June 2009 - News Stories

Second International Baccalaureate cohort wave goodbye to St Leonards

There were mixed emotions for some St Andrews students on Friday as they tempered the excitement of impending university life with the end of their school days.

53 Upper Sixth Form (S6) pupils at St Leonards are now preparing for further education around the world after waving goodbye to the School and their classmates at a prize-giving ceremony and speeches at St Andrews Town Hall.

The youngsters, who have just become the second cohort in the School’s history to complete the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, also marked their final day at the St Andrews school by attending a Leavers’ Service at Holy Trinity Church.

During his speech, Headmaster Dr Michael Carslaw, said he was delighted that the students had secured places at universities across the globe - including Oxford and Cambridge – and that he was certain that the qualification would stand them in good stead.

He said, “I have been struck by reports from last year’s cohort on how the IB has helped them to adapt to the much more independent style of learning and working required at university.”

Dr Carslaw added that the popularity of the IB Diploma was growing, pointing out that in the next academic year more than 300 UK schools will be delivering IB programmes.

He also thanked the St Leonards teaching staff for their sterling work during a busy academic year.

The departing cohort received further words of encouragement and advice from the guest speaker, Dr Susan Rice CBE, Chief Executive of Lloyds Banking Group, Scotland.

She said, “Thanks to St Leonards offering Scotland’s only all-International Baccalaureate Sixth Form, you’ve benefited from a broad education.

“Some of you are going off to universities in America and other countries around the world and I think that’s fantastic.

“In Scotland we often worry about young people leaving but I’d actually encourage you to take flight and broaden your horizons because that’s how I believe you can develop important skills and values.

“The St Leonards motto is Ad Vitam – for life, and the education you have received here and the foundation it has provided you with is for life.”

The departing prizewinners took to the stage for a final photo.

St Leonards Art Exhibition

Art lovers in St Andrews have enjoyed a treat after St Leonards School threw open the doors to its studios.

Members of the public saw what pupils across all year groups have been inspired to create in the past year at the St Leonards Art Exhibition in June.

Featured in a range of displays of students’ work were colourful paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, and print works inspired by the School’s artist in residence, Susan Welsh, whose own artwork was also be on show.

One of the more unusual exhibits was a fearsome looking, bright blue sculpture of a cross between a windmill and a human.

The creator of the work, International Baccalaureate Diploma student, Thomas Hazell, explained the famous literary inspiration behind “Windmill Man”.

He said, “I’ve always been inspired by the character of Don Quixote and I decided to use him and various artists’ portrayals of him as a starting point for the piece.

“I found that while many had shown his famous attacking of the windmills, not one had shown it from his point of view with the windmill as the monster he believed it to be.”

Speaking at a recent Exhibition preview night for parents and invited guests, Dr Michael Carslaw, Headmaster of St Leonards, said he was impressed by the artistic endeavours on display.

He said, “It’s a fantastic exhibition that shows the real strength of artistic talent at the School and is a tribute to, Head of Art, Donna Rae, her staff and the pupils.

“It’s lovely to be able to welcome parents and friends to the Art School so they can see what the students have been creating.

“It’s also nice for visitors to be able to see the work of our Artist in Residence, Susan Welsh.”

Dr Carslaw, "Windmill Man", Head of Art Donna Rae and Thomas Hazell.