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Leith Primary is an amazing and historic building right on the edge of Leith Links. The school truly reflects its catchment area. We are proud of the diversity of the children and families we serve. We are proud of the quality of education we provide for all children. We have an excellent record of providing care, support, and challenge for all pupils. We promote positive behavior, respect for all and encourage a positive attitude to learn. If you would like to see more please arrange a visit through the office. The origins of the school go back to the 15th century. The present site has been the location of the school since 1806. The present building, opened in 1898, is the second to stand on this site and originally provided education for children up to 14. Leith Primary School is very much part of the local landscape. Topped proudly as it is by a ship, a reminder of Leith’s maritime past, it is a well-recognized landmark. We are very fortunate to have access to an area of Leith Links just in front of the school. In 1998 the school celebrated our Centenary with several special events. Inside there are tall staircases, long corridors, and high ceilings where many of the original Victorian features are still in evidence. Although the fabric of the building is over 100 years old, the classrooms are large and light. In 2014 the School gym hall and Nursery in the Duncan Place Annex were closed. The new Gym Hall and Nursery will be opened at the end of January 2018. Leith Primary aspires to be: An inclusive school that lies at the heart of the diverse community of Leith. A school that creates the conditions for learners to achieve their highest potential with an innovative and inspirational curriculum. A modern learning environment that is used flexibly and creatively. A school that encourages all children to be responsible global citizens. A school that involves children, parents, and staff, with an ethos of collaboration and sharing, listening and acting on feedback but also developing leadership. Taking care of our children’s well-being and making sure they are alright – even before they are born – helps us ensure the most positive outcomes for them later in life. It gives them the potential to grow up ready to succeed and play their part in society. Our school adopts the Getting it right for every child in Edinburgh approach to give the right help to children, young people, and families when they need it from a joined-up multi-agency team. Getting it right for every child is the foundation for work with all children and young people, including adult services where parents are involved. It builds on universal health and education services and is embedded in the developing early years and youth frameworks. Developments in the universal services of health and education, such as Better Health Better Care and Curriculum for Excellence, are identifying what needs to be done in those particular areas to improve outcomes for children. We place a high priority on the well-being and safety of our pupils. To this end, we have in place a personal safety program to give pupils knowledge and life skills to keep them safe from all forms 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. View full school

Leith Academy is a six-year, comprehensive, community school, with almost 1000 pupils and over 2800 (part-time) adults enrolled. It was built in 1991 and offers a wide range of learning opportunities in a modern, attractive environment. The school is committed to raising expectations and standards amongst our young people and adult learners. We also aim to provide opportunities that will enable learners to make the best of their skills, abilities, and talents and experience a sense of achievement. Our facilities and resources are modern and of a high standard, particularly in the area of ICT, which is an essential tool in learning today. We offer a positive learning environment and try to provide support and challenge in everything we do. Whilst academic achievement is important, we also emphasize extra-curricular activity and offer a wide-ranging program of sport, drama, and music. Facilities in these areas are also of a very high standard. In addition to the teaching of traditional subjects, we lay great emphasis on cross-curricular issues such as health, citizenship, enterprise, and the environment. All pupils are regularly engaged in activities and projects in these areas. Leith Academy has enjoyed a long history of successful learning and teaching. We aim to give an education just right for the age, interests, and ability of each child. An important part of our work is the creation of a positive learning environment and the development of a “success culture” in which each young person achieves her/his very best. Classroom subjects are offered at different levels and in groups designed to meet the widest possible range of abilities, interests, and career prospects. Formal education is only part of the story since we also accept some responsibility for the growth of character and personality in the young people in our care. We realize we are only one of the many influences at work on the young person of today. However, we see it as our duty to provide, through the curriculum, through extra-curricular activities, through the Pupil Support system, and through the general atmosphere of the school, an environment likely to encourage the growth of acceptable attitudes and personal qualities. We wish to encourage a partnership with you to ensure the best possible standards of pupil behavior. The disciplined structure is intended to provide a suitable framework for teachers and pupils to live and work together happily. This has to take place in a controlled atmosphere to allow learning and teaching to take place and to enable pupils to feel safe and secure. Pupils are expected to behave in a polite and considerate manner and to follow our Values and Codes of Behaviour, displayed clearly around the school. Class teachers are constantly trying to improve the effectiveness of learning and teaching at the school. We try to ensure that individual needs are met effectively through teaching approaches and class organization. Senior management and House Heads are always ready to help individuals We encourage pupils to develop their investigative skills, to work at a pace that suits them, and to learn from each other. Courses on thinking and study skills enable pupils to learn more effectively. We also want them to recognize achievement and success through progressive steps in a subject, rather than at one final examination hurdle. It is now widely recognized that pupils should be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their learning as they progress. Initiatives such as our home learning policy, study support provision, and Easter/Summer schools all have a part to play in this. At each stage, pupils take part in a program of Personal and Social Education which is intended to equip them to review their progress as individuals and plan for the future. They are encouraged to work with others to examine the information required to make successful personal decisions and to develop the effective communication and social skills essential for adult life. View full school

St Mary’s R.C. Primary School (Leith) is a happy, fun, exciting, and caring place where we can learn lots of new things for our future. At St. Mary’s we acknowledge that parents play an important part in their children’s education. Children do better and achieve more when parents and school work closely together therefore St. Mary’s values ‘Parental Involvement as an effective way of enhancing school achievements and promoting better ethos and communication. Our Vision is to allow all children to thrive in a safe environment that is conducive to creativity, individuality, and the acquisition of skills for learning in the 21st century. We wish to encourage a partnership with you to ensure the best possible standards of pupil behavior. Working together we can support all our children to show care and respect to others in all areas of school life. This behavior is central to the whole school ethos at St. Mary’s and all staff is committed to acting as role models for the children and supporting them, along with their families, in any way we can. Aims and Values: We care for one another in God’s name. We offer a great, fun, learning time for all. We are all confident leaders. We all have the opportunity to have the best learning possible in our classrooms and school. We celebrate and respect all people from our community. We support everyone whether they are happy or sad. We are a healthy, enterprising eco-school The school undertakes to do its best for all children in the school and to communicate and work as closely as is possible with parents to provide the best education, appropriate to the children’s individual needs. We offer opportunities for you to discuss your child's progress with teachers through arranged meetings. You will be advised when these meetings take place. Over and above these set meetings, parents are welcome to contact the school at any time to ask for information or an interview. Please see section two of this handbook for more details on home/school partnerships. Bringing learning to life and life to learning. Curriculum for Excellence has now been introduced across Scotland for all 3-18-year-olds – wherever they learn. It aims to raise standards, prepare our children for a future they do not yet know, and equip them for the jobs of tomorrow in a fast-changing world. Curriculum for Excellence emphasizes the value of an active learning approach. In the early years, children will have a range of learning experiences that include planned and purposeful play and stimulating learning which engages and challenges children’s thinking using real-life and imaginary situations. As children progress through school they continue to be involved in active learning experiences which are engaging and give them ownership of their learning. Co-operative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement. Students work through the assignment until all group members successfully understand and complete it. As a Catholic Primary School, Christianity and its values are central to the Ethos of the school. We follow the diocesan Religious Education program which includes the teaching of other World Religions. In Primary 3 parents are invited to ‘opt in’ to the preparation for the sacraments and these sessions will take place after school. We welcome the celebration and discussion of other faiths and emphasize the importance of celebrating together and learning from one another. View full school