Hermitage Park Primary School

Hermitage Park Primary School is a non-denominational school. Consideration and tolerance for the beliefs of others is central to all we do.

Hermitage Park Primary is the first school in Edinburgh to receive the level 3 Schools of Co-operation award. This award was given to us by the Co-Operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) and was awarded after a presentation by the Pupil Council to Morag Pendry and Hugh Donnelly.

To become a school of co-operation we had to democratically select and implement a co-operatively led school project chosen by the pupils and show increased awareness of co-operative values and principles (caring for others; democracy; equality; honesty; openness; self-help; self-responsibility; social responsibility; solidarity). We follow and promote these values in school and cover them in whole school house meetings every month.

Our children are encouraged to ‘be all they can be’ both in the area of academic achievement and in terms of their development as people.In order to achieve this, the staff works together as a team, guiding each child through a planned curriculum, which has been designed to cope with their age and abilities.Our children are taught that our rules can be summed up in one motto: “Be Kind and Be Fair”. Everyone at Hermitage Park, staff and pupils follow this basic rule.

We wish to encourage a partnership with you to ensure the best possible standards of pupil behaviour.We aim to create a positive ethos throughout the school, encouraging our children to develop good self esteem and thus promoting positive behaviour.

Extra curricular activities are available for pupils after school. Parents will be informed about these by the school. In addition to in-school activities, classes also make regular educational visits and field studies. These visits are linked to pupils’ class work.

We place a high priority on the well-being and safety of our pupils. To this end we have in place a personal safety programme to give pupils knowledge and life skills to keep them safe from all form of abuse. Where we have concerns that a child about the possible abuse of pupils we are required to follow the Edinburgh and the Lothian’s Inter-Agency Child Protection Procedures which set out the specific duties and responsibilities towards the child and their parents/carers.

We place a high priority on the well-being and safety of our pupils. To this end we have in place a personal safety programme to give pupils knowledge and life skills to keep them safe from all form of abuse. Where we have concerns that a child about the possible abuse of pupils we are required to follow the Edinburgh and the Lothian’s Inter-Agency Child Protection Procedures which set out the specific duties and responsibilities towards the child and their parents/carers.

Hermitage Park Primary School is committed in our duty to eliminate discrimination, victimisation and harassment, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations.This school recognises that children are born with an urge to become independent and capable and that an ethos of inclusion with emphasis on positive relationships and behaviour is important. Whole school supportive approaches contribute to positive relationships and help to create a positive environment for all children and young people.

The purpose of this procedure is to provide clear guidance for staff in our school and assist partnership work with parents on the management of Better Relationships, Better Learning, Better Behaviour using these supportive approaches.

The school wishes to engage directly with parents and carers to foster a positive environment, maintain a consistent message and develop shared values and excellent home/school communication. We welcome parents/carers approaching the school to make an appointment with the class teacher in the first instance at the earliest opportunity if they have any concerns. Similarly, the school will keep parent/carers informed of any incidents at school regarding their children.