will make the bullying worse. It doesn’t. You shouldn’t put up with it because you’re frightened to tell. Do tell. Stay back at the end of Registration, or go to the Pupil Support offices, or speak to your Pupil Support teacher at Soc. Ed. We can help stop it, but only if you tell us.
Q What happens if you’re uncomfortable about speaking to your Pupil Support teacher about something (a boy might prefer to speak to a male teacher, for example)
A You could speak to your Head of House or Registration teacher (all the S1 Registration teachers are male this year). You can speak to any of the Pupil Support teachers, even if they’re not the one for your House.
School Dances
Q How often are there school dances?
A About six times a year – September, October, November, December, February, March. It may vary just now because of the work being done in the buildings.
Q How do you get tickets for the dances?
A There aren’t tickets. You get in using your Young Scot card. You use the card to pay for your admission (at the Stage Diner at lunchtimes in the week before the dance) then show your card at the door and get ticked off the list. Your photo on the card needs to be clear and recognisable. You can’t buy a ticket on a Temporary Card except in exceptional circumstances.
Q Do girls ask boys to dances or the other way round?
A Everyone usually just goes with their friends.
Q When do dances start and end?
A They start at 7.30 and end at 10.30 pm.
Q How do you get ‘blacklisted’?
A If you’re on an attendance, timekeeping or behaviour card, or if you’ve been given a demerit for not wearing the proper uniform, you can’t go to the dance.
Q What is the breathalyser?
A The breathalyser is a machine that you blow into to check if you’ve been drinking alcohol. Anyone who goes to the dance could be asked to blow into it. If you’ve been drinking, you will be sent home and banned from future dances.
Odds and Ends
Q What is detention?
A Being kept in by your class teacher at the interval, if you’ve misbehaved. Also being kept in for the first 20 minutes of lunchtime if you haven’t gone to an interval detention, or for more serious matters.
Q What is a demerit?
A A demerit is a point against you in the Points Ahead system. If you get a detention, or a warning for not being in the proper uniform, you can get a demerit.
Q What is a merit?
A It’s a point for you in the Points Ahead system. You get them for working hard, achieving success, being a good citizen and being helpful. Pupils who get above a certain number of merits each month get a Gold certificate and a prize (£5 voucher, free dance ticket, or a pass to the front of the lunch queue).
Q What is a referral?
A It’s thw way teachers tell your Head of House or other senior member of staff about something serious that you’ve done. It means the problem is being moved ‘up the line’ for more serious action to be taken.
Q What happens if you get a lot of referrals?
A Your parents will be called up to discuss how to improve your behaviour or sort out whatever else the problem might be. If it’s bad behaviour, you could be excluded for a period of time, usually three days. You could then spend some time in Behaviour Support rather than your normal classes.
Q Are there any parts of the school you’re not allowed to go to?
A There are some areas that are ‘out of bounds’. You shouldn’t go into any staff offices unless asked. You shouldn’t go into any areas where there are notices telling you to keep out. The slope in front of the school going down to Limecraigs is ‘out of bounds’.
Q What do you do if there’s a fire?
A Leave the building by the nearest exit. Your teacher will direct you. Don’t worry, we can get everyone out in about 3 minutes.
Q How often are there fire drills?
A About three or four times a year. To make it more like the real thing, we don’t tell you in advance that they are happening.
Q Where do you go once you’ve left the building?
A You line up at the edge of the playground nearest the playing field. There are lines showing where each class forms up.
Q What do you do if you miss your bus?”
A Go back up to the school office. We’ll get you home somehow!”.
Q What do you do about buses if you’re staying late for a club, band, etc.?”.
A You can get a late bus pass from the school office or at the activity. These allow you to go home by a later service bus.”.
Q Can you take water to classes?
A Yes, in fact you’re encouraged to do so. But NO fizzy drinks such as Coke or Irn Bru. These aren’t allowed at any time.”.
Q Are you allowed chewing gum?”.
A No. Look at the mess it makes of the pavements, carpets in the classrooms, etc. It’s banned!”