Queensferry High School

Queensferry High School (also known as Queensferry Community High School) is a six-year comprehensive school in the town of South Queensferry, Scotland, run by the City of Edinburgh Council. It was opened in 1970 by Princess Margaret marking the 900th anniversary of the arrival of Queen Margaret in Queensferry. Currently it has 761 students,[1] predominantly from Echline Primary School, Queensferry Primary School, Dalmeny Primary School and Kirkliston Primary School.[2] It was made a School of Ambition in 2007.[3]

Queensferry High School
Address
Ashburnham Road

South Queensferry
,
West Lothian
,
EH30 9JN

Scotland
Coordinates55.986173°N 3.387273°W / 55.986173; -3.387273
Information
TypeState School
MottoMente et Manu
(With Mind and Hand)
Established1970
Local authorityCity of Edinburgh Council
HeadteacherDavid Malley
Staffc.80 teaching
GenderCoeducational
Age12 to 18
Enrolmentc.761 students[1]
Houses  Dundas
  Hopetoun
  Rosebery
Colour(s)Black, white and turquoise
     
NicknameQHS
Websitehttp://www.queensferryhigh.co.uk/

School life
The main school building viewed from the back grounds.

Upon enrolment at the school, the pupils are assigned to a house: Dundas, Hopetoun or Rosebery.[4] The houses are named after three noble families in and around Queensferry: the Earls of Rosebery, seated at Dalmeny House; the Earls of Hopetoun, seated at Hopetoun House; and the Stewart-Clark baronets, seated at Dundas Castle.

A school uniform was reintroduced in 2005. It consists of black trousers or a black or tartan skirt, with a white shirt, and a tie bearing the school's registered tartan "The Ferry Fling". Blazers are optional for junior students, and required for senior students.[5]

Buildings

The school buildings, corresponding with increasing student numbers, have been much extended from their original 1970 form. In 1995 a recreation wing was added, with a substantial extension to the school being added in 1997 and a total refurbishment being undertaken in 1998. In early 2016, plans to start building a new school were unveiled. The building started early 2018 and is planned to finish around 2020.[2]

Academic records

The table below shows the fourth year pass rates at Level 3 (Standard Grade Foundation level or equivalent) or better, Level 4 (Standard Grade General level or equivalent) or better and Level 5 (Standard Grade Credit level or equivalent) or better for Queensferry High School in the 2006/2007 academic year, contrasted with pass rates for Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole.

Queensferry High School[6] Edinburgh City[6] Scotland[6]
Level 3 90% 89% 91%
Level 4 83% 75% 76%
Level 5 39% 34% 33%

The table below shows as a percentage the number of students from the previous year's fourth years who went on to pass one or more, three or more or five or more level 6 examinations (Highers) in 2006/2007. 37% of those fourth years had left and so attained none. This compared to a citywide and national rate of 35% leaving.

Queensferry High School[7] Edinburgh City[7] Scotland[7]
One or more 43% 38% 39%
Three or more 23% 23% 22%
Five or more 10% 11% 10%

Below is a breakdown of what the leavers of Queensferry High School during the 2006/2007 academic year went on to do. A high percentage of leavers went directly into employment.

Queensferry High School[8] Edinburgh City[8] Scotland[8]
Full-time higher education 29% 29% 30%
Full-time further education 17% 22% 23%
Training 1% 3% 5%
Employment 41% 29% 28%
Unemployed, seeking employment 12% 14% 11%
Unemployed, not seeking employment 0% 2% 1%
Not known 1% 1% 1%

In the news
The school after being petrol bombed.

Queensferry High School has twice been in the news in recent years due to separate security issues. On 15 December 2005 pupils were locked in their classrooms for two hours and told to stay away from windows and out of corridors after a man with a gun threatened to commit suicide in a house opposite the school. Armed police closed off the surrounding area and arrested the man without any injury to anyone.[9]

In the early hours of 22 February 2008 the school was petrol bombed by three former pupils, blowing out an external wall at the back of the school and destroying a ground floor English classroom. No one was harmed as no one was in the school at the time.[10]

Coat of arms

The school's coat of arms was granted by the Lord Lyon in 1970. It features the cross and martlets from the arms of St Margaret (the queen for whom Queensferry was named), plus the primroses from the arms of Neil Primrose, Earl of Rosebery.

Notable alumni

References
  1. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0042/00420794.xlsx
  2. White, David. "Queensferry High School • About our School". Queensferryhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  3. White, David. "Queensferry High School • School of Ambition". Queensferryhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  4. White, David. "Queensferry High School • Guidance". Queensferryhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  5. White, David. "Queensferry High School • School Uniform". Queensferryhigh.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  6. "Fourth Year Exam Results - Scottish Schools Online 2011/12". Ltscotland.org.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  7. "Fifth Year Exam Results - Scottish Schools Online 2011/12". Ltscotland.org.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  8. "Leaver Destinations - Scottish Schools Online 2011/12". Ltscotland.org.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  9. "Lock-in at school after gunman suicide bid - News - Scotsman.com". News.scotsman.com. 15 December 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  10. "Youths held over school 'bomb' fire - Edinburgh, East & Fife - Scotsman.com". News.scotsman.com. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
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