About Us

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Our Vision

Working Together Across Culture,

Classrooms and Community

to be a School Stranraer

Can be Proud Of

"Stranraer Academy will be a whole school where everyone is encouraged to do their best; a school in which a whole community takes pride."

Our Values

AIM HIGH

WORK HARD

BE KIND

Stranraer Academy is the secondary school serving the town of Stranraer and the surrounding area of west Wigtownshire, South-West Scotland. The original Stranraer Academy was opened in 1845 on the site of the present Stranraer Campus of Dumfries and Galloway College. In 1965 a new Academy (B Block) was built alongside a new High School (A Block) and in 1970 the schools joined together. The school buildings have undergone significant changes and expansion over the last 20 years. A building replacing ‘A’ block (from the original 1965 structure) was completed in 1997. In 2010 an expansion to the 1997 structure began through a Private Public Partnership to replace ‘B’ and ‘C’ block from the original 1965 building.

Stranraer Academy is a co-educational, fully inclusive school catering for the needs of all young people in the community. It has around 950 pupils and around 80 full-time and part-time teaching staff.

The school’s excellent ICT facilities include electronic whiteboards in most classrooms and over 300 networked PCs and netbooks. The school also enjoys first class provision for PE and sports, including a state of the art 3G all weather pitch, 4 lane 15m swimming pool, dedicated weight training fitness room and dance studio. The school also has modern, well equipped science labs, music facilities and technology workshops.

The catchment area for Stranraer Academy is wide and takes in pupils from12 feeder primary schools within the Stranraer and West Wigtownshire area. The primary schools located within Stranraer are: Belmont, Park, St Joseph’s, Rephad and Sheuchan. Primary schools from outwith Stranraer include Castle Kennedy, Drummore, Glenluce, Kirkcolm, Leswalt, Portpatrick and Sandhead.
To find out information on each feeder Primary schools, please click on a school to open its Council information page in a new window.

Virtual Tour

Campus Plan

Stranraer Academy Handbook

The latest version of the handbook (2024-25) is viewable here. Alternatively, you can download the latest handbook from the link. The handbook is also available on our School App.

Discover the Latest Handbook

Calendar

School Events Calendar

Stay updated with upcoming activities

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"Remember that no matter how cool you think you may be, you're not cool enough to look down on anyone...ever" - Paul Walker

HM Inspectorate of Education

Letter to Parents Carers – Inspection May 2014

All pupils have been issued with a letter for parents/carers from Colin Grant, Director of Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning for Dumfries and Galloway.

The letter details the progress made by Stranraer Academy in regard to the HMIE Inspection Report from May 2014.

The letter is also available on the App under More > Files > School Policies & Information > Letter to Parents – Inspection May 2014

Inspection May 2014 PDF

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Validated Self-Evaluation Report May - 2016 - PDF

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HMIE Report - 6 May 2014

Education Scotland - The Report - PDF

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Education Scotland - The Evidence Report - PDF

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Stranraer Academy The Evidence Report Education Scotland

Standards & Quality

Standards & Quality Report PDF

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Stranraer Academy — Self-Evaluation Policy

Stranraer Academy
Self-Evaluation Policy

Self-Evaluation for Self-Improvement · Updated August 2025

Current Focus Our Health & Wellbeing 2025 / 26

How are we doing?

Gathering evidence through data, observation and stakeholder views to understand our current position.

How do we know?

Triangulating quantitative data, people's views and direct observation to build a robust evidence base.

What are we going to do now?

Using evidence to plan targeted improvement — looking inwards, outwards and forwards.

Evidence for Self-Evaluation — tap each to expand

📊

Quantitative Data

Figures and statistics that give us measurable evidence of our performance.

Includes: attainment figures, attendance rates, bullying data, options choices, exclusion rates, SNAS results, prelim performance, tracking data and progress measures across all year groups.

💬

People's Views

Regular opportunities for all stakeholders to share their perspective on school life.

Gathered through: pupil council meetings, Microsoft Forms surveys, parents' evening feedback, parent council input, focus groups, professional dialogue, learning visits and team meeting minutes. All staff, pupils, parents and partners are included.

👁️

Direct Observation

Structured observation of practice in a range of contexts, with feedback given.

Takes place in classrooms, outdoors, workplaces, college and residential settings. All observations are linked to agreed criteria with a shared understanding of purpose. Stakeholders including staff, learners and parents can engage in structured observations.

Policy Aims

Engage all staff in a culture of ongoing self-evaluation across Stranraer Academy
Involve pupils, parents and other stakeholders wherever possible — in line with Education Scotland's HGIOS guidance on learner participation (2018)
Maintain robust quantitative and qualitative information about the school
Use evidence from monitoring and evaluation effectively in the planning process
Raise attainment and achievement for all learners
Develop leadership and management capacity across the school

August

PTC Learner Observations

Pupil Council — Our HWB

Faculty Results Analysis

BGE Faculty Curriculum Review

September

PTC Learner Observations (cont.)

Pupil Council — Our HWB

Microsoft Forms — S1 Parents' Evening

S3/S4 Option Form Review

OctoberNow

SLT Faculty Observation — Social Subjects

S1 & S2 Work Sampling

S3/S4 Option Form Review

November

SLT Faculty Observation — Healthy Living

Microsoft Forms — S5/S6 Parents' Evening

Prelim Result Analysis Meetings

December

Faculty Microsoft Forms — Prelim Feedback (SP)

Microsoft Forms — S4 Parents' Evening

S4 Prelim Moderation

January

Optional Peer Observations

S5/S6 Option Form Pupil Input

S5/S6 Prelim Moderation

February

Learning Walk — Creative Arts / HWB & Reg

Faculty Microsoft Forms — Prelim Feedback (SP)

Microsoft Forms — S2 Parents' Evening

S2 Moderation (linked to Tracking)

March

Learning Walk — Maths & Business

Pupil Input to Learning Walk

Microsoft Forms — S3 Parents' Evening

S1 Moderation (linked to reports)

SP Faculty Curriculum Review

April

Learning Walk — Science

Pupil Council — linked to SIP

S5/S6 Option Form Review

May

Learning Walk — Science (cont.) / LC & Nurture

Pupil Council — linked to SIP

Microsoft Forms — Annual Parent Council / SQR & SIP

S3 Moderation & Target Setting

June

Learning Walk — Languages / Aird

Faculty Microsoft Forms — BGE Feedback / Focus Groups (SP)

Partner Review Forms / Partner Forum

Faculty Curriculum Review (Study Leave)

Each year the Senior Leadership Team focuses on a particular theme and carries out an in-depth review of key quality indicators within that theme. All stakeholders are involved. The findings feed directly into the Standards & Quality Report and School Improvement Plan. Tap any year to see the quality indicators.

22/23

2022 – 23

Our Relationships

1.3 Leadership of Change 2.1 Safeguarding & Child Protection 2.3 Learning and Engagement 2.4 Personalised Support 3.1 Wellbeing, Equality & Inclusion

23/24

2023 – 24

Our Learning & Teaching

1.2 Leadership of Learning 2.2 Curriculum 2.3 Learning, Teaching & Assessment 2.4 Removal of Barriers to Learning 2.6 Transitions

24/25

2024 – 25

Our School & Community

1.4 Leadership & Management of Staff 1.5 Management of Resources 1.3 Leadership of Change 2.7 Partnerships 3.3 Digital Innovation & Creativity

25/26

2025 – 26

Our Health & Wellbeing

Current Year

1.5 Management of Finance for Learning 2.1 Safeguarding & Child Protection 2.3 Learning, Engagement, Planning & Tracking 2.5 Family Learning 2.7 Partnerships 3.1 Wellbeing, Equality & Inclusion

26/27

2026 – 27

Our Successes & Achievements

2.2 Curriculum — Skills for Life & Work 2.7 Impact on Learners 3.1 Inclusion & Equality 3.2 Raising Attainment & Achievement 3.3 Creativity & Employability

Download the Full Policy

The complete Self-Evaluation for Self-Improvement Policy — including the full evaluation calendar, 5-year cycle and evidence framework.

Download PDF

Stranraer Academy · Self-Evaluation Policy · Updated August 2025