Buckstone Primary School

Buckstone Primary School, situated on the south east of the Buckstone Estate, flanked on one side by woods and Mortonhall Golf Club, was opened on the 19 April 1977 and has become the focal point in the community.

A large extension to the school was opened in January 1985. An additional class was built in the summer 2000 also the refurbishments of some classes were completed. The buildings are semi open-plan in design; all classrooms are carpeted and open out to three main multi-purpose areas.

Toilet and cloakroom facilities are within the areas. There is a well equipped hall/gymnasium, a library, resource room and a music room.

A new extension to replace the transportable units was built in 2003. The school is non-denominational and co-educational for pupils from Nursery to Primary 7.

In 2013 we were successful in our application for a Grounds for Learning grant and have developed our outdoor area considerably since then! We regularly incorporate outdoor learning into our learning and teaching throughout the school, providing stimulating and engaging activities outdoors which link to our classroom activities.

A school is much more than a building; it is a caring community of adults and children working together.We strive to create a secure environment in which every child feels happy, confident and valued as an individual.We aim to equip learners with knowledge and skills for life and to encourage each child to develop his/her abilities to the full.

At Buckstone Primary School we want to support every pupil to leave school equipped with the skills for learning, life and work that they need for a successful future in a global society.

We believe that positive relationships between staff and pupils leads to better behaviour and better learning and so we strive to create an ethos whereby everyone in the school community feels valued, included, respected and trusted. Good behaviour is necessary in school to enable us to function smoothly and efficiently. At Buckstone Primary School we aim to provide a happy, caring, and secure environment for the pupils in our care and expect pupils, parents and staff to be tolerant, polite, courteous, and to show respect for others and their property.

We promote positive behaviour through the curriculum and through our insistence on high standards of work and respect and consideration for others. We aim to foster responsible citizens, effective contributors, successful learners and confident individuals. The interpersonal skills the school promotes are honesty, fairness, tolerance and trust. We recognise that positive behaviour is part of the personal and social development of our pupils and is necessary not only for their safety and well-being, but for their learning and attainment too.

We take, wherever possible, a non-punitive approach to resolving issues between pupils, preferring to restore good relationships where there has been conflict or harm. Through our Emotional Health & Well-being curriculum and through whole school assemblies, we endeavour to develop a school ethos, policies and procedures that reduce the possibility of such conflict and harm. By so doing, pupils’ understanding of the consequences of problematic behaviour is developed as they come through the school, resulting in fewer incidents. Pupils are listened to and supported to reflect on incidents.

At Buckstone Primary School we believe in a positive and pro-active approach to discipline through the use of Together Time. Together Time plays a big part in our Resilience (Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical Wellbeing) programme of Study.

The school is committed to promoting equalities, inclusion and diversity and ensuring there is no discrimination in the application of our procedures. Our ethos is inclusive, with cultural differences in behaviours taken into account. Due regard is also given to the implication of a pupil’s disability in the design and implementation of this policy and procedures regarding behaviour management.