We’re ready to welcome all our pupils back on August 17th

We’re following all Government guidelines. Maximum physical distancing, one-way systems, pupil bubbles and blocks and enhanced safety and hygiene measures are all in place, and we’ve made a range of other alterations and arrangements for our pupils and staff.

In addition, our Return to School plans have been developed to enable us to cater for a number of scenarios, in the event that Government guidance around schools changes. We are prepared for:

• A return to normal classes, with enhanced safety and hygiene measures in place;
• All our pupils to be in attendance, full-time, 5-days-a-week with 2m distancing;
• All our pupils to be in attendance, full-time, 5-days-a-week with 1m distancing;
• The best possible online learning and teaching if there is a return to lockdown

We are delighted to have been able to share with our pupils and parents our full, detailed Return to School guides, a summary of which can be seen above.

In order to comply with the Scottish Government's current guidelines on the opening of schools, we have had to make changes to the way the Senior Years and Junior Years school day is organised. The detailed guides clarify the changes and, we hope, offer reassurance that the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is our top priority.

For a number of reasons, some pupils may be learning from home when we reopen on August 17th and they will continue with our live lessons, with a place kept for them in the classroom so that they can return when they are able to do so.

Tailored induction programmes are taking place for pupils in L1 (P1), Form 1 (S1) and Form 6 (S6) this week to help our young people feel comfortable as they begin key stages of their school lives. Four staff In Service Days are also taking place to ensure that our staff are fully confident with all the new arrangements and can welcome your children back into the adapted environment of the High School.

Rector Lise Hudson said, "We have been working extremely hard for a number of months to ensure the best possible environment for the return to school. We have missed having our young people in school so much over the past 5 months and we can’t wait to welcome our returning pupils back and to give a very warm welcome to all our new pupils.  

“We will be following government guidance and closely monitoring the situation with Covid-19 in the weeks and months ahead. The safety and wellbeing of every one of our pupils and our staff remains our top priority.”