- Welcome from the Rector
- Celebrating Success
- Developing the Young Workforce
- Rebranding Parent Council
- Leadership Conference
- Higher Physics Astronomy Lab
- Global Goals Update
- Bell Baxter High School Winter Fayre – A Wonderful Community Celebration!
- Nurture Group
- Christmas Box Appeal
- News From The English Department
- Pathway Information Evening
- Transforming Learning
- Wellbeing Captains
- School Contacts
Rector's Message
As we approach the end of term, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support throughout the year. It has been a busy and rewarding term, and we are proud of the achievements and progress our young people have made. Key Updates:
- End of Term: School will close on Friday 19th at 2.50pm and will reopen on Monday 5th January 2026
- Looking Ahead: Next term, we will focus on iPad deployment and Transforming Learning. We also start our planning for Session 2026-27. More details will follow in January.
- We have made a few changes to previously published dates in our calendar. We will hold our parent engagement session for transforming learning and iPad deployment on Thursday 8th January, information on this has already been sent home.
- Our course choice information evening will now be held on Wednesday 21st January and more details will follow when we return to school. And there will be a parent council meeting on 28th January.
Finally, on behalf of all staff, I would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope you enjoy a restful and joyful holiday period. Lynn Black Rector
Celebrating Success
After a long time off training due to a severe illness Lily competed for her club at the Scottish Open. She won gold in both her fighting categories and took a silver and 2 bronze for her kata. Finally winning the Grand Champion for her age category. We are so proud of her grit and resilience to do this whilst still struggling with her illness and the pain that she is in. Well done Lily!
Celebrating Success
We are delighted to share some fantastic news with our school community. Pupils George Cutler, Skye Green, and Struan Keddie travelled to Lord’s Cricket Ground to collect the Grierson Trophy at the Annual Forty Club Dinner. The Forty Club is a prestigious cricket organisation comprising former international players, top county cricketers, and leading league players. Each summer, they play matches against schools and clubs across the UK. There are 12 districts, and each nominates one school for the district medal. These nominations, along with match and umpire reports, are reviewed by a committee to decide the overall winner. This year, Bell Baxter High School was chosen for its inclusive sportsmanship, kindness on and off the pitch, commitment to the spirit of cricket, and the inquisitive learning that took place. This is a remarkable achievement: Bell Baxter is only the fourth school in Scotland to win this award—and the very first Scottish Local Authority school to do so! It’s an incredible accomplishment for a school without a full-time cricket team or club, and a moment to celebrate the year’s successes. We would like to thank Alan Green, Robert Nellies, Mrs Clark, and all the players for their time and commitment to the sport, as well as the Parent Council, who kindly donated funds to allow our three representatives to travel to London for this historic occasion. It is a memory they will cherish forever. One day, all three pupils hope to play at Lord’s, and we hope this is the first of many opportunities for them.
Developing The Young Workforce
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) remains a key priority within our school, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that all young people are equipped with the skills, experiences and confidence required for future learning, life and work. Through a wide range of partnerships, curricular opportunities and real-world experiences, pupils are supported to develop essential employability skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience, while gaining a clearer understanding of the diverse career pathways available to them. This term, pupils have benefited from a variety of high-quality and meaningful DYW experiences. NHS professionals delivered engaging talks, including Do You Want to Be a Doctor and sessions led by anaesthetists, providing valuable insight into careers within healthcare and related professions. Through Active Schools, pupils have participated in volunteering opportunities, achieved sports awards and explored lifeguarding pathways, helping to develop leadership skills, teamwork and a strong sense of responsibility. Learners also visited local food and beverage establishments, including Osteria, to explore hospitality-related careers and gain an understanding of the skills and attributes required within this industry. We have had pupils involved with the school-based heats of the FutureChef Competition - where pupils have the opportunity to test their skills under both a time and financial constraint. We now have two who have progressed to the regional finals in the new year. A number of pupils also took part in practical construction courses and childcare placements, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in real working environments and develop sector-specific skills. Targeted employability programmes further strengthened learners’ readiness for the world of work. Through Career Ready, where we have 10 pupils engaged over the two-year course - our pupils were supported through mentoring, workplace visits and skills development sessions, helping them to build confidence, professionalism and an understanding of employer expectations. Our pupils have been lucky to work with employers such as Kettle Produce, The R and A, Fife Council, Balcaskie Estate, John White and Sons, Fisher Laundry and DPS Group. In addition, First Chances provided 4 pupils with supported work-based experiences, offering early exposure to the workplace and helping them to develop essential employability skills in a real-world context base at St Andrews University. Senior phase pupils also participated/will participate in ‘Work It’ sessions, focused on preparing for work experience placements. These sessions supported learners to develop CVs, practise interview skills and understand workplace behaviours, ensuring they were well prepared to make the most of their upcoming placements. These activities were further enhanced by our standalone Careers and Pathways event, held within the school, where pupils were able to engage directly with employers, training providers and partners. Pupils explored a wide range of options, asked informed questions and considered their next steps with confidence. With a range of Colleges and Universities including Robert Gordons, Heriot Watt, St Andrews University, Fife college as well as Babcock, DYW Scotland, Kettle Produce, Fisher and Donaldson to name a few.
Rebranding Parent Council
Our Voice Matters! Join Us in Shaping the Future of our Parent Council We’re rebranding the Parent Council for the New Year – how it works and what we want to achieve - and we’d love input from our young people and their families! Our goal is to support all Bell Baxter pupils ensuring they can make the most of all opportunities available to them – inside and outside of school. As well as being a strong voice for young people and their families, we want to help build connections between the school and the wider community, so everyone benefits. We know our catchment area is large and diverse, and we see that as a real strength. Parents and carers from different backgrounds bring unique perspectives, and together we can make a bigger impact. We’ll meeting in January—watch for the date in the school Bulletin and social media. This is your chance to get involved! We welcome new members, fresh ideas, and constructive feedback. 📧 Please get in touch: **<bellbaxterhs.parentcouncil@fife.gov.uk>** Let’s work together to make a difference for our young people and our community!
Leadership Conference
On the 1st of December, some of the School Captains (Millie, Magnus & Danny) travelled to St Leonards School to take part in a Leadership Conference. We were given a talk by Dr. Eve Poole OBE, who ran a workshop based on her book, “Leadersmithing”. She highlighted parts of leadership which people often struggle with and how we can improve ourselves as leaders - a particular activity we enjoyed was ranking ourselves on a scale on whether we’d prefer to be liked or right and how that influences leadership. We had a great time speaking to the leadership teams of schools all across Scotland from both State and Private schools, and it was interesting to see the difference between the two. We also shared ideas about how to improve our schools, speaking about topics such as Mobile Phone Policies, School Communities and events we could organise for a variety of year groups.
Higher Physics Astronomy Lab
Higher physics class applied their analysis skills to identify the elements present in a range of astronomical objects including starts, spiral galaxies and quasars. The Lab was run by St Andrew's student astronomy student Mx Prahbaker who has been on placement at Bellbaxter since September. Using spectral data from the Sloane Digital Sky Survey pupils measured the wavelengths of spectral lines and calculated the photon energy levels. This allowed them to identify the elements in the object and identify the astronomical object.
Global Goals Update
BIG BAG CHALLENGE We have been fundraising over the past few weeks to raise funds for supplies for our bags for those in need in our community. Some bags are now ready to go! Many thanks to all who have donated funds to help us with this cause. Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Cupar and Cupar at Christmas for our donation of £206 from the Cupar Lights Switch ROTARY YOUTH LEADER AWARD(RYLA) SUMMER CAMP 2026 We were delighted to be joined by Ian Copeland and Isla Lumsden from the Rotary Club of Cupar last week. They shared details of the RYLA leadership camps and outlined the application process. Applications close at the end of the year with interviews scheduled for early Feb 2026. Please see details in the link below and contact Ms Pour if you have any questions regarding the application process. Such an exciting opportunity funded fully by the Rotary! HOME | Ryla1010
Bell Baxter High School Winter Fayre – A Wonderful Community Celebration!
On 16th December Bell Baxter High School was filled with festive cheer as we hosted our annual Festive Fayre. The event was a fantastic success, bringing together pupils, staff, families, and the wider Cupar community for an afternoon of fun, creativity, and seasonal spirit. This year’s Fayre showcased an incredible range of stalls and activities, thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of our contributors:
- Rotary / Cupar at Christmas – spreading goodwill and festive joy whilst raising funds for our much needed defibrillator.
- Candyfloss Stall – a sweet treat that delighted visitors of all ages.
- Fairtrade & Global Goals Group – promoting ethical choices and sustainability.
- ASN & Enhanced Provision – sharing creativity and inclusion through their wonderful contributions.
- SRUC and Outdoor Learning – bringing a touch of nature to the festivities. Our team were involved in making beautiful table decorations and wreaths with our partners from SRUC.
- Wellbeing & Nurture (PSO) – reminding us of the importance of care and connection during the holidays.
- S4 Enterprise & S5/6 Enterprise Groups – showcasing entrepreneurial spirit with their innovative products and fundraising activities.
- Young Carers – raising awareness and sharing their inspiring work.
- School Captains – leading by example and supporting the event throughout.
- English Department & Language Ambassadors – adding a literary and linguistic sparkle to the day.
- Rights Respecting Schools Group – reinforcing our commitment to equality and respect.
The Fayre was more than just an event—it was a celebration of community, creativity, and compassion. Every stall reflected the values we hold dear at Bell Baxter: effort, kindness, and respect. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed and attended. Your support makes these events truly special. We wish all our pupils, staff, and families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Christmas Doors
Our Christmas Door competition has become a firm favourite each year with the standard reaching new heights again. Here is a small selection of the creative displays from around the school.
Nurture Group
Our Wednesday nurture group made a visit to Rosturk Care Home this week. Bella enjoyed the endless petting and treats from all the residents who were delighted to see her and our pupils. We took over some homemade shortbread for them to enjoy over the Christmas period.
Christmas Box Appeal
This year we were delighted to be able to provide gifts to some families in our school community thanks to the generosity of staff, and the incredible fundraising efforts of our S6 pupils who raised a fantastic £730 by taking part in a sponsored Santa Dash on Thursday 4th December. Thank you to Fisher & Donaldson for supplying our Santa Dashers with their famous fudge doughnuts at the halfway point! We also raised £350 from the raffles at our most recent parents' evenings and would like to thank everyone who bought tickets, as well as the local companies who donated prizes. Special thanks to Cupar Golf Course, Kingsbarns Distillery, Osteria, Elie Seaside Sauna Company, Craigtoun Park, Tesco, Balgove Larder and Pillars of Hercules for their very generous donations. Merry Christmas to all!
S1 Competition
Here are our winners for the S1 competition to design a Christmas jumper for a fictional character from a book or film. Pupils had to design the jumper and also explain the rationale behind their designs in order to win. All classes participated and we chose one winner from each. The judging was tricky due to the high standard of ideas, designs and artwork displayed. Well done to everyone who took part with special congratulations to our nine winners pictured.
Jolabokaflod 2025
What's not to love about a new book and a chocolate treat to enjoy over the festive break? Staff participated in our annual Icelandic-style book swap once again this year. Our English Ambassador elves were kept very busy out delivering packages to staff this morning. We hope everyone enjoys their new books over the holiday.
Pathway Information Evening
We will be hosting our Pathway Information Evening on Wednesday 21st January, for young people who will be choosing courses for 2026/27. We will be running two sessions as follows:
- Session 1: for young people currently in S2 - from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
- Session 2: for young people currently in S3 (Pathway 2), S4 and S5 - from 6:45pm to 7:45pm
For anyone who is unable to attend, the presentation will be available on the school website shortly after the event. Invitations will be shared in the New Year with further information.
Transforming Learning
School Contacts
General Enquiries and Quick Links
School Address: Bell Baxter High School, Carslogie Road, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4HY
School Telephone Number: 01334 659459
Pupil Absence Text Line: 07860 004290
School E-mail Address: Bellbaxterhs.enquiries@fife.gov.uk
School Website: https://bellbaxterhighschool.org.uk/
School Facebook: https://b-m.facebook.com/BellBaxterHS/
Parent Council Website: https://bellbaxterhighschool.org.uk/Parent-Council/
Parent Council Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellBaxterParentCouncil
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