Inveralmond Community High School

55°54′00″N 3°31′16″W﻿ / ﻿55.900°N 3.521°W﻿ / 55.900; -3.521

School in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

Inveralmond Community High School

The school's sports facilities in 2013

Address

Willowbank, Ladywell

Livingston

West Lothian

EH54 6HW

Scotland

Information
Established| 1979
Local authority| West Lothian Council
Headteacher| Hamish Shankland
Depute Headteacher(s)| Irene McGinnis,
Keith Varty
Age| 11 to 18
Houses| Arran, Skye, Tiree
Colour(s)|
Blue, Black
Website| http://www.inveralmondchs.westlothian.org.uk/

Inveralmond Community High School is a six year, mixed comprehensive school in Ladywell, Livingston. It serves six primary schools in its catchment area: Harrysmuir Primary, Livingston Village Primary, Toronto Primary, Riverside Primary, Peel Primary and Letham Primary.[1]

The school roll is approximately 1050 pupils.[1]

## History

[edit]

The school opened in 1979.[1]

Gordon Ford assumed the role of headteacher at the school in 2001, after having previously served as headteacher of Broughton High School in Edinburgh.[2] In February 2003, The Sunday Times reported that the government had ranked the school among Scotland’s poorest performing secondary schools based on the percentage of pupils passing three Highers.[3] Under Ford's leadership, the school underwent significant changes, including the introduction of a prefect system, a mandatory uniform policy, and a citizenship program for S5-S6 students to participate in community service.[2] In August 2004, TES reported that the school had gone from being one of the 30 lowest ranked secondary schools in Scotland to being in the top 150 based on the predicted grades of those in fourth year.[2]

In April 2012, it was reported that the school was under investigation after a music teacher, who had taught at the school for six years, was found not to have been fully qualified to teach at secondary schools.[4] In April 2013, the school became the first in Scotland to adopt eco-friendly uniforms, with the school jackets being produced from recycled plastic bottles.[5]

In August 2018, The Jewish Chronicle reported that a PE teacher at the school had been removed from the teaching register after allegedly calling a pupil a "poofy Jew" and slapping them.[6] Another teacher at the school had their contract terminated after the General Teaching Council for Scotland found that they had interfered with the investigation by asking students for statements defending the accused teacher.[7]

## Notable former head teachers

[edit]

* Gordon Ford OBE (born 1952 or 1953), former deputy chief executive of West Lothian Council and Livingston F.C. shareholder[8][9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Welcome to Inveralmond Community High School" (PDF). West Lothian Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
2. ^ a b c Munro, Neil (20 August 2004). "A textbook recovery". TES. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
3. ^ Robertson, Joanne (2 February 2003). "Jamieson bids to axe heads at worst schools". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
4. ^ "Teacher in job for six years 'without full qualifications'". The Scotsman. 6 April 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
5. ^ "Inveralmond Community High School blazer made from plastic bottles". BBC News. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
6. ^ "PE teacher faces being struck off amid claims he called pupil a 'poofy Jew". The Jewish Chronicle. 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
7. ^ Stewart, Kirsty (22 September 2018). "Teacher interfered with a police inquiry into colleague". The Times. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
8. ^ "Real lives: Super head Gordon is 'humbled' by OBE nod". The Scotsman. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
9. ^ "Livingston: Gordon Ford seeks right for club to sign players". BBC Sport. 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Secondary Schools in West Lothian

Bathgate|

Bathgate Academy • St Kentigern's Academy

Livingston|

Deans Community High School • Inveralmond Community High School • The James Young High School • St Margaret's Academy

Broxburn|

Broxburn Academy

Linlithgow|

Linlithgow Academy

Whitburn|

Whitburn Academy

Armadale|

Armadale Academy

West Calder|

West Calder High School
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