Developing The Whole Child

Developing the whole child is at the core of Morrison’s Academy’s educational philosophy.

This ethos involves nurturing a child’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development to ensure they grow into well-rounded individuals.  By providing an education that nurtures every aspect of a child’s development, Morrison’s Academy prepares pupils for success in school, work and life.

The school believes that a well-rounded education is essential for helping pupils reach their full potential and become confident, capable and compassionate citizens.

“The School is fully committed to developing pupils’ meta skills as part of the wider Scottish skills development curriculum, designed to help students step out of their comfort zones, ‘discover their strengths and to develop teamwork.”
– The Good Schools Guide 2025

The luxury of being an all through school with a shared campus means that all pupils, from Nursery to Secondary, have access to subject specialists and facilities as they move up the school.

Whether up in the hills discovering mountain biking trails, trailblazing in the STEM room or pioneering business pathways through the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, Morrison’s Academy provides a bespoke education, preparing and equipping pupils with skills for whatever road they choose to follow after school.

Creativity, thinking outside of the box and innovation are all skills which our vibrant Art department seeks to develop in our pupils.

From potato prints in Nursery to Hundertwasser inspired clay design in Primary Six to portraiture, fashion shows and stage design in Advanced Higher, our team of Art specialists inspire confidence in expression, nurture imagination and develop creativity.

Our school has two beautiful and fantastically resourced studios, a photography room and darkroom and an exciting new digital art suite. It’s no wonder that our Art department is described as sector leading.

Morrison’s Academy is the only school in Scotland partnered with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA).

The PJEA programmes foster a culture of enterprise, resilience and outcome focussed learning. Hands on accredited enterprise courses and qualifications offer participants the opportunity to run their own business, learn entrepreneurial proficiency and develop financial literacy.

From social enterprises in the Primary school, Tycoon Challenges, accredited enterprise courses and qualifications in the Secondary school and even the opportunity for pupils to run their own business, all our pupils learn entrepreneurial proficiency and develop financial literacy.

Our Learning for Life programme is unique to Morrison’s Academy and sits at the heart of our curriculum.

The programme is built around five contexts:

– Health and Wellbeing
– Global Citizenship
– Life Skills
– The Big Questions
– Enterprise

A wealth of experiences, projects and activities are delivered through these contexts, providing pupils with the opportunity to develop the skills and values they need to succeed as passionate, ambitious and lifelong learners.

From Primary One to S6 all pupils receive a weekly Learning for Life lesson, which is interactive and experiential. The programme is designed to encourage independent learning and thinking as well as the ability to work and collaborate with others.

While we recognise academic results are the passport to further education and workplace opportunities, we know that for young people to be successful and thrive, the ability to communicate, problem solve, work with others, ask questions, find solutions, form relationships, be curious and innovate are essential in the ever evolving 21st century workplace.

The benefits of studying language and linguistics are plentiful and widely recognised.

Enhanced communication skills and social connections, refined memory and problem solving abilities, opportunities to learn about other cultures and improved personal growth via travel and exploration ultimately lead to improved career prospects for our pupils.

Our superbly resourced English department establishes strong foundations for all pupils, with the curriculum extending to Advanced Higher level.  Staff utilise popular and engaging reference works and pupils are often given the opportunity to contextualise and reinforce their learning beyond the classroom with educational trips to the theatre.

Morrison’s Academy currently offers French, German and Spanish to Advanced Higher level.  Learning is interactive and engaging and supplemented by foreign exchange trips with partner institutions.

It is commonly known that young children who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs can help imprint information on young minds.

Music can be taken to Advanced Higher, instrumental tuition is available from Primary One and musical co-curricular clubs are numerous and open to every child.

Music provides our pupils with opportunities for performance at all ages – from weekly lessons in the Nursery to Primary orchestras, choirs, musicals, Secondary ensembles, chamber choirs, school shows and our fantastic pipe band.

We make the most of our stunning location. In Nursery, our Indoor-Outdoor philosophy allows our pupils to become comfortable and confident in the great outdoors.

For the child that loves exploring, discovering and being outside in the fresh air, our beautiful campus and proximity to the Highland hills provides an inspiring environment.

Climbing, mountain biking, bike-ability, paddle boarding, canoeing, orienteering and skiing are some of the activities which all pupils from Primary to Secondary have the opportunity to experience as part of their Morrison’s Academy education.

We help pupils step out of their comfort zones to discover their strengths and develop teamwork, giving them a better understanding of nature and hopefully, a passion for the outdoors.

Housed in modern and light filled rooms equipped with fantastic resources, Geography, History and Modern Studies are all available to Advanced Higher level at Morrison’s Academy.

Devoted to the study of sciences and the relationships among members within those societies, our pupils are actively encouraged to explore, interrogate and spark their curiosity. They are taught to embrace cultural awareness and develop organisational, transferable and critical thinking skills which equip them to become more fully-rounded and empathetic citizens.

All our pupils from Nursery to S6 receive weekly PE and Games lessons from our team of specialist PE teachers and coaches.

We have excellent facilities on campus including a games hall with climbing wall and adjacent bouldering room, a fitness suite, large gym, five outdoor tennis courts, a nine hole pitch and putt course and our beautiful 45-acre playing fields at Dallerie.

Throughout the school, pupils have the opportunity to develop their skills, understanding and love of sport through a wide range of activities and certificate courses, up to and including Advanced Higher PE.

Whether your child has aspirations to play hockey or rugby for Scotland, to play tennis with their friends, or compete in fixtures against other schools, they can improve their fitness in our fantastic fitness suite or try new skills and activities in a myriad of sports. We have something for everyone and encourage all to participate.

STEM; Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths is actively embedded with our school’s curriculum.

If your child enjoys science, engineering, mathematical puzzles and discovering how things work, our dedicated STEM workshop allows room for creative thinking and projects to grow.

We have a specialist teacher of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths who provides hands-on and interactive experiences for our Primary learners.

In Secondary School, Coding, Computer Studies and Maths is fully embedded throughout our curriculum, alongside Biology, Chemistry and Physics which are all taught to Advanced Higher level.

With a rich history spanning 165 years, Morrison’s Academy has built a strong reputation for academic excellence and providing a well-rounded education for boys and girls aged 2 to 18.

The school’s dedication to developing the whole child is reflected in its outstanding educational offerings.  With diverse opportunities such as Across Scotland expeditions, Geography field trips to California and experiences that spark curiosity like enterprise challenges and STEM events, our talented and dedicated staff ensure that every Morrisonian has the opportunity to explore their interests, develop their talents, take part and be involved.

Every pupil is given the chance to shine in their own unique way.