School Information

Click on the following links for details:

History of School

Annexe

Extra Curricular Activities

School Hours

School Rules

School Uniform

Absences and Security

Road Crossing Patrol

Travel Plan

Playground Supervision

Nursery Hours

Click on the album to see photos

of our school and surroundings

Melrose Primary School is a non-denominational primary school catering for children from ages four to twelve. The children are grouped in classes from Primary One (P1) to Primary Seven (P7). At present there are fourteen classes in school with a total roll of 339. Classes may be organised in single year groups or they may cover two year groups. Two year group classes are called 'composite classes'. There is a maximum number of twenty-five pupils in a composite class. Straight year groups do not normally exceed thirty pupils in P1-3 and thirty-three in P4-7.

The school nursery presently caters for fifty two 3 and 4 year old children in two groups (morning and afternoon).

The main school, built in 1990, is of open plan design with a good range of facilities and equipment. An extension, which has two classrooms and a nursery unit, was opened in 2001. To accommodate a rising role, further accommodation was required. In September 2004 three classes moved to the old school (now known as the Annexe) which is situated at the bottom of the playground. There are now five classes, with work going on to create another. Our ICT suite is also based in the Annexe. In 2007 the open plan design of the main building was altered to make more cellular classrooms. Work has taken place over the 2008 summer holidays to install a production kitchen in the school. Although most of the work has been completed, it will not be operational until sometime after the October holidays. This will enable meals to be cooked in the school. It is also intended to extend the annexe and work is currently being discussed with the Parent Council.

There is a tarred playground to the front and side of the school building. The Gibson Park, which is adjacent to the school, is available for supervised games and sports during school time but is usually out of bounds at playtimes.

Absences

If your child is ill, or is going to be absent from school for another reason, please let us know by telephone or verbal message first thing in the morning. Scottish Borders Council operates an absence notification system for all schools. Parents should follow our absence procedures by telephoning the school between 8am and 9am to explain absence (even if a child is going to be late).  We are trying to account for every child in the school and if we have an unexplained absence, then we will endeavour to contact the parents to establish that the child is safe. (See also our page on Security and Absences.)

School Closure

If school is to be closed due to severe weather or other circumstances we will do our best to let you know in advance. In cases of emergency a message will be broadcast on Radio Borders and the Radio Scotland local news bulletins, along with a helpline telephone number. Where possible, a message will also appear on the Home Page of this website.

In November 2003 the school was inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIe). A copy can be requested from the school, or is available online at http://www.hmie.gov.uk/institute.asp?typ=2&ins=7978.

Admission to School

Pupils are normally enrolled in November for admission to Primary One in August; their birth certificates and proof of address should be brought to school at the time of enrolment. Children should have reached the age of five by February 28th in the year following admission i.e. if a child will be five by February 2008 then he/she may start school in August 2007.

During the summer term prospective new entrants will spend some time in school with a Primary One teacher and an evening meeting will be held for parents.

Placing Requests

In normal circumstances pupils living within the school’s catchment area will automatically be given a place in school. Parents of pupils living outwith the boundaries should apply in writing if they wish to be considered for a place in school. This will depend on spaces being available in school and on there being no additional costs. Application forms and catchment area maps are available from the school office. (See also our downloads page.)

More information is in our School Handbook.

History of Melrose Grammar Primary School

Above the school entrance is a stone showing the coat of arms of Bishop Fletcher of Lismore, dated 1670. Bishop Fletcher, a Presbyterian Minister of the church of St Cuthbert in Melrose, provided a Melrose School Hall at his own expense. It is understood that the stone was at one time on a school which stood near the Abbey. The stone was transferred to Melrose Grammar School in 1877 and its present site in 1990.

The school traces its history to a Parish School which existed at the close of the eighteenth century, under the patronage of the Duke of Buccleuch. The old Melrose School, now the Education Centre, was built in 1877 following the passing of the Education Act in 1872. The building continued in use as a school until 1990, when the present building was opened. Since September 2004, three rooms are again being used as classrooms.