Oxgangs Primary School

A very warm Oxgangs welcome to all new parents and pupils; we are delighted that you will be joining our school community.We aim to provide a caring environment where children feel happy, safe, respected and included. We recognise that every child is different and we aim to provide challenging and stimulating experiences which meet, as far as possible, the individual needs of each child.

We believe that the links between home and school should be strong and we welcome parents and members of the wider community into school at any time to help and support the children in a variety of ways.

Our Vision:

• A welcoming, caring, safe and stimulating environment.
• A challenging, motivating, creative and fun curriculum/
• Everyone valuing each other and striving for excellence.
• Caring for the local environment, the wider community and our planet.
• An inclusive school with equal opportunities for all.
• Healthy and positive lifestyles.
• High expectations of behaviour and learning.

We are committed to supporting the development of the whole pupil and as a result, wish to encourage their development in spiritual, moral, social and cultural terms.

These key human aspects of learning are supported through the following arrangements by:-

• Creating a school ethos which, in every way possible, gives value to these aspects of development, especially by providing an overall atmosphere that is both caring and challenging and which provides opportunities for the development of personal responsibility.
• Promoting social and moral learning through the way in which disciplinary issues are handled.
• Ensuring that staff and adults within the school provide positive models for pupils.
• Arranging regular gatherings of the school as a community and using such occasions to encourage and reinforce the values on which the school is based.
• Enriching the curriculum in all appropriate areas with an emphasis on spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
• Providing opportunities within the curriculum to advance personal and social development.
• Providing a programme of religious education in which consideration will be given to responses to basic questions relating to the meaning, value and purpose of human life.
• Providing a programme of moral education.
• Taking every appropriate opportunity to acknowledge, value and appreciate the various cultures and heritage of the pupils and to encourage them to appreciate and value the cultures and heritage of others.

We wish to encourage a partnership with you to ensure the best possible standards of pupil behaviour. At Oxgangs we have very high standards of behaviour. Pupils are expected to follow the school and classroom charters. Our Behaviour policy is available on the school website or on request from the school. Racist and discriminatory incidents are recorded by the Head Teacher in line with City of Edinburgh Council policy.

At Oxgangs Primary School we are proud to be a Rights Respecting School. That means that we put the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of everything we do. A Rights, Respecting School not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all relationships. We use restorative approaches to create a positive learning environment where pupils have the necessary skills to self-regulate their own behaviour and learning. In situations of conflict pupils are given the opportunity to share concerns, reflect on behaviours and agree solutions.

We welcome parental involvement as research has shown that when parents are involved children do better in school. At Oxgangs Primary we believe that we are partners in your child’s education and we welcome your involvement and expertise. There are many ways to get involved in the life of the school.