Pilrig Park School

Pilrig Park Special School, situated in the Leith area of Edinburgh, delivers education for secondary school pupils experiencing complex long-term additional support needs from S1 to S6. We aim to provide appropriate opportunities for all our young people to achieve within a nurturing and stimulating environment. The school works effectively with partners and the wider community to ensure that every pupil has flexible, personalised pathways to develop knowledge, understanding and skills for learning, life and work.

We have an active Parent/Carer Council who support us with our work. Another key strength of the school is our multi-agency approach to supporting our learners. Staff work closely with educational psychologists, the additional support for learning service, the CAMHS learning disability team, social work, allied health professionals and third-sector partners in order to meet the needs of all our pupils. Through our positive, empowering and inclusive ethos, we are committed to enabling our young people to be the best they can be by raising attainments and promoting achievements. This aspirational vision is shared by our families and our community and is very much part of our everyday practices.

A broad, challenging and relevant curriculum is offered to 95 pupils from 12 – 18 years of age. Pilrig Park School links with other main stream and special schools to access areas of the curriculum. The school meets the additional support needs of young people with complex needs including Autism. All pupils have Individualised Educational Programmes, with targets set in Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing.

In August 2010 a class was opened for children with Autism. The room was funded by the Wooden Spoon Charity and matched by funding from the City of Edinburgh Council.

The school has a clear rationale based on the school’s shared vision of working together to inspire learning and help to shape the future.

A broad and general education is provided for all young people from S1-S3 and there is range of flexible progression routes into the senior phase to meet the needs of all young people. High priority is given to providing enjoyable and challenging learning in a range of RELEVANT and MOTIVATING contexts which develop the skills for the 21st century.

Young people have an extensive range of opportunities to learn across the four contexts of the curriculum including curriculum areas and subjects, interdisciplinary approaches (IDL), the local community and rich opportunities for personal achievement for young people across all stages. The promotion of Health and Wellbeing underpins much of the curriculum to provide a SUPPORTIVE and INCLUSIVE learning environment.

A key strength of the school’s curriculum is the extensive range and high quality of contributions from partners which provide inspirational learning experiences for young people. The school has developed a comprehensive and strategic approach to providing a progressive IDL framework across the school.

Every young person in the Senior Phase of school achieves SQA certification. We offer a huge range of choice within our Senior Phase including choice around vocational studies: skills for life and work. We have our own salon, painting and decorating hub, a working and well-resourced café and a strong gardening department. In all of these areas we offer a wide range of certification ranging from National one to National five. Over the past two years we have increased our total presentations in SQA by 531% and also increased our curricular range by 170%. These figures compare very favourably across the City of Edinburgh and also nationally.

We try never to lose sight of the fact that the rationale behind all that we do is to prepare all of our young people for life beyond school and we are extremely proud of the fact that over the past four years we have achieved 100% success in positive post -school destinations.

Admission to the school is via a professional assessment group process. Liaison and support is shared with many agencies including Psychological Services, Health, Social Work, Careers, Employers and Further Education Colleges. We have both active Parent and Pupil Councils. Many partnerships have been formed which have enhanced the quality of support for learners and enriched learners’ experiences leading to a high quality of education.

The rationale behind all that we do is to prepare young people for life beyond school, encouraging independence, self-confidence, realistic attitudes to Further Education, work and leisure. Young people are encouraged to be active in their learning across the four contexts.