Primary Experience
Fernhill School Primary aims to inspire and motivate our young people to become successful, creative and confident learners. Challenged by a full and rounded curriculum and extra-curricular activities, pupils develop their talents, express their creativity and form foundations for lifelong learning.
At Fernhill School Primary every child is cherished and valued. Each pupil is encouraged and helped to maximise their full potential in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
Along with academic excellence, Health and Wellbeing is a major topic within the Primary Department. Teaching sports, healthy life habits and active lifestyles in an enthusiastic and stimulating manner improves the health and wellbeing of all of our pupils and will encourage them to maintain healthy habits into adulthood. The pupils in Primaries 6 and 7 take part in excursions and outdoor activities such as a visit to Lockerbie Manor. They are encouraged to challenge themselves by undertaking the JASS (Junior Award Scheme for Schools).
Pupils have the opportunity to contribute more widely to the school community through the Pupil Council and Eco Team, enabling them to develop a sense of responsibility and leadership. Responsibility is further developed in Primary 7, with each pupil taking on a leadership role such as House Captain, Eco Captain and Junior Road Safety Officer.
We love to celebrate success within the Primary and have a weekly Star of the Week. Pupils are encouraged to share their other success with all children within the Primary.
Academic Excellence
Fernhill School’s philosophy holds small class sizes at the core of pupil development and ensures that our children receive the highest standard of education, attention and care they require.
With class sizes considerably below the national average, teacher/pupil ratios are exceptional and individual opportunity abundant. As a pupil at Fernhill School your child will have a unique and individualised learning plan with personal success in abundance.
They will have a voice that will always be listened to and a contribution that will always be valued.
As a result of this philosophy we are able to offer tailored teaching and promote positive attitudes towards learning and as such achieve outstanding academic excellence.
All of our pupils greatly benefit from the knowledge and expertise of our highly-skilled teaching staff and pupils within the Primary Department enjoy lessons from not only Primary specialists but also from subject specialists in areas such as, PE, Music, French and Italian.
Each pupil’s progress is reviewed on a frequent and regular basis to ensure that they are keeping up and being sufficiently challenged. Standardised testing is also used to monitor children’s progress and to offer evidence for where further interventions may be required or barriers to learning may be present.
Ethos & Environment
The simple unerring goal of Fernhill School is to nurture the God-given talents and skills of our pupils. All our staff work in partnership with our parents to provide an environment in which your son or daughter will develop academically, socially and personally.
We endeavour to foster and develop the potential, talents and ambitions of each boy and girl within a caring Catholic community characterised by attitudes of mutual respect, humility and personal responsibility. This encourages all of our young people to blossom and flourish personally, socially and academically within an overarching atmosphere of trust and personal dignity.
We continue to build self-esteem and confidence in pupils through the House System within the school which reinforces a sense of support and belonging. It encourages pupils to use their talents for their own benefit and for the benefit of their house. The Fernhill Family provides a nurturing and supportive environment for all of our young people.
Curriculum
We follow the Scottish Executive Curriculum for Excellence from nursery to secondary stages, ensuring strength and consistency in learning and development as pupils seamlessly transfer from Nursery through Primary and onto Secondary. Fernhill School Primary Department offers a rounded and well-balanced curriculum, with the children enjoying lessons from specialist subject teachers as well as primary specialist teachers.
We use the school’s extensive grounds to provide pupils with modern 21st century education, underpinned by belief in traditional values. Our teachers help children develop their learning inside and outside of the classroom. Our private grounds and modern classrooms provide a range of teaching and learning opportunities for a diverse range of subjects.
Pupils’ progress is tracked and monitored using standardized testing in Reading, English and Mathematics. Parents receive progress reports on their children at four points throughout the year; two written reports and two parents’ evenings.
Learning continues with a programme of trips, visiting speakers, and theme days. The senior pupils benefit from a trip to Lockerbie Manor outdoor adventure centre and the pupils of Primary 7 often enjoy a city visit or foreign trip.
This nurturing environment affords your child the confidence to be the best they can be, offering them opportunities to show initiative, work with others, care for others and be leaders in their own right, preparing them for the future.
Faith and Sacraments
The simple unerring goal of Fernhill School is to nurture the God-given talents and skills of our pupils. All our staff work in partnership with our parents to provide an environment in which your son or daughter will develop academically, socially and personally.
We endeavour to foster and develop the potential, talents and ambitions of each boy and girl within a caring Catholic community characterised by attitudes of mutual respect, humility and personal responsibility. This encourages all of our young people to blossom and flourish personally, socially and academically within an overarching atmosphere of trust and personal dignity.
We continue to build self-esteem and confidence in pupils through the House System within the school which reinforces a sense of support and belonging. It encourages pupils to use their talents for their own benefit and for the benefit of their house. The Fernhill Family provides a nurturing and supportive environment for all of our young people.
Sport
Sports are an integral part of life in Fernhill School Primary Department. Physical Education in the Primary Department is delivered by specialist Physical Education staff. Teaching sports and active lifestyles in an enthusiastic and stimulating manner improves the health and wellbeing of all of our pupils and will encourage them to maintain healthy habits into adulthood.
Our sports programme contains a variety of activities including hockey, rugby, gymnastics, dance, netball, athletics, football, tennis, swimming and much more. Pupils can participate in inter-house and inter-school sports fixtures throughout their time in primary. Further information can be found in our dedicated Sports section on the website.
