Taylor High School (New Stevenston)
| Motto | Que Tout Soit Pour Dieu |
|---|---|
| Established | August 1982 |
| Type | Comprehensive Secondary School |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Headteacher | Mr G. McCormick |
| Location |
Carfin Street, New Stevenston Motherwell North Lanarkshire ML1 4JP Scotland |
| Staff | 58 FTE (as of August 2013) |
| Students | 737 (as of September 2012) |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | St. John Ogilvie, St. Margaret, St. Columba, St. Andrew, St. Kentigern & St. Ninian. |
| Colours | |
| Website | Taylor High School |
Taylor High School is a six-year Roman Catholic comprehensive secondary school in New Stevenston, Motherwell, Scotland. It is named after Monsignor Thomas Nimmo Taylor who was Parish Priest at St. Francis Xavier Church, Carfin for almost 50 years and who was responsible for the development of the Carfin Lourdes Grotto in 1922.
School staff
Senior Management Team
The Headteacher is Mr McCormick, who is assisted by his Depute Headteachers: Mrs S Devlin (S1 & S2), Miss N Daley (S3 & S4) and Mrs F Seggie (S5 & S6).
Teaching Staff
Taylor High School has a teaching staff complement of approximately 58 FTE. There are 14 Principal Teachers (Curriculum) and 7 Principal Teachers (Pupil Support). Mrs A Robertson acts as Principal Teacher of Support for Learning and Teaching, Mrs A Ogilvie acts as Principal Teacher of Enterprise and Mrs H Hughes acts as Principal Teacher of Behavioural Support. The Pupil Support department operates a horizontal system of pastoral care.
| Department | Principal Teacher |
|---|---|
| Art and Design | Mrs J Broughan |
| Biology | TBC |
| Business | Mr D Lewis |
| Chemistry | Mrs C Brown |
| Computing | Mr D Lewis |
| English | Mrs M.J Burton |
| Home Economics | Mr S Russell |
| Mathematics | Mr M Dorris |
| Modern Languages | Mrs L Kerr |
| Music | Ms F Cannon |
| Physical Education | Miss P Rooney |
| Physics | Mr C Phairs |
| Religious Education | Mr M McMahon |
| Social Subjects | Miss H Stoutjesdyk |
| Technical | Mr K McCaig |
| Year Group (2014/15) | Principal Teacher of Pupil Support |
|---|---|
| S1 | Mr G McQuaid (Teacher of P.E) |
| S2 | Mrs H Hughes (Teacher of Art & Design) |
| S3 | Miss S Evans (Teacher of Music) |
| S4 | Mrs A O'Donnell (Teacher of Biology) |
| S5 | Mrs L McGraw (Teacher of Social Subjects) |
| S6 | Miss S Evans (Teacher of Music) |
Catchment and facilities
Pupils attend the school from New Stevenston (NS), Carfin, Holytown, Newarthill, Cleland and the Jerviston area of Motherwell. The school achieved School of Ambition status in 2007 with a focus on Technology. It received additional Government funding from 2007–2010 and has developed the use of technology in learning across the curriculum through the innovative use of Information and Communications Technology including hand held devices such as iPods, iPads and netbooks.
In 2010-11 upgrades to the school took place including the installation of a recording studio, a Design Studio which makes use of dual boot iMacs, a multi-purpose room and a Nurture Room. A hairdressing salon has also been installed. The school also has a lift and extensive facilities for the disabled.
Taylor High School has associated primary schools of Christ the King in Holytown, Our Lady & St Francis in Carfin, St Mary’s in Cleland, St Patrick’s in New Stevenston and St Teresa’s in Newarthill.
HMIe Inspection
The school's most recent HMI inspection report was published in March 2011. The outcome of the inspection was very good in a wide range of important areas including the structure of the school’s curriculum, the quality of learning and teaching, support for pupils, ethos, management and community links. The use of technology was highlighted as a strength. The report is available on the HMIe website at www.hmie.gov.uk.
Visit of Pope Benedict XVI
On 16 September 2010 the Fourth Year Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of its Principal Teacher of Music Fiona Cannon, was chosen to sing the Gathering Hymn before the Mass celebrated by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. A video of this performance was released by the school part of which was broadcast on Scottish Television News on 15 September 2010. On 16 September 2011, the school provided the musical liturgy for the Motherwell Diocese Papal Visit Anniversary Mass, once again under the direction of Fiona Cannon accompanied by John Pitcathley, musical director for Motherwell Diocese. The school also provided a permanent record of the Mass for all schools in the diocese through its Taylor TV film unit.
Proposed and Cancelled Amalgamation 2014
In March 2014, North Lanarkshire Council proposed plans to merge Taylor High with Our Lady's High School in Motherwell to form one new school - which was to be built in the Ravenscraig area. However, after speculations that the land in which the new school would be built was unsafe, parents and pupils of the schools protested against it. In September 2014, North Lanarkshire Council members announced the amalgamation would not go ahead and both schools would remain.
Notable former pupils
- John Kennedy - formerly of Celtic FC
- Barry Morrison - Pro boxer
- Christopher Kane - Fashion designer