A HEAD teacher who has inspired Port pupils to follow their dreams is leaving after four very successful years in charge.
Stuart Clark, 39, says it is with mixed feelings that he is moving on from Port Glasgow High School to take up another head teacher post in East Renfrewshire.
Mr Clark's strong leadership has been credited with improving the school and securing record-breaking exam results.
He said: "I will miss working with the pupils who are a fine group of young people.
"They really represent Inverclyde fantastically well.
"We have a great mix of pupils in the school and they all get along with each other.
"Most teachers who come to work in the school comment on the family atmosphere and say that there is something special about the school."
He also praised the talents of pupils and the time that staff commit to extra-curricular activities.
He said: "Our music and drama departments are amazing.
"We have a great team of staff who work incredibly hard for all the pupils and that is the reason the school has gone from strength to strength."
Mr Clark has been teaching for 15 years and specialises in modern studies and history.
Port High was his first headship and he had previously been depute head at Dunoon Grammar.
He says it is a difficult decision to move on but he is ready for a new challenge.
Mr Clark, who is married with a young daughter, said: "I have mixed feelings - I kniw could have been very happy here for the next 20 years and I would have never left.
"It is a great school and a great team."
Port Glasgow High also received a very positive inspection report during his time at the helm.
Under his leadership, the rate of pupils going straight to university has almost doubled, going from 20 per cent in 2016 up to 39 per cent last year.
The number of pupils achieving five highers in fifth year rose to 17 per cent last year - the first time in the school's history that it has reached double figures.
It stood at just four per cent back in 2017.
Meanwhile the number of fourth year pupils gaining five Nat 5s has almost doubled, from 16 per cent in 2016 to just over 30 per cent.
Mr Clark said: "There has been a huge increase in the number of pupils going straight to university.
"I’m very proud of all of their achievements and whether they aspire to work, training, college or university, I’m delighted we have helped remove barriers to them following their dreams."
Mr Clark also stressed that he built on strengths the school already had, including its positive ethos and family atmosphere.
His input has been recognised by inspectors, with a report by watchdogs noting: "The head teacher has been a key influencer of change and has provided highly effective strategic direction to the school community.
"His strong leadership is highly valued.
"Parents recognise that he has led change well and that he has a high profile within the community.
"In the last two years, along with his senior leadership team, he has brought about significant improvements, including increased attainment and improved destinations for young people.
"He has inspired staff, partners and young people to pursue equity for all."
Inspectors were equally impressed with pupils and the warm family feel of the school.
Mr Clark said: "At the end of the inspection, inspectors said they had really enjoyed their week at the school.
"I am so proud of the pupils and of the school community, we received positive feedback across the whole community."
He also praised pupils, families and staff for their response to the challenges brought by the coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Clark said: "It's been so heartening, I've been talking to parents and seeing how they are supporting each other, but I am not surprised as it is such a strong community.
"Staff have been phoning parents because we want to make sure that, although the school is closed, there is still a sense of a school community."
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