Fettes is fully committed to ensuring the quality of the academic education we provide is maintained throughout this unprecedented time and we are delighted that staff and students are adapting so quickly to new systems and techniques for learning. Desk spaces have been prepared, timetables created, lesson plans adapted, intro videos recorded and the teaching and learning has begun.

A typical day looks a little different but with videoconferencing and online tutorials, teachers and their students are staying connected on a daily basis. Everyone deserves praise for the incredible wealth of learning taking place but here are a few noted academic highlights below:

Biology

Well done to all our 4th Form biologists whose families were game for a laugh in the name of science during a science practical to measure reaction times – special mention to Alex S’s, Tiger L’s, Veronica HP’s families.  

We have also received some wonderful plant histology drawings by our 6th Form biologists( image attched by Emma K), exquisite details in a practical lesson combining both science and art.  

History 

For 3rd Form, we redesigned our Summer Term course slightly but the focus still remains the era of the Second World War. Following a narrated PowerPoint on the origins of the war, and a ‘drop-in’ from their teacher over Teams, their first assignment was an essay with some excellent, clearly thought-through content.

The Lower Sixth IB cohort have also impressed us this week as they embark on their internal assessment with some fantastic forum discussions engaging positively and collaboratively in the preparatory exercises. We have also been particularly impressed with the determination with which the 5th Form and Upper Sixth are working. 

Maths

The Maths Department have been incredibly proud of the way in which students have adapted to learning more independently: 

In 3rd Form, card match-ups and mini whiteboard lessons have now become virtual tasks and Ms Maguire’s class have made a really good start to the beloved topic of trigonometry!

All year groups have adapted to Learning From Home really well and are showing fantastic progress. Keep up the good work everyone! 

Geography

A huge congratulations to all our pupils for tackling new challenges with such determination and enthusiasm. We have been delighted to see our Geographers happy faces in our small group, online academic tutorials throughout the week. 

From 3rd Form locating rainforests and understanding ecosystems to 4th Form’s artwork and notes relating to the Amazon rainforest to the Lower Sixth IB and A Level classes, their industriousness and the creativity of their work is impressive. 

The exam years of 5th Form and Upper Sixth are near to completing their courses and demonstrating just how far they have come over the course of the past two years. We are very proud of everyone. 

Academics are of course only part of a Fettes education and we are working hard to ensure connections and communication between staff and pupils continue to flourish. We continue to focus on the wellbeing of our students and the exceptional pastoral care we are renowned for is as strong as ever.

Keep taking a look at the news stories & our social media to find out more about how we are keeping our community buzzing, thinking of others during lockdown and keeping the many Fettesians traditions and much-loved and weekly events alive.