Holy Rood RC High School

Holy Rood High is a Roman Catholic secondary school 
situated on the edge of Holy Rood park, 
against a backdrop of Arthur’s Seat beside Duddingston Village.

At Holy Rood pupils are encouraged to be all they can be, 
in every sphere of school activity. We stress the importance of achievement 
in academic subjects, in sport, in expressive subjects and in every aspect of school life.

Holy Rood High School is a school that values high standards and achievement.

Young people are supported in their learning 
by a highly skilled and dedicated staff. Teachers, support staff, school chaplain 
and outside agency staff work together to provide a positive learning environment 
in which every young person can achieve his or her potential.

In Holy Rood you will discover we have a highly skilled and committed staff who often go beyond the call of duty for the benefit of pupils. Our teaching and support staff are talented professionals who work together as a unit to make sure that, with the help of parents, our young people give of their best. As a team we focus on learning and teaching and supporting pupils as they attain the best qualifications they can. However, just as important, is our focus on the wider achievement of pupils. We know our parents want their children to develop into happy, confident individuals who are fully prepared for their adult lives.

You will be happy to know that, in Holy Rood, we expect the highest standards from our pupils. We ask that parents help us to ensure our pupils rise to this challenge, especially in the areas of achievement, attainment, attendance, behaviour and dress code. As a Catholic school, our values are firmly based on ‘A Charter for Catholic Schools in Scotland’. At the heart of these values lies a respect for the dignity of the individual and so we pride ourselves on being inclusive and respectful of all who form our community.

We, the community of Holy Rood High School, Inspired and helped by the Holy Spirit, Aim to work together to build an inclusive community based on the Christian values of love, forgiveness and justice. In doing so, we hope to promote the spiritual, intellectual, moral, physical, emotional wellbeing and social development of everyone in our school community

We aim in our relationships to show the highest level of care and compassion for one another based on mutual respect and support. We recognise, respect and celebrate the wonderful religious, cultural and social diversity we have within our school community. We will celebrate and give thanks for each other, especially in prayer and in the Eucharist.

We aim to deliver high standards of effective learning and teaching, in a supportive and nourishing environment to enable all pupils to develop positive attitudes towards learning, achieve their full potential, develop self worth and build the resilience and self awareness required for life. We will provide the pastoral and chaplaincy support which underpins academic achievement for all.

We aim to strengthen our relationships with the families, parishes, primaries and the local and global communities we are part of, to enable us to enrich the experiences that we offer our pupils and to celebrate and share our pupils’ gifts, talents and successes for the benefit of others.

We aim to provide high quality leadership at all levels in our school community. We aim to offer everyone who comes to our school generous hospitality and a welcome that reflects our vision of the God-given dignity of all.

Gospel values underpin the life and work of Holy Rood. We pride ourselves on being a truly inclusive comprehensive school with a strong focus on the dignity of the individual. We aspire to support our pupils as they develop into resilient, well-rounded, caring and successful young adults who are well prepared for the next stage of their lives. In Holy Rood pupil achievement is recognized and celebrated so that our young people develop a sense of fulfilment that they can build upon in the future.

We aim to develop a partnership with parents/ carers to achieve the best possible standards of pupil behaviour. Holy Rood pupils show respect for others, and high standards of behaviour are expected. In Holy Rood there is a Code of Conduct which has been developed to help pupils know and understand what is expected of them.