IN his last prizegiving before his retiral Beath High School rector Douglas Young touched on the challenges that the Cowdenbeath school will have to meet head on, but also took time to talk about the successes of pupils in so many fields.

And the rector also solemnly talked about the numbing effect the death of two pupils, and a teacher, had on the Beath community.

He said: "I just want to pause to reflect on one aspect of the last school session. Shortly after Christmas we lost young Owen Buckle, who passed away following a very short but brave fight with a viral infection he had picked up.

"Just a couple of weeks ago we had the dreadful news that our own Mrs Hanley had also passed away at home and then, just a few days ago, we heard that James Morrison had tragically been killed in a road accident. "Each one of these events is incredibly difficult for any school community to cope with – but to have three in such a short space of time – and all so unexpected – was particularly difficult.

"Three young lives cut far too short - we cannot underestimate the impact that has had – and to be honest – it puts everything else I’m going to say properly into perspective. Our thoughts and prayers are with all their families – always".

He went on: "Despite all the challenges we face – and believe me, they are many - Beath fundamentally remains in a pretty good place and we continue to improve.

"If we look at Higher results. In 2006, by the end of S5, we had 17% of pupils getting 3 or more Highers. In 2012 that figure was just 14% but had risen to 31% last year.

"Looking now at S6 and pupils gaining 5 or more Highers, in 2006 16% of pupils achieved that benchmark. In 2012 that had risen to 20% and last year that statistic was up to 23%. The figure for pupils gaining 1 or more Advanced Higher has moved gradually from 9% in 2006 to just over 15% when the last set of results came out.

"Over roughly the same period of time we also saw the percentage of leavers who found sustained positive destinations move from 82% in 2008/9 to 91% in 2015/16. Another, different measure of things moving forward".

He went on : "These are significant changes in outcomes for our pupils – and that is down to them, down to their attitude and ambition and their drive to succeed – and it is down to the skill and commitment of our teachers.

"You cannot underestimate the impact teachers have on young lives. We strive to ensure, as best we can, every single young person maximises the potential they have. Now I would suggest that we have clearly made inroads – but we all know there is a lot more Beath can achieve.

"Too many of our pupils continue to quietly underachieve. In the late 90s I remember us having a real drive to set aspirational targets to raise the expectations and aspirations of our pupils. At that time we were likely to see a mere handful of pupils apply for and get into University. "Now, and I accept times have changed, but after years of running our Summer School and Discovering Degrees for pupils in S2, working with, amongst others, First Chances in S3 and S4 and working with the likes of Sutton Trust beyond, that we see roughly 50 pupils every year going off to further their education at University.

"You’ll no doubt all be aware that we have had significant challenges with staffing during this current session. That has meant that far too often pupils have been stuck in here with myself and my Deputes. This has been far from satisfactory – but came from a set of circumstances outwith my control.

"I can assure you that, with the full support of the Education Service, we did everything we could to sort things during the session – but to no avail.

"Our shortages were in areas where there are shortages of staff across the country. However, albeit with a reduced budget, staffing in the coming session will be in a much better place than it has just been.

"The budget cuts I mentioned will hit schools again in a year’s time – and further difficult decisions about curriculum and staffing are likely then. It’s not great, but it’s the financial climate we now live in.

Like everywhere else in the public sector, these are challenging times in schools."

And he concluded: "So what about the opportunities we provide and the wider achievements of our pupils. Well – there’s lots.

"In the Fife Festival of Music our Senior Girls Choir were awarded gold.

"Isla Broadbent and Maia Beeson passed their National Progression Awards in Scottish Bagpipes Level 5. They also represent the school by playing in the Kelty and Blairadam Pipe Band".

There were many more on the sportsfield, in the community and in the academic arena, a very long list.

Concluded Mr Young: "I have to say this has been an amazing place to work".