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8 SCOTSMAN.COM !THESCOTSMAN INDEPENDENTSCHOOLS PROMOTEDCONTENT
ensure that the ethos of The Compass continues to flourish.
We greatly value contact with our parents and use the Seesaw app to send daily reports and photographs of what the children are up to, and suggestions as to how they can assist us.
Not surprisingly, for a school named The Compass, we provide many opportunities for children to be outside – we began our games and PE programme from the start of term and we make good use of our grounds for learning outdoors. This has been further enabled by the installation of a large covered area in
the playground, which allows us to be outside whatever the weather.
A key priority for us has been
supporting our children’s confidence and wellbeing as they return to school and it is great to see the beaming smiles and exuberance as they settle back with us.
THE SCOTSMAN Saturday 19 September 2020
MARK BECHER
MARK LAUDER
Covid-safe practices look like. Pupils have received a Welcome Back pack, with a washable facemask, hand sanitiser and a QR code to scan for virtual tours of the campus explaining the one-way system.
A new timetable has been introduced to reduce movement, with transition times between lessons. The beneficial eects of this are seen in increased eective contact time in lessons. There is also a revised games and activities programme which follows each governing body’s regulations.
Access to the campus is restricted to essential visitors by appointment.
We recognise that children will need both emotional and practical help coping with the return and we have put in place additional support, including training senior pupils to act as helpers and empahsising our “buddy” system that matches existing pupils with new starts.
have the benefit and wisdom from colleagues across the world, being part of a global network of more than 1,200 Steiner Waldorf schools. This has been valuable in helping us to consider their experience when developing our own new paths for learning.
Stringent measures have been implemented. Our whole school campus now has dedicated entrances and ecological sanitiser locations for dierent parts of the school.
Packed lunches replace school meals, prepared by senior pupils and run as
HEADMASTER,
THE COMPASS SCHOOL, HADDINGTON
HEADMASTER, STRATHALLAN SCHOOL
MARITAL STATUS Married CHILDREN Three daughters, aged 25, four and one
MAIN SUBJECT Primary education
At The Compass, we were delighted to welcome our children back to school this term. While the school operated very successfully during lockdown, there is no doubt that children thrive in each other’s company.
Of course, we have aimed to bring back children and sta as safely as possible and like all schools, we are following
the Scottish Government’s guidance. This involves staggered drop-o and collection times and break times; an ever- present emphasis on the importance of good hygiene and hand-washing, and a restriction on the number of visitors into the school.
This session, we have the highest pupil roll ever, but a school such as ours thrives due to its size – being relatively small, with just 139 pupils, means that our children become known to all members of sta and to each other.
However, the necessary separation of year groups from each other makes it more diicult for our school “family” to be together. Nevertheless, we hold regular mini-assemblies during the week to develop the children’s sense of belonging and to communicate key messages. These gatherings help to
MARITAL STATUS Married CHILDREN Two boys, aged 16 and 18 MAIN SUBJECT History
We were delighted to welcome back all our pupils. We made provision for pupils from overseas by opening early to allow them time to quarantine if necessary.
Over the summer, the school has made significant investment in its IT infrastructure. This ensures that we can run lessons online concurrently with in-person lessons for those who are absent. This will also allow us to respond to any locally imposed restrictions.
We have daily temperature checks for all sta, pupils and visitors; a regimented hygiene routine, including handwashing; strict protocols for drop-
o and pick-up for day pupils; whole year group “bubbles” for boarding, sport, music and extra-curricular activities; a one-way system on campus; social distancing in lessons, and regulated meal times.
We ran an induction process for all pupils, introducing how the campus now functions and what good
NICK BRETT
CHAIR OF COLLEGE, STEINER SCHOOL, EDINBURGH
CHILDREN Three
It’s been both sobering and
enlightening to look at our broad curriculum, strong community and child-friendly architecture through the prism of ensuring that the school remains a safe learning environment.
In Steiner education, we’re lucky to
CLIFTON HALL SCHOOL
LOCATION EDINBURGH
NUMBER OF PUPILS 420
AGE RANGE 3!18
CO!ED, DAY PUPILS
QUALIFICATIONS NATIONAL 5, HIGHERS, ADVANCED HIGHERS
Clifton Hall School is an all-through school, where the individual character and self-belief of each pupil thrive, as a result of small classes and a non- selective admissions process. Built on a belief in both high academic standards and the importance of kindness and mutual understanding and co-operation, Clifton Hall ensures each student is valued, regardless of where their talent lies.
Clifton Hall allows a smooth transition between the stages of the child’s educational journey, avoiding the disruption caused by moving schools. In the Junior School, pupils are encouraged not just to learn but to think; critical thinking skills are core
to our educational programme. As well as a focus on numeracy and literacy, Junior School pupils’
experiences are enriched by specialist teaching in music, art, science, drama, PE, swimming, modern languages, IT, heritage and philosophy.
In the Senior School, students undertake 18 subjects in their first two years, narrowing to eight subjects in S3. The school delivers qualifications at all levels from National 5 to Advanced Highers and courses run even if only one pupil wishes to undertake them.
With educating the whole child at Clifton
Hall’s heart, the extra-curricular oering is just
as important. Sta strive to instil a positive
and competitive spirit underpinned by good sportsmanship. All pupils develop an understanding of what it is to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Students leave Clifton Hall as confident young people, comfortable with learning and with an ability to participate eectively as a member of a team. As one Sixth Year said: “I came to Clifton Hall broken and I leave it fully repaired.” There can be no greater recommendation than that.
www.cliftonhall.com
If you can dream it, you can do it
CLIFTON HALL SCHOOL
Where everyone counts
Newbridge, Edinburgh EH28 8LQ • Tel: 0131 333 1359 oce@cliftonhall.org.uk • www.cliftonhall.com