Page last updated on Wednesday 18th February 2009

Basic Information...

School Address:
Mearns Castle High School
Waterfoot Road
Newton Mearns
Glasgow G77 5GU

How to contact us:
Telephone Number: 0141 577 2300
Fax Number: 0141 577 2314
Web Address: http://www.ea.e-renfrew.sch.uk/mearnscastle
e-mail: schoolmail@mearnscastle.e-renfrew.sch.uk

School Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 08:20 - 16:30
Friday: 08:20 - 15:15

School Role

Mearns Castle High School is a non-denominational, co-educational, comprehensive school taking students from S1 to S6. The current role is 1416.

The role is made up of the following:

The School Day

Warning Bell	08:43
Period 1	08:45	09:35
Period 2	09:35	10:25
Interval	10:25	10:40
Period 3	10:40	11:30
Period 4	11:30	12:20
Lunch	12:20	1:05
Period 5	1:05	1:55
Period 6	1:55	2:45
Period 7	2:45	3:35 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday only)

 

Associated Primary Schools

Secondary One (S1)

This session we have 210 students in S1. The majority of our students come from four schools in our catchment area, Calderwood Lodge, Eaglesham, Kirkhill and Mearns. in all, however, our first year contains students from many different schools and we guarantee that our staff will visit all primary schools, even those which send only one student to our school. we are both pleased and proud at the way in which students from so many schools combine to become Mearns Castle's first year.

Primary/Secondary Transition

We have very close contact with our four partner primary schools. There are regular visits by a range of Mearns Castle staff co-ordinated by the Senior Management Team.

Primary 7 pupils regularly see Mearns Castle staff and the Depute Headteacher with responsibility for next session's S1 pupils (this coming session Ms Lewis is the Depute Headteacher responsible for the new S1) co-ordinates a transition programme including visits to Mearns Castle, to ensure that pupils feel comfortable when they start First Year in August.

Any parent who wishes to make individual contact is most welcome and should telephone the school to arrange an appointment with the appropriate Depute Headteacher.

Attendance at School

There will, of course, be times when it is simply not possible for a pupil to attend school. If it is clear that a pupil is not going to be able to reach school, it is helpful if a parent/carer can let the school know by telephoning and giving a reason for the absence and its likely duration.

On returning to school a pupil must bring a note dated for the day of his or her return.

An absence extending to three or more days without any word from a parent can be recorded and passed to the attendance officer.

Attainment at school is clearly linked to attendance. We would encourage all pupils to aim for full attendance whenever possible. Every effort should be made to avoid holidays during term time as this both disrupts the child's education and reduces learning time.

Illness While at School

If a pupil becomes unwell at school, they will be referred to the school office. We do not have a school nurse but members of the office staff will give assistance and, if necessary, call one of our trained first aiders.

If a pupil seems likely to benefit from going home or should require further medical attention, parents/carers will be contacted. If parents/carers cannot be contacted the named 'emergency contact' will be contacted. You will understand the importance of keeping us up-to-date with any changes in contact numbers which may occur after the start of the session.

Health and Medical Care

The school health service provides a programme of immunisation. Parents/Carers will be informed whenever the opportunity occurs to take advantage of this service.

For private medical or dental appointments, pupils are asked to make their appointments outside school hours whenever possible. Where this is not possible the pupil should bring his or her appointment card to letter to the school office either on the day before the appointment or before 8:45am when a permission slip will be issued to show to the class teacher. On return to school the pupil should again report to the school office before going to class.

Child Protection

Given ongoing public awareness of child abuse and the recent changes in the law, schools are required to report if it is thought any child has come to harm as a consequence of possible abuse.

The school is guided in this way by the Local Authority policy and arrangements on Child Protection.

Our school has strong links with school medical officers, social workers and police any or all of whom may become involved if abuse is suspected.

We will always ensure that parents/carers are fully informed of any action which we may take regarding your child.

Confidential Information

Information relating to pupils is stored on a computer system and may be used for teaching, registration, assessment or other administrative duties.

The categories of information we hold on our pupils are as follows:

If there is a change to any of the confidential information held in school records it is important that parents/carers notify the school in writing of any such changes.

In the event of an emergency we need to have accurate information and correct emergency contact names/telephone numbers.

Parental right to Access to Records

The Pupils' Educational Records (Scotland) Regulations 2003 give the independent right of parents to access their child's educational records.

A request for access to educational records has to be put in writing and must describe what information is requested.

Religious Education and Observance

The school regularly meets as a whole for religious services which are conducted by our chaplain form Maxwell Mearns Parish Church. Families may also request, in writing, that their child be permitted to be absent from school in order to celebrate recognised religious events. In these circumstances the pupil will be noted as an authorised absence in the school register.

Communication with Parents

We believe that regular, effective communications with parents is essential in order to promote our school community. At Mearns Castle we use the following means of communications:

Pupil reports are monitored by the Pupil Support staff and Depute Headteacher and appropriate targets are agreed with pupils at personal interviews which are held regularly.