ARMADALE PRIMARY SCHOOL DUXES

Armadale Primary School is holding an event during the Autumn 2008 term to celebrate duxes of the school.

The school dux board that covered the years 1934-71 was found in the 'dungeon' of the school and Mrs. Phillips agreed to try to have it smartened up and once again put on display in the school.

If you or a member of your family was a dux of the school, please contact Stuart Borrowman on 01506 777019 stuart.borrowman@westlothian.go.uk or Betty Hunter at the library betty.hunter@wled.org.uk

I would like to thank Stuart Borrowman for sharing the Dux information with us. Rosie

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At the first formal end-of-session ceremony at the new Armadale Public School in July 1879, it was announced that John Moffat, proprietor of the Barbauchlaw estate would, the following year, present medals for the top pupils in the boys’ class and girls’ class.  The medals were awarded for “general excellence”. The award was made to pupils who had completed nine years’ schooling (that is, aged 14).

After Elizabeth Chalmers and James Meek won the medals in 1880, it was announced that this would become an annual award.  However, Mr Moffat died after the 1881 awards and there was some doubt about them continuing. 

But George Readman, the new proprietor soon announced that he would continue with the awards.

In 1888, it was agreed that the award would be switched to a younger age group (12) as it was recognised that many pupils left then and so all could compete for the medals.

For a time, the award became the result of a public examination so that  some pupils won more than one dux prize. Where there was a close result, the papers would often be sent to benefactor for adjudication.

As some pupils then went on to other schools, some Armadale duxes also won awards elsewhere and, for example, Joseph Syson is believed to have been dux of an Edinburgh private school.

In the 1890s, a watch seemed to have become the preferred prize.

Other benefactors contributed prestigious awards.  The upper school continued to have a prize and T. M. Durham, proprietor of the Boghead estate awarded a medal for excellence in agricultural studies.

Eventually, the dux medal began to be associated with coalmaster James Wood.   After his death in 1932 the James Wood Bequest funded the prizes at the school.

It is the winners of the prizes from this bequest who are honoured on the dux board until the award ceased in 1971 when Robert Hunter and Heather Mallace (now Dr. Shields) were the last winners. 

The dux idea was also used by other schools and there was also a Junior Secondary dux with a prize awarded by the Goth.  We are finding it harder to come by details of the winners of those awards.

Armadale Academy has revived the dux award in recent years, and that can (and has) been won by Blackridge pupils as well as Armadale pupils.

If you have information or corrections about the dux award or have medals or watches or photographs that you would be willing to bring to the event at the school, please contact Stuart Borrowman or Betty Hunter.

ARMADALE DUXES

(The hyperlink above links to documents, term dates, etc)

Academy Street, Armadale, EH48 3JD

Head Teacher : Allison Phillips

01501 730282

fax:  01501 730301

armadale.pswled.org.uk

Capacity Roll : 415

2008:  As a result of the HMI visit in November 2008, the School of 383 children has been praised for its class teaching, parent-teacher partnerships, staff's commitment to inclusion, and the work of the nurture group.  Particular comments were made about the caring and supportive environment that the School provided

Executive councillor for Education, Andrew Miller, said that the School had made considerable progress in a short time and that inspectors had given particular praise to the way in which parents had been welcomed in to School to become more involved in their children's learning.

Alison Phillips, Headteacher, was also praised for the way in which she had 'set out a clear vision for the school and has focused on improving the culture for learning. She has also effectively managed significant changes with support from teachers, and has created a positive and supportive climate for staff and pupils'.

September 2007: Armadale Primary School pupils are joining a study to compare their lifestyles with those of children in Tian Jin, northern China.  They were recently visited by Runmeng Liu, a teacher from the Chinese town.

Data for 2005 - 2006

Care Commission and HMI Inspection of Nursery Class 2005 Report

Congratulations to Armadale Primary School teachers Samantha Heneghan and Kirsty McLaren who developed the excellent Robert Burns activity learning resources pack as a result of their placement at the Burns Heritage Centre.

March 2007:

Congratulations  to the first winners of the newly launched Gold Awards presented at Friday assemblies to a pupil from each class who has demonstrated commendable educational or social skills throughout that week: Blair, Kian, Kyle, Ross, Jade, Paige, Aaron, James, Annabel, Keirren, Jordan, Kristian and Russell.

Congratulations  to Jay, Aimee, Kyle, Camryn, Jake, Kyle, Zoe, Sarah, Jasmine, David, Danielly, Perri, Caitlin.

Congratulations to Aimee, Greg, Jack, Courtney, Andrea, Lauren, David, Brad, Paul, Steven, Rachael, Steven and Kyle.

Congratulations  also to the 25 Week Behaviour Certificate Winners: Callum, Chloe, Rachel, Alex, Jamie, Jodie, Karrigan, Nikita, Zoe, Owen, James, Abi, Emma, Sarah, Rebecca, Molly, Brad, William, Coral, Jade, Aiden, Dean, Lucy, Dean, Cameron and Liam.

WELL DONE to everyone involved in the Spring Clean Up Programme!

April 2007:

Congratulations  to the winners of the Gold Awards: Stephen, Toni, Carrie-Anne, Darren, Jordan, Leon, Karrigan, Jay, Daniel, Kayley, Kirsty, Clare and Callum.

Congratulations  also to the 25 Week Behaviour Certificate Winners: Shane, Kyle, Abigail, Elle, Mac, Steven, Emma and Laura.

May 2007:

Congratulations to the winners of the Gold Awards: Skye, Tiegan, Lewis, Jack, Lauren, Hannah, Connor, Molly, Robert, Jordan, Clair, Callum, Robert.

Congratulations  also to the 25 Week Behaviour Certificate Winners: Mark, Connor, Gary, Aaron, Leigh, Rhiana, Shannon

Congratulations to the winners of the Gold Awards: Scott, Lauren, Leah, Camryn, Josh, Sophie, Kieran, William, Charley, John, Lauren, Scott, Steven

Congratulations  also to the 25 Week Behaviour Certificate Winner: David

Congratulations  to the winners of the Gold Awards: Mark, Chloe, Rebecca, Ellie, Chloe, Rhianna, Alexander, Amy.

Congratulations  also to the 25 Week Behaviour Certificate Winners: Jordan, Demi-Leigh, Fiona, Cindy, Hannah, Kieran, Jo, Tomas, Lisa, Chloe, Shannon, Becki, Ciara, Alix, Chloe, Zoe, Andrea, Jade, Grace.

WELL DONE to everyone who was involved in learning the deaf blind alphabet when representatives from Deafblind Scotland visited the school recently.  Also £150 was raised for the charity.

June 2007:

Congratulations to the winners of the Gold Awards: Nicole, Nicole, Elana, Ross, Jason, Laura, Leigh, Coral, Alanah, John, Niall, Danielle, Stephen

Congratulations  also to the 25 Week Behaviour Certificate Winners: Scott, Chloe, Maddison, Kian, Aimee, Lauren, Erin, Chloe, Teigan, Kyle, Paul

Congratulations  also to the Residential Week Winners: Caitlin (Best Girl Camper), Stephen (Best Boy Camper), Stephen (Best Boy dancer), Kayleigh (Best Girl Dancer)

September 2007:

Congratulations to the winners of the Gold Awards: Nicola, Nicole, Connel, Aimee, Mark, Ross, Aiden, Kyle, Jamie, Coral, Leanne, John, Callum, as well as the winners of Class of the week: P3A and P5B

Congratu