Exciting future lies ahead for Dumbarton Academy

Jun 26 2009 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

Looking to a bright future

ONE year on – and an exciting future lies ahead for Dumbarton Academy.

Those were the words of head teacher Graham Hutton, who addressed the annual prizegiving ceremony exactly 12 months after he first walked into the school.

Mr Hutton recalled his first impressions of a school with “ambition, potential and a fantastic future” and admitted: “I was hooked.”

And he spoke of his vision for the school, especially in the light of plans for a replacement academy with news that funding is now available.

He said: “That vision is of a child-friendly, child-driven curriculum, where we cater to needs of all the pupils.

"I want a school where partnerships and team work lead to excellent relationships; a school with excellent teaching and learning, with a caring, stimulating ethos; a school where our pupils are ambitious to do and achieve the best they can, where we make a difference, where we narrow the gap between where the young people are actually now and where they would like to be and where we improve the life chances of all our youngsters.”

Mr Hutton said the school was well on this way to producing young people who are successful learners and confident individuals, both academically, culturally and socially.

Academic attainment in 2008 was impressive across Standard Grade, Higher and S6 examinations. Pupils have also won a range of awards in all areas of school life, as well as in the wider community.

Global and community awareness has also been promoted, especially through charity work. Said Mr Hutton: “In their concern for others, our young people are demonstrating responsible citizenship by their actions. They are clearly effective contributors to the local community and to society.”

Mr Hutton praised the school’s positive ethos, commenting on pupils’ good behaviour and presentation, adding: “They are a credit to themselves and their school.”

The cultural side of the school remains in excellent shape and a range of extra-curricular activities are also enjoyed by pupils.

A weekly head teacher’s praise session has been introduced, allowing Mr Hutton to personally congratulate and reward pupils commended for an outstanding piece of work or for consistent high quality performance.

The school, he said, had made progress in making the Curriculum for Excellence a reality, and ensuring it produced well-rounded young people who have the skills to keep learning throughout their lives

Mr Hutton praised the role of staff and expressed his thanks to those who were leaving either for new posts or because of retirement. He paid tribute to the Parent Council which he said worked hard to support the school.

He concluded: “All of this puts us in a strong position next session to continue to make Dumbarton Academy a school which is meeting the needs of its young people but is also allowing staff to develop their professionalism.”