Junior School
One of Edinburgh’s top private primary schools, Loretto Junior School gives children ages 5-12 an ideal start to formal education.
Days Full of Opportunity
So, what is a typical day at Loretto Junior School?
While no two days are really ever the same, registration always starts in classrooms at 8.20am, although pupils can also drop into Breakfast Club from 7.45am, by arrangement. The class teachers begin by making sure that the class is ready for the day ahead, helping the children to check timings for any extra lessons, such as Music and Support for Learning. Lessons begin at 8.30am in all year groups.
During the school week, class teachers lead lessons which encompass the core curriculum areas of Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Social Studies, Technology, Health and Wellbeing, Religious and Moral Education. Specialist teachers deliver lessons in French, Art, Dance, Drama, Music, and Sport for each year group. We have a weekly Junior School Assembly and separate, age-appropriate assemblies for children in the Early Years and Year 4-7 classes. We particularly enjoy walking over to the Senior School for our special services in the Chapel.
An important part of the school day is lunchtime, when children are served nutritious hot lunches in our dedicated Junior School Dining Room.
The Pre-School day finishes at 3pm, with optional Twilight sessions and tea being available until 6.30pm. The Early Years children finish at 3.15pm, with a selection of activities running until 4pm. Optional sessions for after school club and tea are available until 6.30pm and coordinate with the school bus routes.
Children in Year 4-7 finish school at 3.45pm, with activities running from 4-5pm, a supervised prep session from 5-6pm and tea available from 6 -6.30pm. The full school day is included within the Year 4-7 school fees, giving families much-appreciated flexibility around pick-up times. The end of the day coordinates with the school bus routes.
On Saturday mornings, there are optional activities available for children in Years 4-7, which students can sign up for at the start of each term. There are also occasional sporting events for selected players, advertised well in advance. For pupils in Year 6 and 7 who choose to be in the Junior School musical, there are compulsory Saturday morning rehearsals that run from January to May. It is well worth being part of this annual extravaganza!
Discover Loretto for yourself by arranging a private visit, or download our prospectus here.
Our pupils are encouraged to be responsible, respectful and resourceful. We support them to actively engage with their learning and help them to develop a lively, enquiring mind. We include a wide variety of opportunities for physical development, through sports, forest school and outdoor learning. We champion the creative arts and provide targeted, specialist tuition across all age groups. Loretto children are proud of their school and are always happy to talk enthusiastically about their favourite activities.
Our staff are experienced and dedicated. They consistently demonstrate excellent subject knowledge and effective teaching skills, whilst prioritising outstanding pastoral care. Our small class sizes allow teachers to tailor the curriculum to the needs of their group. We have high aspirations and we ensure that each child makes appropriate academic progress, by discreetly monitoring and tracking their achievements. We actively challenge our more able pupils and we support those who need extra help and encouragement.
Our parents are as welcoming as the children. They represent a wide cross-section of professions, with each family contributing to the richness and diversity of our community. We benefit from a positive and supportive parental body who are frequently in attendance at performances, charity events and sports matches. Our parents recognise the benefits of the full Loretto journey, from age 3 to 18, and are consistently strong advocates for our all-round educational offering.
