Dunedin School

[EduCativ]

Dunedin School is a small independent school providing education for young people experiencing a range of social and emotional difficulties. The school was established as The Dunedin Co-operative in 1979 and operated out of Millar Hall. In 2000, the school became a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered charity in Scotland.

Dunedin is a “second chance” secondary school located in Edinburgh, which provides exceptional learning services for young people for whom mainstream education is not appropriate or who need a time out from mainstream education. Many pupils arrive having experienced failure perhaps as a result of medical concerns, additional support needs, or personal, social, or emotional problems. At Dunedin school our prime concern is to care for each child by providing structured, yet flexible, learning opportunities in a safe and supportive environment.

The refurbishment of Liberton Bank House as the new Dunedin School was made possible by many generous donations from many supporters. We have created a fully functioning school for 21 pupils with individual needs. We now have 5 teaching rooms that incorporate space for home economics, IT, sciences, library, art, languages, music, history, geography, and a whole range of other activities. Also, we have an administrative space, secure storage, and a garden that is becoming tremendous teaching and learning resource.

It is central to the Dunedin ethos that, irrespective of a pupil’s previous learning experiences, the individual placed at Dunedin should benefit from tailored teaching in a supportive environment. It is a guiding principle of the school that a high priority is placed on meeting the needs of, and nurturing, the individual. For this reason, the teachers exercise a more flexible and more mutually collaborative and cooperative way of working than would be the norm in a mainstream school.

Dunedin endeavors to provide structured yet flexible learning opportunities tailored to the individual, in a welcoming, sympathetic environment that promotes learning and enables each young person to realize his or her potential.

The Aims of the School:

• To encourage pupils to recognize Dunedin as a “second chance” school where they will be respected as the individuals they are
• To support pupils in developing self-respect, self-confidence, and self-worth
• To foster in pupils mutual trust and tolerance of others
• To reintroduce pupils to a holistic educational environment
• To provide a broad and appropriate curriculum
• To encourage a positive attitude to learn
• To motivate pupils to aspire to their full potential and, where appropriate, to present them for formal qualifications and/or exams
• To support pupils to move on to appropriate and sustainable destinations

Every pupil has access to instant and constant support. While each pupil is cared for by all staff, the school operates a tutor system which means that each pupil is allocated to a particular member of staff who is responsible for their overall pastoral care. The staff works closely with outside agencies, for example, Educational Psychologists, Social Workers, and any other professionals who play a part in caring for each child. Every pupil at the school has the opportunity to attend a planning or review meeting at least once in the year, and for more senior pupils who are preparing to move on from school, these meetings are often more frequent.

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