Balwearie High School
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Balwearie High School is situated at the west end of Kirkcaldy in Scotland. Balearie is a non-denominational comprehensive secondary school which caters for around 2000 pupils aged from 12 to 18, and includes a Department of Special Education for children with Speical Educational Needs.
Traditionally, the school's automatic catchment area covers Kirkcaldy West, Kinghorn, Burntisland, and Auchtertool. However, pupils who live outside this catchment area can request to attend Balwearie by asking the Education Board. Many parents choose this option for the children because of Balwearie's reputation for excellence.
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[edit] History and Facilities
The school was opened in 1972 and is set in spacious grounds. It is comprised of two blocks, named C Block and T Block, which are linked by a Glass corridor. The school has two cafeterias, the L Block one being used by 1st, 2nd and 6th Year Pupils; the C Block one being used by 3rd, 4th and 5th Year Pupils. A more recent addition is the J block, housing a Libary, Maths, Geography, Science, Technical and Computing classrooms. This is linked to C Block via a bridge corridor going through L Block. There are also detached "hut" units housing a small number of classrooms.
Sporting Facilities include:
- a wooden floored gymnasium with gymnastic equipment
- a gym with weight training facilities
- a swimming pool
- a indoor games area
- 2 squash courts
- outdoor tennis courts
- football/rugby pitch
- 400m running track
- 1 Blaes hockey pitch
- 1 astroturf pitch
There is also a fully functioning auditorium with flexible seating and a stage area featuring a full compliment of lighting and sound equipment.
Outwith school hours, the school functions as a well-used community centre.
In January 1997 an radiator fault caused a fire in the schools Music Department which is situated at the top floor of C block. The fire was extinguished quickly by the local fire brigade. The Music Department suffered the most damage through both fire and water, however each level underneath the 3rd floor suffered subsequent fire damage. The school was closed for several days with the students being allowed back in stages with Senior students, who were in the final preparations for May exams, returning first.
Maybe ironically, the fire began in the early hours of the morning after the schools 'Burns Night' celebrations for the birthday of Robert Burns
[edit] Curriculum
Balwearie provides a well-rounded, well-supported education for each of its pupils. A strong ethos of caring, high standards and celebration of success means that pupils are treated as individuals and encouraged to achieve to the very highest levels.
Pupils are offered a full range of courses from 5-14 in S1/ S2, through Standard Grade to National Qualifications at Intermediate, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
A high staying on rate is reflected in large numbers gaining employment, training or Further or Higher Education
A wide range of extra-curricular activities is on offer. These include sport, music, drama and chess. Pupils also have the opportunity of foreign travel through ski trips, visits to historical sites, school exchanges and participation in World Challenge Expeditions.
Pupil representatives are elected to year councils and the whole pupil council meets with the rector once a term. Working groups tackle whole-school issues.
The school originally won a Charter Mark Award for excellence in public service in 2001, this has now been renewed. The school also has the Schools Curriculum Award.
Recently pupils in an Alternative Curriculum Group won a Fife Excellence Award and the magazine club won the Scotsman/Royal Bank of Scotland ‘Design a Newspaper’. More recently, our Young Enterprise company scooped two of the three trophies. Pupils and staff take part in regular fund-raising for Save the Children.
[edit] School Shows
Balwearie holds a biennial School Musical performed and crewed entirely by its pupils. Teachers, including the current rector, have been known to make the cameo appearances on several occasions. Past productions include Oliver Twist, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Calamity Jane (1953 Film), South Pacific (musical) and most recently Me and My Girl(2006).
Several of the lead performers in these school shows have gone on to study at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
[edit] School Day
The school day is divided up into six, 53 minute periods.
08:57 - Registration bell sounds
09:00 - Morning registration begins
09:12 - First period begins
10:05 - Second period begins
10:58 - Interval
11:13 - Third period begins
12:06 - Fourth period begins
12:59 - Lunch break
13:44 - Registration bell sounds
13:49 - Fifth period begins
14:42 - Sixth period begins
15:35 - School Day Ends
The school timetable was changed in the mid 1990's to allow children to travel home whilst it was still light during the winter months. Previously the lunch break was longer, and the school day finished at 15:50.
[edit] School Boardand Parent/Teacher Association
Balwearie is supported by a strong School Board and a hardworking parent/teacher association – the Balwearie High School Association. The Balwearie High School Association provides volunteers for many of the schools social events, including the biennial School Musical.
Parents are encouraged to contact the school when necessary, and attend a wide variety of information, pupil progress and social evenings.
[edit] Rector
The current Rector (Head Teacher) of Balwearie High School is Gordon D. McKenzie, OBE.
McKenzie is a University of Starthclyde graduate, with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Accountancy. He then moved to Aberdeen University, where he spent a year in 'teacher training'.
McKenzie took over as Rector of Balwearie in 1988. He is a past president of the Headteachers' Association of Scotland. Cueerntly he is an external examiner for Aberdeen University and a member of the Learning and Teaching Scotland Advisory Council.
In 2001 he was awarded an OBE for services to Secondary Education
[edit] School Address
Balwearie High School
Balwearie Crescent
Kirkcaldy
KY2 5LY
tel: 01592 412262 | fax: 01592 412260 | View Map
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