Secondary News 2025/26 - Term 1

Our 2025/26 Seniors

 

House Captains and Senior Prefects

Our Head Prefects for the 2025/26 session are Gemma Todd and William Gilby.

The deputes for 2025/26 are Scott McCrosson and Harry Graham.

Primary Leadership Team
We are pleased to introduce our new P7 House and Vice House Captains and S6 Primary Prefect Leaders Daniel Palmer and Riley Dutton for session 25-26. The S6 leadership role is a newly established one, designed to strengthen links between Primary and Secondary and provide support to our younger learners. Together as a team, they will serve as positive role models, represent learner voice, and support a smooth transition into S1.

 Article 12 (respect for the views of the child)
Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

Science Workshop 

Higher and advanced higher students visited Glasgow University in August to attend a PCR and gel electrophoresis workshop.

Science Summer School with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

The following pupils were successful in their application form to the Science Summer School with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. 

I applied to the Edinburgh Zoo Science Summer Programme because I wanted to learn more about wildlife conservation and animal behaviour. During the programme, I learned a lot about different species and the science behind how they are cared for. The highlight of my week was creating enrichment toys for the capybaras, which helped me understand how important it is to monitor an animal’s mental health. I also had the amazing opportunity to talk with the zoo’s exotic vet, where I learned what happens with the animals in an emergency. I would definitely recommend this programme to other students, especially those who are interested in biology, environmental science, or just love animals! - written by Erin Shannon (S5) 

 

The RZSS Science Summer School was a brilliant experience, and I highly recommend applying for it. It consisted mainly of conservation work and understanding what happens behind the scenes at Edinburgh Zoo. You have the opportunity to take part in many different workshops, such as dissections, compiling enrichment boxes and (best of all) mucking out! I met lots of really great people and had a fun week working on projects with them. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in conservation or veterinary medicine and I'm glad I was given the chance to go. -written by Isla Weatherstone (S5)

 

If you are interested in finding out more about this free work experience please follow the link below or speak with Mrs Ayling or Mr Page. Applications for the 2026 programme will be open in the new year.  https://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/events-experiences/events/science-summer-school

S2 STEM trip to Borderway Mart, Carlisle for the Think Dairy event.

 

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LORD DOWDING COMMEMORATION 

Our Senior Pupils represented Moffat Academy at the Spitfire Ceremony in Moffat.

'On Sunday 6th September, Moffat honoured and commemorated the achievements of its most famous son, Lord Dowding. As Air Chief Marshal and Commander-in-Chief of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, he led the RAF in its defeat of the Luftwaffe, saving the UK from a Nazi invasion and leading wartime prime minister Winston Churchill to dub him the 'architect of deliverance'.

The day began at Dowding House in Moffat, when a bust of the great man was unveiled alongside Dr Hamish MacLeod’s replica Spitfire. Hamish donated his beloved aircraft to the people of the town, and it has been recently refurbished and moved from the front garden of his house to its new home at Dowding House.

The ceremony begin at 13.30 hrs and, right on time at 14.02 hrs, there was a flypast by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Afterwards, the annual Dowding Commemoration Service took place in Upper Annandale Parish Church. This year, wreath-laying was in the church. Key figures then gathered outside the church for an official photograph.

Both events were attended by Piers Dowding, 3rd Baron Dowding, the grandson of Fighter Command’s wartime leader.' Leys Geddes

 

Gamefest

S1H took part in a GameFEST live lesson in September. They were joined by Alexander Horowitz, a game developer who has worked on major titles including Hogwarts Legacy, Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V and Battlefield 6. Having previously worked with Rockstar Games, he is now part of EA, supporting the development of new games. Our young people also had the opportunity to ask him questions about his career and the gaming industry.

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Article 29 (goals of education)

Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full.

 

Hockey

The annual Dr Turners regional hockey tournament was held in Dumfries last term.  Moffat entered two senior girls teams into the competition that was split into two pools.  The teams enjoyed the challenge of playing on a large pitch and are encouraged to join Dumfries Hockey club.  Congratulations to all the pupils involved that represented their school in an excellent manner.

 

Mountain Biking

On Monday 24^th September, Moffat Academy represented at the Scottish Schools Mountain Biking Competition, the largest in the UK, held in Comrie Croft, Crief. Over 100 schools attended and we entered teams in the S1/S2 and S3/4 categories for Cross Country Racing. All riders did amazingly well and  thoroughly enjoyed their day. 

 

Professor jeremy smith

In September, Moffat Academy welcomed Professor Jeremy Smith,  Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emeritus, English Language and Linguistics with University of Glasgow. To support us in our aim of enhancing awareness of Scottish history and culture, Professor Smith worked with S2 and S3 students on Scots Language and its history. We have introduced a Scottish Studies Award for our S3 learners - this went a long way to contextualising their learning.  

With our Higher English class, Professor Smith completed a session titled 'Meetings with Old Books'. Students looked at things like carvings on wood, bone and stone (including the Ruthwell Cross runes), manuscripts, and early printed books, plus material works on parchment, papyrus, and paper. They also learned how to make medieval ink (Professor Smith brought along a fistful of oak-apples he had gathered himself!).

Rape Crisis talks

Ellen Meredith (Community Engagement Worker from Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Support Centre) has been in school to delivery sessions for all pupils in S1 -6 about consent and power.  The pupils have engaged very well with the sessions. 

S1-S3

Congratulations to all award winners from the S1-S3 Awards Ceremony 2024/25. Thank you to Senior Prefects for leading the ceremony.

Article 28 (right to education) Every child has the right to an education. 

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The D Word

S6 pupils at Moffat Academy opted to be one of the very first schools in Scotland to complete The D Word course with local celebrant, Aileen Palmer. The D Word resource is designed to be delivered to groups of any age and stage who would benefit from being supported to become more familiar with what to expect when someone close dies. The course also explores how to support one another through bereavement.

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Article 12 (respect for the views of the child) Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

 

Witch Trial

In English, students in 2H are currently learning about the history of witchcraft in preparation for their study of Salem by David Calcutt. On Thursday  19th September after finding evidence of witches in the local community, Moffat Academy hosted several witch trials across the school! Students were put into groups and went to watch these trials, with a view to determining: what accusations were levied, who was accused, what the verdict was and, importantly, whether they themselves agreed with the outcome. They will be producing pamphlets either denouncing or supporting the accused - developing an awareness of the power of propaganda - before moving on to their play study. 

Big thanks to the following for putting on engaging trials for the S2s:

• Mrs Kirk and the Senior Health and Food Technology class
• Mr Armstrong and the Higher Sociology class
• Mr Page and 1H Science
• Mr Yuill and the Senior Admin & IT class
• The Higher Classical Studies class' 

Public Speaking

The Moffat Academy Public Speaking Society held its first meeting in term 1, with a well-attended event showcasing speeches from S1 to S6 students on the theme of heroes and heroines. It was inspiring to hear about a wide range of role models, from Muhammad Ali to Alan Sugar.

Next month’s event - held on Wednesday 5th November at 1:20 - will feature speeches on the topic: "Should mobile phones be banned in schools?"

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Article 12 (respect for the views of the child) Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

Choose to Lead

Two school pupils from Moffat Academy who took part in the Leadership Academy Programme during the school holidays have recently been making a positive impact with young people at Beattock Primary School. 

Lucy and Niamh, who are in S2, have been granted permission to leave school slightly early for one day a week to be able to deliver hourly after school badminton sessions for young pupils at Beattock Primary. 

This is a great opportunity for Lucy and Niamh to develop their skills and confidence leading groups of young people and, in return, enhancing the extracurricular offer in the primary school. 

The sessions also allow the primary pupils to learn and improve their badminton skills with an opportunity to enter a primary school badminton competition in December. 

Crest

S3 students recently engaged in the Bronze-level CREST Award, a STEM challenge designed to encourage collaboration and innovation. Working in teams, the pupils undertook the "Bath Bomb Challenge," which involved conducting research, designing their own bath bombs, and selecting appropriate recipes. Each group also developed a marketing campaign to promote their product. Throughout the project, students critically evaluated and refined their recipes to create the most effective and fizzy bath bombs possible, demonstrating creativity, teamwork, and scientific inquiry.

Moffat Crimefest Writing Competition

On Saturday 4th October, 10 young people - 5 from Primary and 5 from Secondary - were short-listed in the Moffat CrimeFest Writing Competition. They were selected out of all Primary 6 - S3 classes - an amazing feat! They were faced with the daunting task of reading their stories aloud to the gathered audience. All did a fantastic job, providing engaging retellings of their short stories. Our overall winners and runners-up were then announced (though all short-listed students received a prize).

Short-listed Authors:
Eliza Llewelyn The School Murder
Esther Rae Death in Moffat
Oran Candlish The Man In Yellow
Orla Durston The Moffat Ram Mystery
Skyler Dutton Ram Raiders
Short List Secondary
Ava Green The Alien Attack
Charlie Barker The Cyber Fail
Grayson Ladd-Smith The Silence
Harry Grierson The Ram
Imogen Stewart Lucky or Unlucky

Winners

Primary Overall Winner: Skylar Dutton
Primary Runner Up: Orla Durston

Secondary Overall Winner - Harry Grierson
Secondary Runner Up: Ava Green

Overall Competition Winner: Skylar Dutton

Well done to all who go involved - it was a really tough call!'

 End of Term Bake Sale