Schools

Annan Academy is a secondary school in Annan. The present school is the result of an amalgamation in 1921 of the original Annan Academy and Greenknowe Public School, although its history goes back to the 17th century.

The present Annan Academy resulted from the amalgamation in 1921 of Annan Academy, a Burgh controlled school which charged fees, and Greenknowe Public School which was controlled by the Dumfries Education Authority. The main site of the new amalgamated Annan Academy was the Greenknowe site, where the present school is situated.

The original Annan Academy was founded in 1802 and the history of the public school can be traced back to the 17th Century. Former pupils include Thomas Carlyle and former Depute First Minister, Jim Wallace.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Annan Academy which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Elmvale is a semi open plan school serving the town of Annan and the villages of Newbie, Back of the Hill and the surrounding rural area. A school bus transports pupils to and from Newbie.

There are visiting teachers for art, music, PE and Support for Learning.

There is a Parent Council and a PTA.

The school was inspected by HMIe during May 2000 and a follow-up visit during April 2002.

The school celebrated its 21st birthday in January 2002.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Elmvale Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Hecklegirth School was built in 1963 and has recently undergone major refurbishment. The school is situated in the centre of the town of Annan and lies adjacent to Annan Academy.

We create a positive ethos for learning and teaching, by promoting respectful relationships and creating a bright, informative and stimulating learning environment.  The school encourages parents, carers and the local community to become actively involved in the life and work of the school through workshops, Open Days, fundraising events, consultations with teachers, newsletters, working groups, business links and volunteering.  Our Parent Council and partner agencies work closely with the school to help promote an ethos of achievement for all.  

The school has generous grounds which are divided into a tarmac zone, a large grass field and two outdoor areas.  Access to the school is either via the footpath that runs between Solway Street and St. John's Road or through the John Bell Car Park on Solway Street.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Hecklegirth Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Newington Primary serves the north eastside of Annan and the surrounding area.

The school is organised into 15 classes and have their own Nursery and a Learning Zone as part of our school.

Excellent learning and teaching from a hardworking staff team is supported by visiting teachers of Art, Music and P.E. School staff offer an extensive range of extra-curricular clubs including a range of Sports, Choirs, Arts & Crafts and Music.

There are very supportive Parent Forums and Fundraising Groups.

Recent inspections by H.M.I.e and the Education Department have identified that pupils are achieving above regional and comparator levels in Maths and Language areas.

The school has a very positive ethos where all staff and pupils are viewed as part of the team.

Children in the school are provided with a Broad General Education and staff are supported by a number of other agencies.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Newington Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

St Columba's is the only Roman Catholic School in Annandale and Eskdale. The school itself is situated on Shawhill Road, at the northern end of the town of Annan.

The present school building was opened in September 1962, the location having moved from the old school in Scott's Street, which is now the Priest's house.

As a Catholic school there is no catchment area as such and the children come from the town itself and the surrounding villages.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for St Columba's RC Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Brydekirk Primary School serves the village of Brydekirk and the surrounding area.

Brydekirk Primary has been here since around 1890's. The P4-7 class area in use now and the General Purpose (GP) Hall were built during the early 1900s. At that time most of the pupils did not attend a secondary school but left Brydekirk and went directly into employment. The GP Hall was very useful for woodwork and domestic science classes.

A small part of the playing field near the GP Hall was also used as a garden area where the pupils planted and grew vegetables to be sold in the local community.

In the 1960s a toilet area was built onto the main school building and the outside toilet block was then demolished. In 1989-1990 Brydekirk Primary was refurbished. The pupils were decanted into a portakabin. The GP Hall, which was being used at that time as a dinner area, was used as class area. After the refurbishment the new class areas, new servery, office and staff room were completed.

The pupils have their lunch in the G.P. Room while the GP Hall is used as a resource for various activities, i.e., P.E., Drama, Music and for weekly assemblies. We are continuing to upgrade this area as an essential part of the school. During the Easter period of April 2003 a Disabled Toilet was fitted in the GP Hall.

The Local Authority provides a taxi service where the walking distance from home to school, by the shortest safe route, is more than two miles for children under eight years of age, and more than three miles for children who are eight years of age or over.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Brydekirk Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Situated approximately 10 miles from Dumfries town centre and 7 miles from Annan, off the A75 and on the Dalton, Ecclefechan B725, the school is bounded on two sides by the village and open farmland on the other two sides.

The school was officially opened in November 1974 and replaced a much older building in Dalton Village, serving Carrutherstown.

The school serves a very wide catchment area including the villages of Carrutherstown and Dalton and the surrounding rural areas. We are surrounded by the catchment areas for Brydekirk, Hoddam, Kettleholm, Hightae, Mouswald and Cummertrees.

Tarmac, paved and grassed play areas, as well as a football pitch offer ample space for outdoor activities. The grounds have been planted with trees and shrubs and a barked play area has also been provided. Much of this work has been carried out by pupils and parents.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Carrutherstown Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Cummertrees School is a well-established rural primary school. The existing school was originally built in 1905 to serve the communities of Powfoot and Cummertrees, and is situated between the two villages. More recently, its catchment area has grown to include Clarencefield, Ruthwell and the surrounding areas.

The school was refurbished to a high standard in 1993 and the building currently has 3 main classrooms, a General Purpose Room and a demountable classroom base.

Transport by private bus is provided for pupils living in the designated catchment area. Many others walk or cycle to school, especially in the summer months. Meals are made on the premises and all pupils stay for lunch, either enjoying the school meals or bringing their own packed lunch.

Most pupils move on to Annan Academy for their secondary education and the school has very strong primary/secondary links to facilitate the transfer.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Cummertrees Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Eastriggs Community School serves Eastriggs, Dornock and the surrounding rural area. The original building was opened in 1916, and was replaced with the present one in 1987.

The local hall was destroyed in a fire in the early 1980's and so the new school was built to serve the wider community as well as provide primary and nursery education.  School facilities include 8 classrooms, a large hall/dining area, Quiet Room and Resource Centre. The local community needs are met with an integral branch library and doctor's surgery and a wide range of evening activities are on offer through the local community learning service.

Members of the Parent Council and Parent Teacher Associations are very supportive and play an active role in school life.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Eastriggs Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Gretna Primary School serves the town of Gretna. The present school building was officially opened on 11 November 1982, since then a four class extension and purpose built nursery have been added.

The original building was designed in a semi-open plan format and as well as eleven teaching bases, has a quiet room and a large communal area which provides facilities for dining, physical education or auditorium purposes.

There is a very supportive Parent Council and the School Association organises excellent activities and fundraisers.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Gretna Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Hoddom Primary is in the village of Ecclefechan and serves the village, neighbouring Middlebie and the surrounding areas. Our nursery provides pre-school education for 6 feeder primary schools.

The present school was built in the late 1970s and was recently re-roofed and rewired. It is of a semi-open plan design with 4 teaching bases, and computer suite and purpose built nursery.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Hoddom Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.

Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School serves the village of Kirkpatrick Fleming and a catchment area comprising of the hamlets of Chapelknowe, Hollee and Irvington and the surrounding rural area.

The original school was built in 1881, however, in 1994; the building was completely refurbished to a very high standard when the former headmaster's house was incorporated into the project to provide the present accommodation of 4 spacious classrooms, a general purpose room, staff administration offices and quarters.

Approximately 40% of pupils live in Kirkpatrick Fleming village.  A number of the children live on farms or come from families with farming backgrounds, with others having connections with agriculture and associated businesses.

View the latest HMIe inspection report for Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School which is designed to show how well children are being educated and to help the school to improve.