Housed in distinctive, traditional buildings, the Primary School looks and feels like a substantial school in its own right while maintaining strong links with the Secondary school as an integral part of a 3-18 all-through school.
We have an enviable reputation for academic excellence and our aim is to create a positive learning environment which instils a genuine love of learning and one in which a strong work ethic and the desire to succeed are valued by all. Irrespective of when a child joins Hutchesons’, emphasis is firmly placed on fostering the ability to think independently and the resilience and self- confidence to meet challenges in his or her learning.
We are very fortunate to offer specialist teaching to pupils from a very early age. Our broad-based, balanced curriculum establishes firm foundations for future learning and from Primary 1 pupils benefit from specialist teaching in Art, Music and PE.
Pupils are supported in this by a highly professional, dedicated teaching staff committed to ensuring each child fulfills his or her potential. A number of our teachers work across both the Primary and Secondary schools which provides great continuity and challenge.
We believe that having access to specialist teaching from an early age benefits the children greatly and allows them to gain a greater depth of knowledge in the subjects. It also helps with the transition process from primary to secondary.
Pupils at Hutchesons’ develop a knowledge and understanding of the wider world through our Science and Social Subjects curriculum and, in addition, the school has an ICT specialist and a full-time librarian, rare assets in Primary education.
A range of Modern Languages is introduced from Primary 4 and these, combined with Latin in Primary 6 and 7, provide an excellent grounding for the study of English and Modern Languages in the transition to Secondary School.
At every stage, the formal curriculum is enhanced by a varied programme of educational visits, outdoor learning experiences at Hutchesons’ at Pollok Park, guest speakers and workshop activities.
The Library lies at the heart of the school, reflecting the importance we place on a love of reading and the written word. The library is an attractive, modern and welcoming area used for reading for pleasure, whole class and group project work and individual research.
The Library is staffed by a qualified teacher-librarian and is open to pupils daily from 8.30am and at lunchtimes. In addition, all classes from Pre-School to Primary 7 are timetabled to visit the library each week, giving children and teachers the opportunity to discuss books or carry out research.
The Primary Science Base was opened by Professor Williams in November 2017. The dedicated science area offers a superb climate for “hands on” experiments in a child-friendly environment. Pupils from P1-7 are encouraged to discover and explore science topics through an investigative curriculum. Our Primary science programme nurtures the children’s natural curiosity and wonder through active learning. We encourage questioning and the development of skills which teach how science works and why it is important to the world.
We benefit from excellent liaison with our Beaton Road Science Departments with input into lessons and visits to participate in experiments at the Senior School.
Each year we run a Science Week with visits from scientists to assemblies and to year groups. The children participate in a week of themed activities which includes building, trying experiments, testing hypotheses etc.
Technology Clubs are offered at lunchtime and give children the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of designing and making functional products.
The P6&7 Technology Clubs have constructed bike racks for pupils taking part in cycle training and made nest boxes which were sold at the Christmas Fair in aid of the school’s charity. Other projects have included designing and building a machine to test a way of moving tomatoes safely downhill without damaging them and building a working matchbox pinhole camera. All activities at these well-attended clubs help nurture creativity and innovation through design, and by exploring the designed and made world in which we all live and work.
The Primary curriculum is enriched through a wide variety of educational visits both within Glasgow and beyond. These range from the Scotland Street Museum and Science Centre to New Lanark, Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, and both Stirling and Edinburgh Castles.
The School actively encourages parental involvement in children’s learning and welcomes their participation in these visits.
One of the highlights of the children’s Primary School careers is the P7 Residential Visit to Newlands Adventure Centre in the Lake District.
The children are accommodated in a converted graphite mill, set in extensive grounds in the secluded Newlands valley, near Keswick. The visit usually takes place in June and, for four days, the children enjoy a range of challenging activities including climbing, abseiling, kayaking, ghyll scrambling, orienteering and high rope courses supervised by qualified instructors. Lasting friendships are made and it is ideal preparation for the children’s transfer to the Secondary school where greater independence is expected
