About our Lower School
Lower School Education at St George’s School
Our
Lower School provision (for 10 – 13 years olds), which is the equivalent of a middle school in other educational settings, is quite unique in
Edinburgh. A dedicated pastoral team and campus enable us to pay extra
attention to this vital transition point for the girls, ensuring a
smooth, happy and confident start to secondary education.
Transition Process for Lower School
At the end of Primary 5, girls from our Junior School naturally progress to St George’s Lower School, although new students can join at any time. In the Lower School (around 180 girls), girls have longer and fuller school days, allowing for more time to engage in a variety of activities.
Primary 6, Primary 7 (Remove) and Senior 1 (Lower 4) aged pupils are based in our historic Lansdowne building, surrounded by abundant outdoor space for play, quiet spaces for chats with friends or reading and downtime, and teaching spaces dedicated to this pivotal educational stage.
In Primary 6, pupils are still taught within a primary model, alongside all the added opportunities you would expect at St George’s: teaching from subject specialists in Music; Drama, Art; Sports; Languages and Computing; use of all senior facilities; and a vibrant co-curricular and trips programme.
Our pupils then begin their senior education a year earlier than most (during Primary 7) to establish strong foundations in subject skills and knowledge which serve them particularly well as they move to Upper School, two years later, at the end of Senior 1 year.
The unique attention we place on these crucial three years means your daughter receives truly specialised pastoral care, based on our deep knowledge of girls’ needs at this age. The girls have the freedom to enjoy play, being young and discovering all the opportunities that school offers, as well as the chance to use their voice in leadership roles that are unavailable in more traditional school models.
Strong, meaningful links with our Upper School enables the girls to benefit from having fabulous older role models while still looking forward to ‘stepping up’ whenever they’re ready…
An introduction to Lower School
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Unique Edinburgh School Campus
Based on a single 15-acre parkland campus, St George's comprises two interlinking sites. The Lower School has its own dedicated buildings on Lansdowne campus which is opposite the main campus of the Upper and Junior School buildings.
Key features include modern science laboratories, a multi-purpose school hall, ICT rooms, food technology, music rooms, support for learning room and a well-stocked library.
All the school buildings are fully enabled for wifi connectivity in support of our digital learning strategy.
The Lower School shares design and technology, dining facilities, art studios, the music centre and a large sports hall and sports grounds with the rest of the school.
We provide a menu of hot, healthy, delicious lunches for our pupils to choose from and enjoy in the St George’s Centre.
Outdoor Spaces and Learning
An extensive range of outdoor spaces like the bio-diversity pond outdoor learning area offers exciting and stimulating areas, serving as outdoor classrooms providing valuable outdoor learning experiences. During break time, the girls have attractive grounds and plenty of space to play in and freedom to enjoy being young girls with ample outdoor play equipment, a climbing Trim Trail and multi-use all-weather play areas.
Leadership Opportunities and Student Voice
Student voice and individuality are encouraged throughout the school. In Lower School, we have our own Head Student and Deputy Head Student, student council and student committees. In addition, there are form captains, news reps, charity reps, House captains and Lower 4 Champions roles.
Video Resources
