Background Information

Aberchirder Primary School is situated in the village of Aberchirder nine miles from Banff and Huntly, six miles from Turriff and forty two miles from Aberdeen.  The village enjoys a rural setting near the River Deveron.  The school is nondenominational and the catchment area is Aberchirder and the surrounding countryside of an approximate five mile radius.

The school which faces south occupies an open situation to the north of the village.  It has light airy classrooms providing accommodation for seven primary classes, a music room, a general purpose room and a bright airy Nursery.  The school has a hall, library and dining area.  There are extensive grounds with grass, shrub beds and tarmac areas surrounded by trees.  The Nursery has its own dedicated outside area.

The school roll is currently 194 children including nursery.  The projected roll indicates an upturn over the next two years.

The school has seven full time equivalent staff as well as the Head Teacher and Nursery Teacher.   There are four PSA staff and four nursery nurses, a school administrator, one clerical assistant, a janitor, kitchen and cleaning staff.

On leaving Aberchirder Primary most pupils transfer to Banff Academy.  A few go to Huntly and Turriff as out with zone admissions.

Aberchirder School enjoys pro-active relationships with the Academy and other Primary Schools in the network.  Network schools work collaboratively on curriculum and community initiatives.  The school manages its budget in line with Aberdeenshire Council Guidelines and priorities are identified as part of the school’s quality assurance process and are written in the School Improvement Plan.

The school has an active Parent Council with sub groups for Fund-Raising and are involved in, Eco-Schools, Rights Respecting Schools and Health Promotion groups.  Parents and the community support the academic and social life of the school with input into curriculum projects, fund raising for bus trips and school equipment and participation in evaluating the work of the school and agreeing improvement objects and new initiatives.  The school has a Pupil Council, Health Promoting School Group, Eco-School Group, Rights Respecting School Group and Citizenship and Enterprise Group and hosts a diverse range of extra curricular activities including, netball, basketball, ball skills, badminton, Street dance and football.  The school is regularly used for community activities 4 nights a week.