Cluster schools

Brydekirk Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mrs C Reid
School Roll:  28
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. 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.

Carrutherstown Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mrs S Graham (Also head teacher of partner school – Cummertrees Primary School)
School Roll: 32
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.

Cummertrees Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mrs S Graham (Also the head teacher of partner school – Carrutherstown Primary School)
School Roll:  23
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 is partnered with Carrutherstown Primary School.
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.

Eastriggs Primary School
Head Teacher:  Miss J Aitken
School Roll:  131
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.

Elmvale Primary School
Head Teacher: Mrs L McAulay-Sharp
School Roll:  131

Elmvale is a combination of the rural and the urban on the edge of Annan, serving the south of Annan, Back of the Hill and Newbie. It has a diverse catchment of both established and more recent council and private housing developments. Elmvale celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2020.

The school was refurbished in 2018 and its medium size and open plan design promote a family ethos and inclusive atmosphere, where all are known to and support each other. High quality learning and teaching, high standards and expectations for all are at the heart of the school. An experienced and skilled staff team are supported by visiting specialists in PE and Music. Extensive school grounds offer excellent scope for outdoor learning.

A wide variety of after school activities including netball, gymnastics, football, tennis, golf, computer, drama, gardening are offered by staff, Active Schools, parents & grandparents. Children are also encouraged and supported to take part in local and regional cultural and sporting competitions.

The school has a very supportive Parent Council who work closely with the head teacher and an active PTA who have recently established the very successful, annual Elmfest celebrations. Elmvale also enjoys a strong partnership with St. Andrew’s Church.

“Our school emblem is a tree and like a tree, we are strong, resilient, growing and developing, dependent on yet enhancing our surroundings and acting as a shelter, focus and asset to our community.”

Gretna Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mr J McDowall
School Roll:  285
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.

Hecklegirth Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mr G Cother
School Roll:  229
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. 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. “Heckle” comes from ecclesiastical meaning of the church.
The other emblems on the badge are:
The church is “girthed” by trees, as represented on the school badge
The book (knowledge and learning) the quill, or pen (of writing) and the badge of the Royal Burgh of Annan.
Hecklegirth is a non-denominational school. We welcome children of all cultures and faiths.

Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mrs L Dempster (Also the head teacher of partner school – Springfield Primary School)
School Roll:  56
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 school is partnered with Springfield Primary School.
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.

Newington Primary SchoolHead Teacher:  Mr I Torbett
School Roll:  376
Newington Primary serves the north east side 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

Springfield Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mrs L Dempster (Also head teacher of partner school – Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School)
School Roll:  21
Springfield Primary is a one teacher rural school which serves the villages of Springfield and Gretna Green and the surrounding rural areas to the north. The school is partnered with Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School.
St Columbas Primary School
Head Teacher:  Mrs C Reid
School Roll:  58
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.