Our Curriculum

To aid transition from Nursery to Lower School we have implemented our ‘Early Excellence’ phase where pupils develop skills and knowledge to unlock their academic potential and enhance their social and emotional development. Our Primary 1 and 2 classes share dedicated spaces which are designed with a considered layout and provision to match the needs of our youngest Lower School pupils.

Topics at this stage include Who Am I?, Time Travellers, The Magic Toymaker, Senses, We are what we eat, Time Travellers, Push me, Pull you and Flowers and Insects.

Outdoor Learning is an important component of our curriculum with a dedicated teacher working with our pupils to ensure that they get the most from the fun trips and visits linked to the topics they are exploring. In addition, our pupils enjoy the benefits of sessions from specialist teachers in French, Music and PE. 

We build upon the knowledge and skills developed in Early Excellence with more subjects added into the curriculum, including Computer Science and swimming is introduced for a term. Topics include; Shaping up, What’s on the menu, Water- on Tap, Buddhism and Hinduism, and experiments relating to the body, food and water.

From Primary 3 our pupils visit our Science Labs, with their work culminating in a Science Fair where parents are invited to come in and learn from their child about their scientific discoveries. 

Primary 4 offers a varied and interesting mix of exciting new activities and topics and computing skills are further developed.  Topics include; Chocolate, Islam: Different Places, Similar Lives, and Temples, Tombs and Treasures.

Learning is brought to life with industry experts sharing their knowledge. For the ‘Temples, Tombs and Treasures’ topic, we welcome an Egyptologist who brings storytelling, workshops and artefacts into the classroom.

For our ‘Different Places, Similar Lives’ topic we have a video call with a school in Uganda and Hungary so pupils can hear directly from peers in other countries allowing them to get an understanding of what it is like and helping to embed learning in a much more meaningful way. 

With the introduction of new technology, languages (Spanish) and residential trips, our Primary 5 pupils are given a little more independence and choice.

Music, PE, Art, French and Spanish are all taught by specialist teachers. Topics include; The Holiday Show, Extreme Survivors; The Great, the Bold and the Brave; Fit for Life, and Living and Growing.

Where possible we use experiential learning and with our  ‘Extreme Survivors; The Great, the Bold and the Brave’ topic, our pupils visit Loch Muick and learn about what to pack for outdoor excursions to help consolidate their learning.

From Primary 5 pupils are given their first experience of a residential trip, building their independence in Alltnacriche (Aviemore) during Activities Week, a trip that is extended for Primary 6. 

Our curriculum continues to build on knowledge and skills developed with an extended residential trip as well as extra opportunities to take part in writing competitions and maths challenges to really stretch our pupils’ knowledge and confidence.

Some of our pupils’ IPC learning is taught in French or Spanish to give a deeper linguistic understanding and to create a context for language learning. Music and drama are also key and every pupil has the amazing opportunity to take part in a production alongside members of the Scottish Opera.

Topics here include; The Victorians, Go with the Flow, and Fairgrounds, with trips and visits organised to help bring their learning to life. Every year our P6 pupils love to go on a Victorian walking trip around Aberdeen led by the Aberdeen Urban Studies Trust.

Meaning ‘passing’ or ‘crossing’, Transitus allows pupils the opportunity to cross over to Upper School which helps integrate our Lower and Upper Schools more closely and also provides a more seamless transition into S1 the following year.

Over the course of the year, your child will build the bridge between their primary and secondary years by beginning to experience the new routines of Upper School. They will have a Form Teacher to oversee and coordinate their P7 experience and will learn Maths from specialist teachers. Our Transitus pupils benefit from this head start in understanding the expectations in Upper School and it gives them time to explore distinct subjects to discover what they enjoy.

Topics include; Space Explorers, World War II and Mapping Skills. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to embark on a residential trip to Normandy in France to consolidate their learning of World War II. They visit the sites associated with D-Day, experience French cuisine, visit Mont St Michel and practice their French speaking skills that they have developed since P3.