Languages & Social Subjects
Creating an environment which develops a love of learning
Faculties
Languages & Social Subjects
Comprising: English, Modern Languages, Social Subjects & RMPS.
Language is of personal, social and economic importance. Our ability to use language lies at the centre of the development and expression of our emotions, our thinking, our learning and our sense of personal identity. Language is itself a key aspect of our culture. Through language, children and young people can gain access to the literary heritage of humanity and develop their appreciation of the richness and breadth of Scotland’s literary heritage. Children and young people encounter, enjoy and learn from the diversity of language used in their homes, their communities, by the media and by their peers.
Social Subjects
Through social studies, children and young people develop their understanding of the world by learning about other people and their values, in different times, places and circumstances; they also develop their understanding of their environment and of how it has been shaped. As they mature, children and young people’s experiences will be broadened using Scottish, British, European and wider contexts for learning, while maintaining a focus on the historical, social, geographic, economic and political changes that have shaped Scotland.
RMPS
Scotland is a nation whose people hold a wide range of beliefs from the many branches of the Christian faith represented throughout the land to the world’s other major religions and to beliefs which lie outwith religious traditions. Such diversity enriches the Scottish nation and serves as an inspiring and thought-provoking background for our children and young people to develop their own beliefs and values.
Curricular Pathways Languages & Social Subjects
English
Principal Teacher : Mrs MacDougall
Mrs Jackson MA, BA(Hons)
Ms Jackson graduated from Bath Spa University in 1992 with a BA (Hons) 2:1 in English and History before completing a PGCE in English at the University of London, Institute of Education, in 1993. She went on to complete an MA in Language and Literature in English at the same institution in 1997.
Ms Jackson began her teaching career as an English teacher in Kent and has since taught in Solihull, Sandwell, Surrey and, more recently, Dumfries and Galloway. In 2002, she became Head of English, Drama and Modern Foreign Languages at Park Hall School and Dartmouth High School in Solihull and Sandwell. She then took on the role of Assistant Head Teacher, with responsibility for professional training and development, in 2005. In 2009, Ms Jackson moved into specialist education, becoming Head of SEN at Thomas Knyvett College and later Broadwater School in Surrey. She gained the National Award for SENCOs in 2011 and became an Advanced SENCO Practitioner in 2015. Since 2016, she has worked as a Specialist Dyslexia Teacher, supporting young people to overcome barriers to learning and develop confidence in their abilities.
We are delighted that she now teaches English at Kirkcudbright Academy.
Outside of school, Ms Jackson enjoys reading, going to the cinema, visiting places of historic interest, art and crafts, and walking her dogs.
Mr Ewan Moses – Teacher of English and Rural Skills
Social Subjects
Mrs Allison Clelland – Teacher of History & Depute Rector
Mrs Allison Clelland graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in History and Politics before completing her PGDE at Jordanhill. She teaches History and Modern Studies.
Mrs Clelland taught in Argyll and Bute for several years, taking on roles as Principal Teacher of Pupil Support and Principal Teacher with Whole-School Responsibilities. She joined Kirkcudbright Academy in 2013 as the Principal Teacher of Social Subjects before taking up the post of Depute Headteacher in 2017.
Outside of school Mrs Clelland enjoys reading, walking, travelling and supporting Queen of the South Football Team.
Mrs Sandra Kirkland – Teacher History & P.T. Pupils Support
Mrs Sandra Kirkland, graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in History then went on to do her PGDE at Moray House College of Education – dual qualified in teaching History and Modern Studies. She joined Kirkcudbright Academy in 1991 and in addition to teaching, History, Modern Studies and PSHE, has taken on the roles of APT Guidance and PT Pupil Support for the majority of her teaching career at the school.
Miss Lynne McEwen – Teacher of Geography and Modern Studies
Miss Hodgson BA (Hons) – Teacher of Modern Studies & Criminology.
Miss Hodgson graduated with Honours in Criminology and Sociology with Politics from the University of Stirling and worked as a pupil support assistant for West Lothian Council before completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the University of Strathclyde. Miss Hodgson has taught Modern Studies and History at Kirkcudbright Academy since 2018. She enjoys promoting political engagement through wider school activities and supporting pupils through her role as a Senior UPS tutor. In her spare time, Miss Hodgson likes to read, travel and spend time with friends and family.
Languages
Miss Laura Murray – Teacher of Modern Languages
Miss Laura Murray spent part of her childhood living in Spain before her family moved to Newton Stewart where she completed her secondary education. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Spanish, French, Portuguese and European Community Law before enjoying a varied career, working in Social Work, as a school librarian and even as a kilt fitter. She later completed her PGDE at Jordanhill and is fully qualified to teach both Spanish and French.
After beginning her teaching career in Alloa, Miss Murray returned to Dumfries and Galloway and has worked at KBT Academy on and off since 2012. She is passionate about helping pupils develop confidence in languages and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for different cultures. Outside of school, she loves travelling to new places and practising her foreign language skills.
Mr Esteban Perez – Teacher of Spanish
Mr Pérez is originally from Málaga, Spain, and is a dual-registered teacher in Primary Education and Secondary Spanish. He graduated from the Universidad Antequera de Málaga, where he studied Teaching, specialising in Physical Education.
He began his teaching career in Spain before moving to the UK in 2016. After working in Outdoor Education and as a supply teacher across Dumfries and Galloway, he joined Kirkcudbright Academy in 2020.
Mr Pérez’s works in the Modern Language Department teaching Spanish from S1 to National 5. He has organised school trips to Spain.
Alongside this he is passionate about sport, teaching football in elective subjects and runs the school badminton club – Pupils have progressed from beginners to competing in regional tournaments.
He enjoys digital literacy, supporting staff with technology in the classroom and heading up the school’s Digital Literacy Award.
Supporting students in their wider school life out with lesson time has great importance to him, he runs daily lunchtime clubs; including Scripture Union, Quizzes and safe spaces.
