Category: Weekly Newsletter

Dear Parents/Carers

I requested a detailed explanation of the situation with the building and have received the response below from Head Office at City of Edinburgh Council. I hope that you find this useful.

‘Following reports of a noticeable dip, technically termed “deflection,”  within the floors of the first floor classrooms, structural engineers have been on site at the school to carry out inspections to establish the cause of the movement and work required to rectify, along with the expected timeframe for this work to be delivered.

An outline report was received from the structural engineer on 16 April, confirming the findings and the need for new structural design. The final report, received today, sets out conclusions in detail, along with initial options for resolution.

Unfortunately, the current structural installation is a very rare 1960’s design. Because of this, it requires replacement and the new design will take time and involve procurement and fabrication of steelwork off site prior to installation. At present, the two-storey building needs to remain closed. Other buildings may be able to re-open, however we need to fully understand the extent of the required works and the impact of such works on the entire school site.

As you’ll be aware, as a precaution the school closed on Wednesday 25 March with all pupils relocated and settled at other schools. It is expected that school will need to remain closed for the remainder of this term, with the aim for all relevant works and safety checks to be complete in time for the school to reopen in August 2026. This does not affect the nursery which is open as usual.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while we have investigated what work is needed and appreciate that it may be disappointing to hear this news. Our priority, as always, is the health, safety and wellbeing of children in our care, and staff who work in the school’

Dear parents and carers.

It was good to see the buses return to being on time today for both sites. Thanks for your patience yesterday.

City of Edinburgh Council have just informed us that the building is likely to be closed for the rest of the term, with our return to St Cuthbert’s happening in August 2026. I am sorry to be the bearer of this news but believe that you will want to be made aware of this important information as promptly as possible. 

In other news, please note that Mr Crowley will be at St Augustine’s on Friday to meet with our P7 Confirmation Candidates. It would be great if all homework could be up to date by then and books brought in. We have also been asked to supply Fr Francis with each candidates’ Confirmation name by Friday afternoon. Can you please discuss this if your child is involved.

Thanks for your ongoing support, please continue to contact us via phone, email or in person in the playground with any questions.

Kind Regards

Mr Brack

Dear Parents and Carers.

Welcome back! We hope you and your families had a lovely holiday.

Apologies that our buses were a bit later this morning, there was a road traffic accident in the Craiglockhart are that affected traffic flow. Normal service will hopefully resume tomorrow. Please ensure that your child is in the line in time for registration at 8.55am.

At present, we have no further updates to share re when we can return to our building so current arrangements will continue until further notice.

We are however keen to be able to update you re rescheduled Parents Nights, Active School Clubs etc and will do so, as soon as we have clarity on how to proceed. I will be seeking further information and advice from Senior Education and Risk Management staff this week.

As always, please email  Admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk or call on 0131 443 2621, option 3, if you have any questions.

Kind Regards

Mr Brack

Dear Parents and Carers.

Thanks for your support and understanding over the course of this term and particularly over the last few weeks!

Return Date After Easter

Please note that pupils return to school after the Easter Holidays on Tuesday 21^st April at our normal start time of 8.55am.

Location Update

At present, checks on the building are ongoing and we have no further updates to share. Therefore, current arrangements will continue during the week after the Easter Holidays. We will of course update you when we know more.

Questions/Communications with School

Please continue to contact us after the holiday on 0131 443 2621 option 3, email Admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk  or speak to myself or Mr Crowley in the playground before the buses arrive in the morning and again in the afternoon, after our return.

As mentioned above, any information I have, relating to the building will continue to be shared with our whole community via email and the website. Whilst I understand that people are really keen to find out what is going on, please note that asking this question verbally on an individual basis will receive the same reply as has already been communicated to all parents/carers.

Happy Easter!

Thanks again to our Parent Council for the Easter Raffle prizes and the individual eggs given out today. The religious aspect of Easter was observed well in both schools today too.

Happy Easter to all who will be observing the day and we look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday 21^st April.

Mr Brack

Dear Parents/Carers

Important – School Lunches First Week Back

At the moment and until we hear otherwise, we are presuming that the current arrangements will continue in the first week back after the Easter Holidays. In terms of school lunches, please ensure that if you wish your child to have a school lunch during week commencing 20th April 2026,  that you order before midnight today, Wednesday 1^st April. We will then ensure that the orders are communicated to both St Peter’s and St Augustine’s kitchens for the new term. Please note that pupils at both schools are now receiving hot meals when school lunches are ordered. If you do not manage to order a lunch before tonight’s deadline, please send your child to school with a packed lunch during the first week of the new term.

General News

It is great to hear that our pupils at St Augustine’s have been managing to do P.E. this week and we have also started this for P3 and P4 at St Peter’s. P3 and P4 also attended an Opera performance from pupils at St Peter’s.

Easter Celebrations

Please note that tomorrow all pupils will be given a small Easter egg upon their return to school at the end of the day. This has been kindly donated by our Parent Council to help our pupils celebrate Easter. We have taken into account all dietary issues but please double check your child’s egg is suitable before they consume it.

The Easter raffle will conclude tomorrow with one giant egg to be won at each school as well as a number of golden, chocolate Easter bunnies. Tickets cost £1 per strip and all proceeds go to Parent Council Funds.

Pupil’s at St Peter’s will take part in a real time Holy Week Service tomorrow, whilst pupils from P5-7 will take part in an interactive Easter Lesson provided by the Scottish Catholic Education Service. Fr Francis, hopes to visit St Peter’s tomorrow too.

Our final daily update of the term will be shared tomorrow.

Thanks for your continued support

Mr Brack

Dear Parents and Carers

Thanks for your continued support. Please see below a brief update.

• We currently have no further information to share re our building or any potential return date. We will update you as soon as we know anything different.
• Remember both Breakfast Club and After School Blub (Gingerbread) are open again and that Nursery remains open on site.
• The Easter raffle began today and was a big success – well done to our six winners. It will continue tomorrow and Thursday. Tickets cost £1 per strip.
• P1-4 will have the opportunity to watch an opera performance presented by P4 at St Peter’s tomorrow.
• Mrs Egan, violin teacher will definitely visit P5-7 tomorrow, we are still awaiting an update re P4 but it is worth them bringing violins tomorrow just in case.
• We are in discussion with staff at our two host schools to negotiate P.E times after the holiday should we still be in the current situation.

Please continue to contact us on 0131 443 2621, option 3 or via admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk if you have any questions.

Kind Regards

Mr Brack

Dear parents and carers

Thanks for your support again this morning at drop off time, please note that you are welcome to leave the playground after 8.55am, once your child has joined their line. We do understand that some parents/carers of younger pupils will want to remain to watch their child get on the buses, this is absolutely fine as long as you are able to stand back and give teachers space to count pupils.

Welcome back to our P7 pupils, they had a great time at camp and although we’d all much rather be in our own school, this week will be a valuable transition experience for them.

Please note that the Easter egg raffle will start tomorrow on both sites, the cost as shared previously is £1 per strip of 5 tickets and there will be daily winners. There will also be a giant egg to be won at both schools on Thursday, our last day before the holidays.

As shared on Friday, Breakfast Club has reopened this week. If you paid for last week when the club was not open, this can be used to pay for any future week you wish, please contact Mrs Pennycook or Miss McVey, via Admin mailbox: admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk  to share what week or days you would like it used towards. Thank you.

Despite last week’s upheavals, our P5/6 footballers managed to fulfil their latest fixture, putting in a brave performance but losing narrowly to Frogston Primary. P4’s team also played at Meggetland this weekend.

There is no further update to share re our building at the moment but please rest assured that we will do so as soon as we have anything new to tell you.

Please continue to contact us via admin mailbox (see above) or on 0131 443 2621 option 3, if you have any questions.

Kind Regards

Mr Brack

Dear Parents and Carers.

Thanks again for your support this week. As, during our current situation we are posting and emailing daily updates, we will not send a weekly Newsletter today. There are however some key messages and information to share with you, which I have listed below. Thanks for reading.

• Firstly, the pupils have shown great resilience in their accommodation to such a big change, your support and that of our staff has also really helped with this. At present, arrangements for next week will continue as they have been since Wednesday, if anything changes, we will let you know as soon as we know.

 Contacting Us

• Please continue to send any queries to admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk and we will email or call you back. If it is urgent that you speak to somebody, our Administrators will be based at St Peter’s School and can be contacted on 0131 447 5742 

 School Management Support in Both Schools

• Mr Crowley and I will support our staff and pupils next week at both sites as follows:
  • Monday/Tuesday – Mr Brack at St Peter’s and Mr Crowley at St Augustine’s and
  • Wednesday/Thursday- Mr Brack at St Augustine’s and Mr Crowley at St Peter’s

Easter Egg Raffle and Religious Observance

• The Easter Egg raffle will go ahead on both sites from Tuesday to Thursday next week with eggs being won each day, remember it is £1 a strip of tickets. We are also hoping that our pupils will be able to join in with Holy Week services at their host schools.

Breakfast Club Returns on Monday

• We are aware that the closure of Breakfast Club this week has put a strain on some families, therefore we have sought permission to host Breakfast Club in our Nursery Temporary Unit (the green building behind the main school). This will be open from Monday 30^th March. If your child is arriving at 8am, they will be collected at the main gates by Miss Mcvey, if you are bringing your child after this time, please bring them to the building for drop off.
• We have sought advice from City of Edinburgh Council re refunds for this week and will let you know once we have their thoughts.

Active Schools Clubs Finished for This Term

• Please note that all Active Schools sports clubs are now finished for this term.

  School Dinners for St Augustine’s Based Pupils

• If your child is in P5-7 and based at St Augustine’s, if you order a school lunch for next week, they will receive a packed lunch and soup. If you prefer, you can choose not to order a school lunch and supply a packed lunch. Please contact our Admin mailbox with any questions.

 P7 School Camp

• Lastly, welcome back to our P7 Camp attendees. Mr Crowley and Ms Armitage have been in regular contact and shared that our pupils have done themselves proud. We hope you enjoyed the photos on our P7 page of the website. Big thanks to both teachers for their time, effort and care.

We’ll update you again on Monday, until then have a lovely weekend.

Mr Brack

An energetic end to our adventures at camp. Lots of smiles, loud singing, dancing, canoeing, abseiling, cycling… to name a few activities.

Dear Parents and Carers.

Thanks for your support again at drop off today. Your positivity and understanding, combined with assistance provided by the Central Education Team from City of Edinburgh Council and the Head Teachers and staff at both St Peter’s and St Augustine’s has made a challenging situation a whole lot easier. Thank you.

Firstly, we would like to start by congratulating our Glee Performers, who performed superbly at the Corn Exchange last night, huge thanks also to Mrs Igoe, Mrs Kelly and Miss Tulloch for their time preparing and supporting the pupils, especially given the current circumstances.

Secondly and importantly, we have unfortunately had to take the decision to postpone the Parents Evenings scheduled for next week. The challenges of trying to find a suitable venue as well as the unavailability of our jotters, folders and other evidence meant that this was the only possible course of action if the meetings were to be meaningful and informative with regards to the discussion of your children’s learning. Please be assured that this decision was not taken lightly and that these meetings will be rearranged after the Easter Holiday either in person, if we are back at school or via Teams if not. I’ll keep you updated.

A number of you have asked if we have any updates re when we will return to our building. Further safety checks will be taking place over the next few days and we hope to hear more next week but at the moment we have no further updates to share, we will of course do so as soon as we have them.

It is great that Gingerbread After School Care Club is back open today and that our Nursery remains open. Please note however that cricket club has now ceased for this term.

Finally, please note that whilst we are not in the school building, it may be best not to leave bikes or scooters in their usual storage spaces as the building is unattended and there is a risk they could be stolen.

Daily Updates will continue to be sent out via Groupcall email and also posted on the Newsletters section of our school website. Please email admin@st-cuthberts.edin.sch.uk with any questions.

Best wishes

Mr Brack