Annan Academy News

UCAS Discovery Tour - Tuesday 29th September

At a UCAS Discovery event, you can discover all your options under one roof. They can help you find out about traditional degrees, apprenticeships, careers, and more. For more information: https://youtu.be/0LqNM4KGsNA

Currently open to S5 and S6 pupils only. If spaces are available, S4 pupils will also be invited. A bus will leave Annan Academy at approx 10:45 and return approx 13:30. There is no cost for the bus.

If you are interested please complete the Microsoft Form or email Miss Todd.

Article 28: Every child has the right to an education.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/L57UNG94Q4

UCAS Events: The Big Q&A at UCAS Discovery - What's it all about? Heading to a UCAS event? Find out how to make the most out of our v...

ANNAN ANCHOR’S SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE ⚓

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

This September, Annan Anchor is challenging Annan Academy Pupils to do one small thing to make someone else’s day a little better!

📸 Submit a photo
🎥 Submit a short video
✍️ Or write 50 words about what you did and why it made someone’s day better.

It could be helping someone out, writing someone a kind note, including someone, giving a compliment, cooking dinner for someone at home, or something completely different!

🌟 One random entry will win a Nando’s meal voucher for Nando’s Carlisle! The challenge will end on Tuesday 29th September and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 30th September🌟

Please submit your entry via the QR code. This will also be on the Pupil Noticeboard.

UNCRC Article 6 – Life, survival and development 💛 This September, we’re reminding everyone that small acts of kindness and connection can make a difference.

Our language teachers and the wider school community want to say a huge congratulations to our amazing Language Ambassadors! Thanks to everyone's hard work, our school has officially achieved the British Council’s International School Award (Foundation Level)! 🌍✨

We aren't stopping there - this academic year, our pupils and Language Department are pushing forward toward the Intermediate level. Let's keep up the fantastic global collaboration!

Article 31: Every child has the right to take part in creative, cultural, and leisure activities.

A free online session with Dr Susie Nyman, exploring practical learning techniques and mindset strategies to boost confidence, motivation and exam success for young people with dyslexia. 📚✨

Whether you’re a pupil, parent/carer or educator, this is a great opportunity to pick up ideas and strategies that could make a real difference to learning and confidence.

Let’s help our young people unlock their potential and believe in what they can achieve! 💪🌟

Article 29: Every child has the right to develop their talents and abilities to their full potential.

Book your free place – How to be a dyslexic grade riser and ace your exams – Zoom How to be a dyslexic grade riser and ace your exams – Zoom, Thu 24 Sep 2026 - How to be a dyslexic grade riser and ace your exams This free online talk by Dr Susie Nyman will be a dynamic, motivational presentation that empowers students with dyslexia to achieve exam success through multi-sensor...

🎯 Sporting Success 🎯

A massive well done to Jayden Kirk in S4 who has qualified for the Junior Darts Corporation World Championships in Gibraltar later this year!

Outstanding work Jayden and good luck in November- we’re all rooting for you! 🎯

Article 29: every child has the right to develop their talents and abilities to their full potential.

Jayden bags the Double

Jayden Kirk, from Dalbeattie & Eastriggs picked up a phenomenal double darts victory at the weekend.

Full report on the link in the comments below

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Sporting Success 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

A massive well done to both Sian and Ava Vickers who have both been selected for the Scotland Under 17 and Under 19 Netball squads for the 2026-27 season!

A fantastic achievement for you both, and is a testament to all the hard work you have put in. We are all incredibly proud of you!

Article 29: Every child has the right to develop their talents and abilities to their full potential.

Social Subjects are pleased to announce that they are organising an S2 trip to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Wednesday 28th October. All S2 learners should get a letter in their Social Subjects class this week with the information on it. This trip will include a 50 minute workshop called Explosive Earth, 30 minutes in the planetarium and 90 minutes in the gallery itself going through the different areas.

If you have any questions or have missed out on getting a letter, please see Mrs Galloway.

Article 31: Every child has the right to take part in creative, cultural, and leisure activities.

SQA Level 4 Dance Leadership Opportunity 🕺 💃🏿

An excellent opportunity available in the October holidays!

Article 29: Every child has the right to develop their talents and abilities to their full potential.

DANCE LEADERSHIP COURSE | SQA Level 4 Dance Leadership Qualification. Work with industry professionals, build your confidence and complete volunteering hours by delivering dance in your cluster primary schools with the support of your Active Schools Coordinator.

Course Details:
Monday 19th - Saturday 24th October2, 9am-3pm
North West Community Campus, Dumfries

For more information about the course go to
leadershipskillsfoundation.org/programmes/dance-leadership/

To apply go to
https://tinyurl.com/ym7da83a

Applications will be assessed and spaces allocated by 5th October

🖤💛 A whole new academic year lies ahead of us. Goodness knows what all we will get up to! 😁😁😁
We would love you to be part of it. Our AGM, followed by a brief meeting, will be held on Tuesday 15th September at 6pm in the Learning Plaza at school (pop in the front doors and we'll guide you up there). No experience required, all are warmly welcomed - we would LOVE to see you there🖤💛

A huge well done to Gabi, who has returned to NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Ophthalmology Department for a second work experience placement. 👏

Gabi’s experience is a fantastic example of how work experience can help young people explore careers, build confidence and make informed decisions about their future.

We’re also delighted that our pupils are preparing to take part in this year’s NHS Dumfries and Galloway Schools Work Experience Programme with placements beginning in September. 💙

A huge thank you to NHS Dumfries and Galloway and all the staff who make these valuable opportunities possible.

Well done, Gabi we’re excited to see where your journey takes you! 🌟

Read the full story below 👇

This summer staff at NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Ophthalmology Department welcomed school student Gabi Korbut back for work experience following a placement with them last year.

Gabi, who studies at Annan Academy and is pursuing a career in medicine, first took up the opportunity to spend time at the department as part of the organisation’s annual schools work experience week programme.

On that first placement she gained an initial insight into the speciality and the service provided to patients; spending time in clinic, theatre, and a recovery ward, and valuable experience of a hospital environment, as well as something of what a working week there could be like.

Gabi said: “I enjoyed everything about my placement last year and again this year.

"It was exciting for me to arrive at work in the morning and spend the whole day finding out what goes on and learning about the speciality, and it has me want to be a doctor and surgeon even more.

"I got to be in with the team when they were with patients, and had a real working day with them from start to finish. I learned a lot the first time I was there and this time I gained a deeper knowledge and understanding of the speciality.

“I loved being a part of the team. They were all so nice and helpful. They gave me tasks to do so that I could learn from them, and at the same time I was helping look after patients.”

Keen to learn more about working in health and social care and do more for her application to medical school, Gabi found that the second work experience placement further inspired and motivated her to pursue that, and with ophthalmology as a potential speciality.

When asked about setting off so early on a day off school to get to her work experience placement, Gabi said: “For me it was worth it, to learn, and it helped me decide more about my career, and the people I worked with made the day interesting and so enjoyable.”

Derek Beeton, Senior Charge Nurse at NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Ophthalmology Department, said: “We were so pleased to welcome Gabi back for another work experience placement with our team.

"Gabi first spent a week with us last year as part of the schools’ work experience programme and we were delighted that she enjoyed it so much she wanted to come back.

“She was so enthusiastic and showed a real interest in what the team does, and she made the most of every opportunity to gain experience and ask questions. It was great to have her back, and we hope she enjoyed her time with us.

"We wish her all the best for the future!"

Gabi was one of 128 students who worked in a placement during the organisation’s fourth annual schools work experience week programme in September 2025.

Around 100 school students will once again take up placements in September this year across a wide range of specialties and departments within health and social care, giving them insight into potential career paths and hopefully helping them to come to a decision about the next move beyond their school studies.

Pamela Jamieson, Workforce Director at NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: “I’m delighted that from the work experience programme last year this aspiring young medic came back to learn and experience more about working in the Ophthalmology Department.

“Work is well underway for this year’s Schools Work Experience Week, and we look forward to welcoming the students to their placements.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Workforce and Sustainability Team, along with the many staff across the organisation who make it possible for school students to take up work experience placements in such a focussed way, on a week dedicated to give insight and encourage careers in health and social care.”

Photo is of Gabi (front, second from right) with some of the staff on shift with her during her placement.