Vale of Leven Academy
Aidan McLeod
Aidan McLeod is leaving Vale of Leven Academy to join Babcock International as a Multi-Skilled Engineering Modern Apprenticeship.
Aidan emigrated from South Africa in 2023 and joined the academy that August, where he settled quickly and made new friends.
He thrived at school with his family watching their quiet, shy and timid boy grow into a confident young man with the help and support of his dedicated teachers. Aidan was excited when his teachers highlighted the opportunity to apply for a place on the very competitive Babcock pre-apprenticeship programme.
The successful completion of the pre-apprenticeship programme led Aidan to apply for the full-time Babcock Multi-Skilled Engineering Modern Apprenticeship. He impressed at his interview and was immediately offered a place on the Modern Apprenticeship programme, starting in September.
We are so proud of Aidan, who through his hard work and commitment to his education thoroughly deserves this opportunity and we wish him well for his future.
Katie McFadzean S6
Katie McFadzean is leaving Vale of Leven Academy after securing a place at Strathclyde University to study Pharmacology and Forensics.
Katie found secondary school challenging and was lucky to have a close-knit friendship group which provided her with a profound sense of belonging. Katie’s decision to study Art at National 5 level opened the door to creative expression which quickly became a source of calm and an effective means of managing stress, enabling Katie to engage with her learning in a more meaningful and purposeful way.
Motivated by a strong desire to contribute positively to society, Katie now aspires to pursue a career in pharmacy, with the aim of supporting the health and wellbeing of her community. Alongside her intended studies in pharmacology, Katie plans to continue developing her passion for art as a complementary creative pursuit.
Katie is a remarkable young person who, despite the loss of two family members, has remained focused on her education. We are immensely proud of Katie’s perseverance, resilience, and personal growth. Her journey stands as a compelling testament to the fact that success is not always linear, and that strength and purpose can emerge even in the most challenging of circumstances.
Leona McDonald
Leona McDonald is an ambitious and committed young person and leaves Vale of Leven Academy after securing a Fabrication Apprenticeship with BAE Systems.
Leona’s secondary school journey has been defined by a sustained commitment to personal growth and ambition. She has engaged in a wide range of experiences spanning volunteering, advocacy, and engineering, each contributing to a highly impressive and well-rounded record of achievement. Leona has demonstrated dedication, resilience, and a clear determination to make a meaningful difference within her community.
A strong sense of service has been central to Leona’s development and she has dedicated over 100 hours to Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV), alongside her involvement in the school’s Youth Council. She has consistently demonstrated a proactive and reliable approach to supporting others. Through these opportunities, she has gained valuable skills, including lifesaving first aid training with PSYV and Y-Sort-It, as well as learning how to support individuals with additional needs. These experiences have helped shape her understanding that effective leadership is grounded in empathy, compassion, and a commitment to others.
This sense of empathy is most clearly reflected in her role as a young carer for her brother, a responsibility that has been a defining aspect of her journey. Motivated by her own experiences, Leona partnered with the Carers Trust and contributed to a Young Scot documentary, helping to raise awareness and ensure that young carers have a voice in shaping their educational experiences. Her advocacy extended further, leading her to speak at both the Scottish Parliament and a Planet Youth event, where she confidently represented the perspectives of young carers and championed greater support for their needs.
Alongside her advocacy work, Leona has pursued a clear and focused interest in engineering. This began through participation in BAE Systems open days, the Women in Engineering programme, and a Skills for Work course in S4. By S5, she had progressed to the BAE Systems National Progression Award course and has since achieved significant success, securing the fabrication apprenticeship with BAE Systems. Throughout her learning pathway, she has embraced opportunities to deepen her learning, from contributing to STEM events to engaging creatively during her work experience.
We are immensely proud of Leona’s perseverance, compassion, and personal growth. Her journey stands as a powerful example of how commitment, resilience and a willingness to embrace opportunity can lead to outstanding achievement. We have every confidence that she will continue to build on these strengths as she moves forward, and we wish her every success in the exciting chapters that lie ahead.