Our Curriculum

The Creative Arts are at the heart of our school where creativity, experimentation and self-expression are encouraged. We nurture imagination, expression, and artistic excellence. Whether composing music, performing on stage, or producing visual masterpieces, our pupils develop confidence, creativity and technical skill. Through Music, Drama, and Art, we celebrate individuality, foster collaboration, and inspire every learner to find, and share, their unique voice in exam courses, school productions/shows and co-curricular activities.

In Art and Design, pupils access a wide variety of mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, stained glass design, interior/fashion textiles and graphic design. There are also opportunities for pupils to partake in creating sets and props for dramatic and musical productions.

Music develops creativity through performance, composition and theory, with opportunities to join choirs, orchestras and ensembles. We are immensely proud of the large number of very talented musicians we produce. From the age of 3 years, pupils begin with learning the fundamentals of rhythm and sound then move on to instruments such as the recorder, keyboard, tuned percussion and ukulele, giving them a wide base of relevant musical skills. 

Drama enables pupils to build confidence, communication and storytelling skills, whether performing on stage or studying Drama as an academic subject. By placing themselves in someone else’s shoes for a few moments pupils learn to imagine how that person would be feeling at that time, teaching them empathy and tolerance for others. Drama also teaches our pupils to be confident speaking in public, an attribute which is invaluable in the business world. Our Drama department teaches using both practical and theory-based methods, with our children critically analysing some of the greatest theatrical works and our small class sizes allow for plenty of time to nurture the individual talents of our pupils.

Our English curriculum aims to foster a lifelong love of literature and language. Through the study of classic and contemporary texts, pupils sharpen their critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. Whether analysing a play or crafting persuasive essays, we empower learners to express themselves with clarity, confidence, and imagination both in the classroom and beyond.

Outside of the day-to-day work of the classroom our pupils are able to experience talks and workshops from best-selling authors as well as trips to the theatre to see plays brought to life. Personal reading is encouraged through close links with the school library, reading programmes and extra-curricular book groups, as well as annual participation in the Grampian Children’s Book Award.

Through co-curricular clubs, a variety of opportunities mean interested pupils can develop their poetry or creative writing skills or hone their skills in debating, for example.

The ability to speak and understand other languages is truly a life-enhancing skill.  Culturally, it can open a window onto other worlds, while academically it can help to increase mental agility and improve problem-solving skills.

Whether mastering French, Spanish, German, or Latin, pupils build linguistic confidence and cultural awareness through immersive, dynamic learning. We aim to give our pupils the confidence to speak the language and take risks in their learning so that they are not afraid to make mistakes, enabling them to communicate effectively, both for business and leisure, in the future.

A variety of co-curricular activities are offered in all languages and pupils have the opportunity to practise with our native French and German speaking language assistants. There is also a strong culture of mentoring, with pupils from the senior year groups helping younger pupils with their learning.

Through engaging lessons, authentic materials, and real-world practice, pupils develop fluency, intercultural understanding, and a global mindset.

We nurture logical thinking, precision, and problem-solving confidence essential for both academic success and real-world application. From foundation concepts to advanced theory, pupils are challenged to explore patterns, tackle real-world problems, and develop an analytical mindset.

All pupils study maths until they reach S5 when they have the choice of Higher or Advanced Higher in S6. Our ‘Open Door’ Policy ensures that pupils have access to teacher assistance when they would like and they can also attend Maths Clinic and Higher Maths Revision Day if they wish.

Beyond the classroom, pupils have the opportunity to compete in local and national competitions as well as attending maths events such as the UK Maths Trust Challenge, Senior Mathematical Challenge, Enterprising Maths, Maths in the Pipeline and Financial Maths.

Whether preparing for exams or embracing the beauty of mathematical thinking, we inspire learners to see maths as a powerful tool for understanding and shaping the world.

Our Faculty of Physical Education and Sport champions physical health, teamwork and lifelong wellbeing. From competitive fixtures to inclusive fitness, we offer a diverse programme that builds confidence, resilience, and leadership—on and off the field. Every pupil is encouraged to achieve their personal best and discover the joy of movement.

Pupils enjoy a broad range of opportunities from football and netball to athletics and swimming with chances to interact with other schools, locally, nationally and internationally through competitions and tournaments. Making use of onsite and offsite facilities allows a dynamic co-curricular offering varying from more traditional sports like hockey to golf and skiing.

Whether competing at high levels or discovering personal strengths, our aim is to help every pupil discover a lifelong appreciation for physical activity and the benefits it brings to mental and physical wellbeing.

From Chemistry to Computing, our Faculty of Science and Technology sparks curiosity and fuels discovery. Through hands-on experiments, real-world applications, and inspiring teaching, we empower pupils to question, investigate, and understand the world around them.

In our purpose-built Science block, pupils are inspired to explore the natural world with curiosity and confidence. From the intricacies of living systems in Biology, to the transformative power of Chemistry, and the fundamental laws of Physics, our dynamic curriculum blends hands-on experimentation with critical thinking. We nurture inquisitive minds, foster scientific literacy, and equip future innovators with the tools to understand, and change, the world.

Our Engineering and Computing Science curricula equip pupils with the skills to shape tomorrow’s world. Through hands-on projects, problem-solving challenges, and cutting-edge technologies, pupils learn to design innovative solutions and write intelligent code.  We foster creativity, resilience, and real-world readiness in every young engineer and digital thinker.

From our Formula 24 electric racing car creators to our e-sports masters, interest in all Science subjects is nurtured through our extensive co-curricular programme and participation in a wide variety of national competitions across all age groups.
 

Our Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities empowers pupils to ask big questions and think deeply about the world round them while equipping them with the knowledge and insight to navigate and shape an ever-changing world. We foster curiosity, critical thinking and a strong sense of global citizenship by connecting past and present events to real world issues.

Through engaging courses in Business Management, Economics, Geography, History, Modern Studies, and RMPS, pupils explore human behaviour, global systems, ethical questions, and social change. We foster curiosity, debate, and analytical thinking, preparing pupils to become informed, responsible, and visionary contributors to society.

There are opportunities to take part in exciting national competitions such as the Real Business Challenge, Young Entrepreneurs or the Geography Quiz as well as many co-curricular activities such as Model United Nations.