Comrie Primary School

Welcome from the Headteacher

A very warm welcome to Dunning Primary School (DPS).

Dunning Primary is a rural school nestled in the historic village of Dunning, near Auchterarder and our unique location provides a rich and inspiring environment for learning and teaching. Visitors, parents and carers often comment on the warm and welcoming ethos that defines DPS. We are incredibly proud of our school and community, and we hope that you will feel proud to be part of it too.

We have a strong ethos of inclusion, where every pupil, member of staff, and parent is highly valued and actively encouraged to contribute to the life and work of the school. Learning is at the heart of everything we do, and we strive to promote achievement for all. Our school motto is Learning Together, Achieving Together.

At Dunning, we believe in getting it right for every child. Children’s rights and wellbeing are central to our approach, and we place a strong emphasis on nurture. We know that when children feel safe, happy and included, they flourish—academically, socially and emotionally. Our nurturing approach supports wellbeing, attainment, behaviour and wider achievement, helping every child to thrive.

We encourage our learners to be independent thinkers, reflective learners, and responsible citizens. Every decision we make is guided by what is best for our children. We aim to provide learning that is relevant, engaging and exciting, in a safe environment where all children are encouraged to be the best they can be.

Our curriculum is designed to be creative, balanced and pupil-centred, enabling staff to meet the needs of all learners. We explicitly teach 21st century skills to help our children adapt, think critically and thrive in today’s world. Learning is often experiential, cross-curricular and connected to real-life contexts, giving our children a strong sense of purpose.

We value the partnership between school and home, and believe that the most effective education happens when we work together. We actively engage parents and carers as partners in learning and build positive relationships with our wider community. Throughout the year, we offer many opportunities for families to connect with staff and participate in school life.

We are proud of our achievements in Health & Wellbeing, including our Gold Award from SportScotland, our status as a Health Promoting School, and our commitment to sustainability as an Eco School. Staff, parents and volunteers provide a wide range of HWB and sporting opportunities for our pupils.

Our school accommodates pupils from P1 to P7 across five composite classes. Children join us from several local Partner Provider Nurseries, and upon leaving, our P7 pupils continue their learning at The Community School of Auchterarder or one of the local independent schools.

If you have any questions—no matter how big or small—please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I look forward to welcoming you and working together to ensure the very best for your child.

Warm regards,
Dani McPhee
Headteacher, Dunning Primary School

A Message from our Parent Council

Please help to keep our children safe by observing the

 No Stopping sign outside the school. Thank you.