All the pre-prep children made Christingles this week.  Each part of the Christingle has a special meaning. It helps to tell the Christian story. The orange represents the World. The red ribbon means the love and the blood of Jesus. The four cocktail sticks represent the four seasons. The sweets and dried fruit represent God’s beautiful world and all His good gifts. The lit candle represents the light of Jesus bringing hope to our world.   

All the pre-prep children gathered outside the beautifully lit tree on the Headmaster’s lawn, and P2 led a short Christingle service. It concluded with the following Christingle prayer,  

“Let these Christingles bring blessing to all the children here today. As these little lights glow in our hands, so may your light shine in our hearts this Christmas, and forever. Amen”. 

All the pre-prep children made Christingles this week.  Each part of the Christingle has a special meaning. It helps to tell the Christian story. The orange represents the World. The red ribbon means the love and the blood of Jesus. The four cocktail sticks represent the four seasons. The sweets and dried fruit represent God’s beautiful world and all His good gifts. The lit candle represents the light of Jesus bringing hope to our world.   

All the pre-prep children gathered outside the beautifully lit tree on the Headmaster’s lawn, and P2 led a short Christingle service. It concluded with the following Christingle prayer,  

“Let these Christingles bring blessing to all the children here today. As these little lights glow in our hands, so may your light shine in our hearts this Christmas, and forever. Amen”. 

A lovely Christmas carol sung by the Chapel Choir of Eton College, including old boy Fergus!

Happy Christmas!

https://fb.watch/2BlnGxa99b/

A lovely Christmas carol sung by the Chapel Choir of Eton College, including old boy Fergus!

Happy Christmas!

https://fb.watch/2BlnGxa99b/

The Cargilfield children have loved being back in the DT workshop this term and have been as creative as ever.

Form 4 made Viking shields and car ice scrapers; Form 5 made pneumatic vehicles and mechanical toys; Form 6 designed and made clocks and Form 7 made pencil boxes.

Form 8 designed and made coat racks with most of them using the 3D printer to make the pegs which were fixed onto the plywood backboard.

The children worked so hard and have created some truly fantastic pieces of work. Well done, everyone!

Read more here. 

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The Cargilfield children have loved being back in the DT workshop this term and have been as creative as ever.

Form 4 made Viking shields and car ice scrapers; Form 5 made pneumatic vehicles and mechanical toys; Form 6 designed and made clocks and Form 7 made pencil boxes.

Form 8 designed and made coat racks with most of them using the 3D printer to make the pegs which were fixed onto the plywood backboard.

The children worked so hard and have created some truly fantastic pieces of work. Well done, everyone!

Read more here. 

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]

Those studying Classics at Cargilfield were given the chance to enter Fettes’ Virtual Classics Greek Vase competition. They had to design a red or black figure vase with a scene from a Greek Mythology of their choosing.

Those studying Classics at Cargilfield were given the chance to enter Fettes’ Virtual Classics Greek Vase competition. They had to design a red or black figure vase with a scene from a Greek Mythology of their choosing.

P2 dressed up warm and headed out onto the field to do a workshop with Donald Malone, a zoologist from Woodside Nature. We explored a range of animals and birds associated with Christmas Time. We did a penguin waddle race and played a game where we had to transfer an egg from one penguin to another- no easy task!  We played an energetic ice melting game to show how polar bears are impacted by global warming and talked about what we can do to help them.  We joined the Saami Tribe in the Arctic rounding up a herd of reindeer and learnt a lot of fascinating facts about these animals. To conclude the workshop, we galloped enthusiastically around the field in a herd with ‘antlers’ on our heads.  An informative, and spirited morning, so thank you, Donald! 

P2 dressed up warm and headed out onto the field to do a workshop with Donald Malone, a zoologist from Woodside Nature. We explored a range of animals and birds associated with Christmas Time. We did a penguin waddle race and played a game where we had to transfer an egg from one penguin to another- no easy task!  We played an energetic ice melting game to show how polar bears are impacted by global warming and talked about what we can do to help them.  We joined the Saami Tribe in the Arctic rounding up a herd of reindeer and learnt a lot of fascinating facts about these animals. To conclude the workshop, we galloped enthusiastically around the field in a herd with ‘antlers’ on our heads.  An informative, and spirited morning, so thank you, Donald! 

Some of the Nursery posted their letters up the chimney this morning and then enjoyed a lovely Christmas story in front of the fire.

Read more here. 

Some of the Nursery posted their letters up the chimney this morning and then enjoyed a lovely Christmas story in front of the fire.

Read more here. 

As always, we had our Prize Giving on the final morning of term, although this time it was slightly different in that it was broadcast live via Teams to all the form rooms throughout the school.  The Headmaster handed out prizes awarded for effort in academic subjects, for Commendations, and there were also  awards for sport, music and good behaviour.  Well done to all those who received prizes!

As always, we had our Prize Giving on the final morning of term, although this time it was slightly different in that it was broadcast live via Teams to all the form rooms throughout the school.  The Headmaster handed out prizes awarded for effort in academic subjects, for Commendations, and there were also  awards for sport, music and good behaviour.  Well done to all those who received prizes!

With no Flexi boarding due to restrictions, it has been lovely to have the largest group of weekly boarders in school that we have had for a long time.  They have been great fun, and a real community, as we planned lots of fun activities in the evenings as well as trips to various places around Edinburgh such as go carting and combat challenge.  There have been baking competitions, film making, football, cricket and so many more.  Well done to them all for being such fun and getting on with life so positively.  On the final night of term, they headed off to the Botanical Gardens' Christmas Light display which was a great way to bring this very unusual term to an end!

With no Flexi boarding due to restrictions, it has been lovely to have the largest group of weekly boarders in school that we have had for a long time.  They have been great fun, and a real community, as we planned lots of fun activities in the evenings as well as trips to various places around Edinburgh such as go carting and combat challenge.  There have been baking competitions, film making, football, cricket and so many more.  Well done to them all for being such fun and getting on with life so positively.  On the final night of term, they headed off to the Botanical Gardens' Christmas Light display which was a great way to bring this very unusual term to an end!

P2 dressed up warm and headed out onto the field to do a workshop with Donald Malone, a zoologist from Woodside Nature. We explored a range of animals and birds associated with Christmas Time. We did a penguin waddle race and played a game where we had to transfer an egg from one penguin to another- no easy task!  We played an energetic ice melting game to show how polar bears are impacted by global warming and talked about what we can do to help them.  We joined the Saami Tribe in the Arctic rounding up a herd of reindeer and learnt a lot of fascinating facts about these animals. To conclude the workshop, we galloped enthusiastically around the field in a herd with ‘antlers’ on our heads.  An informative, and spirited morning, so thank you, Donald! 

P2 dressed up warm and headed out onto the field to do a workshop with Donald Malone, a zoologist from Woodside Nature. We explored a range of animals and birds associated with Christmas Time. We did a penguin waddle race and played a game where we had to transfer an egg from one penguin to another- no easy task!  We played an energetic ice melting game to show how polar bears are impacted by global warming and talked about what we can do to help them.  We joined the Saami Tribe in the Arctic rounding up a herd of reindeer and learnt a lot of fascinating facts about these animals. To conclude the workshop, we galloped enthusiastically around the field in a herd with ‘antlers’ on our heads.  An informative, and spirited morning, so thank you, Donald! 

Welcome to our final mini concert of what has been a most unusual term! It has been wonderful to see and hear children’s enthusiasm for their music shine through since we returned to school, and for the music school to echo with the sound of children playing and practising again – a music school without any music is a strange place! Despite everything, we have continued to showcase our children’s musical talents whether that be those just starting out on their musical journeys, or the more experienced performers, and our weekly online concerts have seen such positive music making – thank you to all those who have performed, and appropriately enough, in this final festive edition, we have 25 lovely performances for you to enjoy. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Watch it here.

Welcome to our final mini concert of what has been a most unusual term! It has been wonderful to see and hear children’s enthusiasm for their music shine through since we returned to school, and for the music school to echo with the sound of children playing and practising again – a music school without any music is a strange place! Despite everything, we have continued to showcase our children’s musical talents whether that be those just starting out on their musical journeys, or the more experienced performers, and our weekly online concerts have seen such positive music making – thank you to all those who have performed, and appropriately enough, in this final festive edition, we have 25 lovely performances for you to enjoy. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Watch it here.

Christmas in the pre-prep is a little different this year with the covid-19 restrictions. There are no nursery and P1 nativities to be a live audience at, no carol service at Cramond Kirk with carols being sung and instrumentalists playing their festive tunes, and no visit to the Lyceum Theatre for the end of term pantomine. We decided, therefore, that Christmas would be celebrated in a rather unique way this year. All the classes in the pre-prep have worked together to mark this wonderful event creatively through the children’s art work. Let us take you on our visual journey to unfold the Christmas story through the eyes of our children. We start with the P2 advent wreaths counting down the Sundays before Christmas with the candles representing hope, joy, the love of the Christ child, and peace on Earth. We come to Mary being visited by Angel Gabriel and the Nursery’s company of angels greeting Mary with the Good news. We see Mary mounted on a donkey travelling to Bethlehem through the eyes of P3. Bethlehem was crowded with travelers arriving for the census. Open the inn doors to see some familiar looking P2 innkeepers inside. “No room in the inn”, was their reply. We move to the shepherds on the hillside surrounded by a chorus of P1 angels announcing the birth of the special baby. See the P2’s three wise men following the star to Bethlehem which finally rests over the stable bustling with animals made by P1. Find the special baby lying in the manger, the best gift of all. Happy Christmas from the pre-prep!

Read more here. 

Christmas in the pre-prep is a little different this year with the covid-19 restrictions. There are no nursery and P1 nativities to be a live audience at, no carol service at Cramond Kirk with carols being sung and instrumentalists playing their festive tunes, and no visit to the Lyceum Theatre for the end of term pantomine. We decided, therefore, that Christmas would be celebrated in a rather unique way this year. All the classes in the pre-prep have worked together to mark this wonderful event creatively through the children’s art work. Let us take you on our visual journey to unfold the Christmas story through the eyes of our children. We start with the P2 advent wreaths counting down the Sundays before Christmas with the candles representing hope, joy, the love of the Christ child, and peace on Earth. We come to Mary being visited by Angel Gabriel and the Nursery’s company of angels greeting Mary with the Good news. We see Mary mounted on a donkey travelling to Bethlehem through the eyes of P3. Bethlehem was crowded with travelers arriving for the census. Open the inn doors to see some familiar looking P2 innkeepers inside. “No room in the inn”, was their reply. We move to the shepherds on the hillside surrounded by a chorus of P1 angels announcing the birth of the special baby. See the P2’s three wise men following the star to Bethlehem which finally rests over the stable bustling with animals made by P1. Find the special baby lying in the manger, the best gift of all. Happy Christmas from the pre-prep!

Read more here. 

Some of the Nursery posted their letters up the chimney this morning and then enjoyed a lovely Christmas story in front of the fire. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Read more here. 

Some of the Nursery posted their letters up the chimney this morning and then enjoyed a lovely Christmas story in front of the fire. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Read more here. 

Very many congratulations to Lucy who was been awarded a Sports exhibition t0o St Mary's, Calne. A fabulous achievement!

Very many congratulations to Lucy who was been awarded a Sports exhibition t0o St Mary's, Calne. A fabulous achievement!

Many congratulations to Daniel on being chosen for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Junior Orchestra 2021. A fabulous achievement!

Many congratulations to Daniel on being chosen for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Junior Orchestra 2021. A fabulous achievement!

With Covid restrictions preventing us from our usual factory or business trip, the F8 Geography crew were still keen to get some field work experience. After a few options were discussed, we decided on a river trip so the children could get some hands-on experience of measuring the speed of water around a meander. 

In class we prepared a number of wooden floats to send down the river, trying to keep them the same in order for fair test. 

Armed with our smart new floats, we set off up the River Almond.

We stopped for a couple of group shots on the way.

Once we got to the meander, the children worked in groups to complete three tasks.

Flow velocity on the inside bend.

Flow velocity on the outside bend.

A field sketch to find evidence of erosion and deposition.

After our morning in the field collecting data, the children made their way back to school to start their reports. Set out in sections, the children prepare a 1000-word document that is sent on to their secondary schools and which makes up 20% of their final Geography CE exam. There was some excellent analysis of the data, which accurately linked the slower water velocity on the inside bend to evidence of deposition. Likewise, the faster water on the outside was linked to clear evidence of erosion. 

Although, for their fieldtrips, I tend to prefer taking the children somewhere where they can see ‘real people’ working and they can begin to get an idea of what working life is actually like for most people, it was a worthwhile trip. It gave the children the chance to do some learning outside of the classroom and showed them that there is lots to learn from what is around us in our everyday lives. We all enjoyed getting out into the woods and to spend the morning along the beautiful River Almond. 

With Covid restrictions preventing us from our usual factory or business trip, the F8 Geography crew were still keen to get some field work experience. After a few options were discussed, we decided on a river trip so the children could get some hands-on experience of measuring the speed of water around a meander. 

In class we prepared a number of wooden floats to send down the river, trying to keep them the same in order for fair test. 

Armed with our smart new floats, we set off up the River Almond.

We stopped for a couple of group shots on the way.

Once we got to the meander, the children worked in groups to complete three tasks.

Flow velocity on the inside bend.

Flow velocity on the outside bend.

A field sketch to find evidence of erosion and deposition.

After our morning in the field collecting data, the children made their way back to school to start their reports. Set out in sections, the children prepare a 1000-word document that is sent on to their secondary schools and which makes up 20% of their final Geography CE exam. There was some excellent analysis of the data, which accurately linked the slower water velocity on the inside bend to evidence of deposition. Likewise, the faster water on the outside was linked to clear evidence of erosion. 

Although, for their fieldtrips, I tend to prefer taking the children somewhere where they can see ‘real people’ working and they can begin to get an idea of what working life is actually like for most people, it was a worthwhile trip. It gave the children the chance to do some learning outside of the classroom and showed them that there is lots to learn from what is around us in our everyday lives. We all enjoyed getting out into the woods and to spend the morning along the beautiful River Almond. 

Nursery has been like Santa's grotto this week. The children have been busy making Christmas card and writing letters to send to the North Pole. 

Nursery has been like Santa's grotto this week. The children have been busy making Christmas card and writing letters to send to the North Pole. 

Our latest Former Pupil Newsletter has just been published. Please do share it with those who you think might be interested; just click on the link and subscribe to receive future editions!

Click here to read it.

Our latest Former Pupil Newsletter has just been published. Please do share it with those who you think might be interested; just click on the link and subscribe to receive future editions!

Click here to read it.

We have set up a 'Cargilfield Kilometre' in the grounds around the school to challenge the children to see how fast they can run. Some have already given it a go and are determined to beat their PB when they return in the new year #cargilfield #keeponrunning

We have set up a 'Cargilfield Kilometre' in the grounds around the school to challenge the children to see how fast they can run. Some have already given it a go and are determined to beat their PB when they return in the new year #cargilfield #keeponrunning

Welcome to our Form 7 and 8 Christmas Concert! The children and their teachers have worked so hard in difficult circumstances throughout this term, and it has been wonderful to see so much collaboration and real enthusiasm amongst all the children. So sit back with a mince pie perhaps, and enjoy some lovely music making.

Click here to watch it.

Welcome to our Form 7 and 8 Christmas Concert! The children and their teachers have worked so hard in difficult circumstances throughout this term, and it has been wonderful to see so much collaboration and real enthusiasm amongst all the children. So sit back with a mince pie perhaps, and enjoy some lovely music making.

Click here to watch it.

It was so good to have live Music performed in front of an audience with applause for the first time since March! A hybrid of live keyboard and string performances with wind  performances played on the big screen.  It was good to be back in Chapel, with a socially distanced audience!

Welcome to our Forms 4, 5 and 6 Christmas Concert! The children and their teachers have worked so hard in difficult circumstances throughout this term, and it has been wonderful to see so much collaboration and real enthusiasm amongst all the children. So sit back with a mince pie perhaps, and enjoy some lovely music making!

Watch it here. 

It was so good to have live Music performed in front of an audience with applause for the first time since March! A hybrid of live keyboard and string performances with wind  performances played on the big screen.  It was good to be back in Chapel, with a socially distanced audience!

Welcome to our Forms 4, 5 and 6 Christmas Concert! The children and their teachers have worked so hard in difficult circumstances throughout this term, and it has been wonderful to see so much collaboration and real enthusiasm amongst all the children. So sit back with a mince pie perhaps, and enjoy some lovely music making!

Watch it here. 

In PSHE, 6F are practising the art of negotiation by building towers with all sorts of resources. However, they could negotiate with fellow groups to gain more supplies and be the winner with the tallest free standing tower!

In PSHE, 6F are practising the art of negotiation by building towers with all sorts of resources. However, they could negotiate with fellow groups to gain more supplies and be the winner with the tallest free standing tower!

On Monday, Primary 3 went down to visit the remains of the Roman Fort at Cramond.  We were able to see where the barracks, the latrines, the granary and the fort stood when the Romans were in Scotland.  We also went to see the site where the Cramond Lioness was found and excavated in 1997.  The children were amazed that it was spotted in the estuary by the ferryman who operated the Cramond ferry!  You can see the Cramond Lioness at the National Musuem of Scotland where it is on display.

Read more here.

On Monday, Primary 3 went down to visit the remains of the Roman Fort at Cramond.  We were able to see where the barracks, the latrines, the granary and the fort stood when the Romans were in Scotland.  We also went to see the site where the Cramond Lioness was found and excavated in 1997.  The children were amazed that it was spotted in the estuary by the ferryman who operated the Cramond ferry!  You can see the Cramond Lioness at the National Musuem of Scotland where it is on display.

Read more here.

What a fabulous evening the weekly boarders had on Tuesday as they baked their Christmas cupcakes!  They had to bake the cakes, make the icing and then make at least two different decorations from fondant icing before being judged on the gingham altar!  It was a very close call, and a very difficult decision for the judge, but in the end it was Katinka who was declared 'Star Baker'!  They tasted delicious too!

What a fabulous evening the weekly boarders had on Tuesday as they baked their Christmas cupcakes!  They had to bake the cakes, make the icing and then make at least two different decorations from fondant icing before being judged on the gingham altar!  It was a very close call, and a very difficult decision for the judge, but in the end it was Katinka who was declared 'Star Baker'!  They tasted delicious too!

Last week was rather eventful in P2 with the invasion of our scaly friend. Thankfully everything appeared back to normal this week, but that hasn’t stopped us talking about all the things the dinosaur did to our classroom. What if he sneaked into other areas of the school? What chaos might it cause?  

Inspired by “There’s a dinosaur in our school” by Tinothy Knapman, we have written our own version of this funny story and have added some hilarious touches to the original storyline. We had a brachiosaurus squirting paint on the walls in the Art room, a triceratops popping a football in the sports hall with its horns, and a tyrannosaurus stomping its heavy feet on one of Dr Alsop’s drums and breaking its skin. I don’t think the teachers were very pleased!  

Spurred on by the success of this inspired story writing we decided to type up our stories into e-books using our newly acquired book creator skills.  We took turns dictating and typing out our dinosaur stories, and had fun changing the size, colour and style of the text. We did our own illustrations and took photographs of the various scenarios that were in keeping with our storylines. We enjoyed choosing different backgrounds, and even inserted our own dinosaur-themed emojis.  

Please check out our first publication.  It will be reaching your nearest bookstore soon!  

Last week was rather eventful in P2 with the invasion of our scaly friend. Thankfully everything appeared back to normal this week, but that hasn’t stopped us talking about all the things the dinosaur did to our classroom. What if he sneaked into other areas of the school? What chaos might it cause?  

Inspired by “There’s a dinosaur in our school” by Tinothy Knapman, we have written our own version of this funny story and have added some hilarious touches to the original storyline. We had a brachiosaurus squirting paint on the walls in the Art room, a triceratops popping a football in the sports hall with its horns, and a tyrannosaurus stomping its heavy feet on one of Dr Alsop’s drums and breaking its skin. I don’t think the teachers were very pleased!  

Spurred on by the success of this inspired story writing we decided to type up our stories into e-books using our newly acquired book creator skills.  We took turns dictating and typing out our dinosaur stories, and had fun changing the size, colour and style of the text. We did our own illustrations and took photographs of the various scenarios that were in keeping with our storylines. We enjoyed choosing different backgrounds, and even inserted our own dinosaur-themed emojis.  

Please check out our first publication.  It will be reaching your nearest bookstore soon!  

Have they got it?

During the remote learning period, I found myself reflecting upon what it really meant to be a teacher. Whilst the dictionary defines teaching as simply “giving information about a particular subject to a class or pupil”, our job is so much more than this. We are employed to facilitate learning in pupils, a task far more complex than simply giving out information. This is one of the first lessons taught during teacher training – just because something has been taught, doesn’t mean that it has been learned.

Teaching is, and should be, an interactive process, with staff using formative assessment data to adapt their lessons to the needs of the class and those of individual pupils. However, with up to 18 pupils, and a myriad of formative assessment methods, what is the best method of collecting this feedback from pupils? In this blog post, I will evaluate a number of formative assessment techniques, drawing on my experiences in the classroom.

1. Questioning
2. Self-assessment poll
3. Short exam-style questions

Questioning is perhaps the best-known formative assessment technique. However, the teacher faces a choice about which style of questioning to use. For example:

1. Should an individual be chosen to answer, or should pupils be allowed to volunteer answers by putting their hand up?
2. Should the pupils be allowed to discuss the question before giving an answer?
3. Should mini-whiteboards be used to get answers from the whole class?

Personally, I feel that there is a place for all of these methods of questioning, although I tend to favour ‘cold-calling’ pupils, as this ensures that the whole class are actively engaged and attentive in the lesson. Following this, asking for another pupil to respond to the first answer gives another pupil the opportunity to disagree with, expand upon, or validate the first pupil’s response (the ‘pose, pause, pounce, bounce’ method). Mini-whiteboards are great for getting instant-whole class feedback; however, for explanation-based answers, they don’t quite hit the mark, with verbal explanations allowing more detail to be given. This is where group discussions support the explanations of all pupils, with groups coming up with a collaborative ‘perfect’ answer.

Self-assessment polls ask the pupils to show the teacher how confident they perceive themselves to be on a particular topic (using thumbs up/down/sideways or a similar method). This provides instant feedback to the member of staff, but requires pupils to be self-reflective and to feel comfortable admitting that they are finding something difficult. I recently observed a colleague using this method highly effectively, having clearly built up excellent relationships with her pupils. She built upon this by asking those who were less confident why this was the case (which aspect of the work were they finding challenging) before reassuring all of the pupils that it was absolutely fine to be finding the work difficult at this stage.

As pupils progress up the school, short exam-style questions allow pupils to practice their exam technique, whilst providing teachers with feedback on their knowledge of an individual topic. Having the pupils peer-assess these before asking the class as a whole how many marks they achieved and, perhaps more importantly, where they lost marks.

However, with all of these techniques, it is deciding what to do with the information which is important. Often, they will reveal a misconception, which can be quickly dealt with, but sometimes an area will need to be taught in an alternative way to ensure understanding by the whole class. Regardless of the feedback however, teachers are constantly adapting their lessons to facilitate the best possible learning outcomes for their pupils.