Stanley School : headmaster's reports 1971-73

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Stanley School : headmaster's reports 1971-73

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Here is the report of the headmaster, Mr John Reid, of Stanley School for the session 1970-71. It was the last session when Stanley had a secondary element, in this case hosting the whole comprehensive first year of Ardrossan Academy, but he was mainly looking ahead to when the school would become primary-only next session.

REORGANISATION NEXT SESSION

It is expected that there will be 25 primary classes in Stanley School, Ardrossan, at the start of the next session. The primary roll when the school opened in 1963 was 338; it is now 822 and the headmaster, Mr John Reid, estimates that it will reach 900 eventually.

These figures were given by Mr Reid when he presented his annual report on Monday at the end-of-session ' open afternoon ' . A large number of parents visited the school and after hearing Mr Reid's report they visited classrooms where a widely varied display of pupils' work was on view.

After describing ' a rather unusual session ' during which, as an interim measure, the whole of the first year of Ardrossan Academy was accommodated at Stanley, and paying tribute to the excellent cooperation enjoyed with the Academy staff, Mr Reid said that next session would see considerable reorganisation in the school.

" Staffing in our Ayrshire schools ", he said, " is now being calculated in a new manner, based on school rolls. We have benefited from this to the extent of several additional teachers, and we are therefore in the very fortunate position of having both the staff and the accommodation required to embark on a programme of reorganisation, to reduce class sizes considerably.

" This will not be achieved without some additional difficulties, and the splitting of two classes of 45 into three of 30 may well mean the separation of Damon and Pythias, not to mention Darby and Joan, after years together in the same class. This will have to be accepted as regrettable but unavoidable.

" At the same time the opportunity will be taken to deal with the problem of the transitional class in a new way. Pupils enrolling in February have in the past completed their full seven years of primary education in February,and have gone into a transitional ( formerly preparatory ) class until commencing secondary education in September.

" This class has always presented a problem in staffing and in curriculum content. It is now our intention, after an interim year in which this extra five months will be fitted in at various stages, to introduce the system whereby the transitional class will be at the end of the infant, instead of at the end of the primary, department.This arrangement, we believe, will have definite educational advantages.

" Staffing prospects are much better than they have been for many years, " said Mr Reid, " But in one respect we have been unfortunate this session, viz, in the provision of specialist teachers of art and music. The lack of a music teacher for great part of the session has deprived us of a primary choir this year, and I much regret that a musical programme by such a choir is not on our programme this afternoon.We can only hope that this will be rectified next year. "

Mr Reid commented on staff changes and school activities, and thanked the staff for their work during the year.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 2nd July 1971


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Re: Stanley School : headmaster's reports 1971-73

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Here now is the report for 1972.

STANLEY PRIMARY

The school convener, Mr George Aitken, presided at Stanley Primary School on Friday when a large number of parents and friends visited the school to see a widely varied display of classroom work. A programme of choral and recorder music was provided by the children, a highlight being the singing of Psalm 23 to the tune of " Amazing Grace " .

In his end of session report, the headmaster, Mr J Reid, said they were nearing the end of what was actually their second session as a primary school, but it had been their first session as an undisturbed primary school, following the departure of the first year pupils and staff of Ardrossan Academy a year ago.

" Having the use of the full school has enabled us to improve our primary accommodation position very much , " he said. " The extent of that problem is indicated by the fact that the primary roll has increased from 338 when we entered Stanley in 1963 to 878 as at present. This session, for the first time, we formed five beginners' classes, three in September and two in February, and we may have to repeat that next session.

" The additional accommodation at our disposal, however, together with the improved primary staffing position, has enabled us to form 27 classes with an average roll of around 32 pupils. In addition, we have teachers dealing with remedial groups, but we could be better served in the matter of specialist teachers, particularly music. "

Mr Reid spoke of the changes in staff and referred particularly to the retiral of Miss Glass, infants mistress, paying tribute to her as a dedicated teacher.

" After a very indifferent start to the season, the football XI improved beyond all recognition, winning 8 and drawing 1 of the games in the second part of the season and reaching the semi-final of the Saltcoats Victoria Cup.

" Other activities which have been carried out, thanks to many members of staff, are recorder groups, choral work, Scripture Union, chess club and dramatic work.

" We have again been indebted to the Parent Teacher Association for their assistance during the year , financial and otherwise. The membership of the organisation is still rather disappointing for a school of this size, and I would again appeal to all parents here to consider joining the association and attending the meetings during the coming winter.

" As the result of our end of term collections, we were able to send donations of £5.40 to each of the following charities at the end of last session : Quarrier's Homes, Dr Barnardo's, Scottish Hansel Village Circle, and Oxfam. This year I think we will be able to give a little more.

" Class outings have been conducted during the year to Edinburgh and Calderpark Zoos, Loch Doon Youth Hostel, and in co-operation with Craigie College of Education, Miss Sloss and her Primary 4 class have carried out a special farm project, involving visits to Ayr Agricultural Show and to Sorbie Farm. Our thanks are due to Mr Hogarth for his kind co-operation in this matter.

" My thanks are due to many people, " concluded Mr Reid. " To our school convener, Mr Aitken, for looking after our interests in the education sub-committee, to all my staff for their work throughout the year, To Mrs Campbell for her invaluable services on the administrative side of the school. Mrs Cahill, appointed to the new post of school auxiliary, performs a multitude of useful duties, and we are as usual indebted to our excellent staff of janitors, cleaners, kitchen staff and wardens for their work in keeping the school clean and efficiently serviced, and our pupils well fed and supervised. "

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7th July 1972


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Re: Stanley School : headmaster's reports 1971-73

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Here finally is the report for 1973.

STANLEY IS LARGEST PRIMARY SCHOOL IN COUNTY

With a roll of 909 pupils divided into thirty classes, Stanley School, Ardrossan, is the largest primary school in Ayrshire, but accommodation is steadily approaching saturation point and by 1975 will be critical.

Mentioning this in his annual report, the headmaster, Mr John Reid, said it was reassuring to know that ground for a new primary school in this area should be obtained soon. " I hope we can count on the town council's support in pressing the obvious case for an additional school in this area, obvious to all of us and to the county council, but not, apparently, to the Scottish Education Department, who have suggested consideration of the use of Eglinton School. I sincerely hope that such a retrograde step will not be necessary. "

After referring to staff changes and successes of former pupils, Mr Reid continued : " Education outings are now regarded as part and parcel of primary education and during the session we have had a large number of these. Without detailing classes and teachers, I might just mention that class visits have been made to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries, Crossraguel Abbey, the Citizen's Theatre, St Michael's Academy , Kilwinning ( to see their presentation of ' HMS Pinafore ' ), Ayr Civic Theatre, Edinburgh Zoo and the Castle, Culzean Country Park, Loch Lomond Bear park, North Ayrshire Museum, Ardrossan Harbour, Arran, and Calderpark Zoo. This says a great deal for the efficient organisation and supervision carried out by the teachers concerned . "

Mr Reid described the season's sports activities, and added : " We are again indebted to the Parent-Teacher Association for their support and assistance, financial and otherwise. I would mention specially the aquarium in the infant department and the two record players which they have given us during the past session.

" AS the result of our end-of-term assembly collection, the four charities which we support ( Quarrier's Homes, Dr Barnardo's, Scottish Hansel Village Circle and Oxfam ) benefited last year by £6.40 each. In addition, through a scheme of coupon collection from our sales of crisps in the school, we have around £30 which will go to charities.

" He thanked the school staff and concluded : " I had hoped to be able to announce today the changed holiday pattern for next session, when we expect to have a four-term year with an October holiday period. The dates, however, have not been finally approved as yet, but i hope to issue notices to parents about this early next session . "

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 6th July 1973


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