Wester Hailes Education Centre delivers educational, recreational and cultural provision in partnership with many statutory and voluntary agencies in the community. We aim to forge and maintain close links with parents, our associate primary schools and key organisations in the community.

We organise the Centre to provide:

• breadth, balance and choice of educational curriculum
• progression, coherence and continuity within and between courses
• teaching which caters for differences in age, aptitude and ability and supports all learners to achieve their potential
• access to a wide range of relevant and stimulating experiences
• educational, social, cultural and recreation and leisure activities for the community
• a supportive, caring and inclusive environment

Believing that warm and respectful relationships underpin all successful educational work, we treat with unconditional respect all with whom we work. We seek and expect a similar respect from all to whom we give that respect. We pride ourselves on the quality of the relationships which we have achieved among staff, between staff and students, between staff and parents and between staff and users. The Centre management seeks to consult with staff, users and students on all aspects of our work and, in the light of which consultation, seeks to offer clear leadership and strategic direction to all for whom we have responsibility. We seek to develop a well-resourced centre and a staff team of the highest calibre, characterised by professional skill and integrity, a warm and generous approach and a commitment to continuing professional development and training.

Childcare - The Rainbow Under 5s Centre

We are a long established crèche with trained, experienced staff. We provide a friendly, multicultural atmosphere, welcoming children from 0-4 years of age to play in a secure and safe environment whilst you participate in classes or enjoy the leisure facilities.

Aims of the Crèche:

• To provide a caring, stimulating environment for all of our children.
• To keep babies in their home routine as much as is possible.
• To encourage children to be happy and confident individuals.
• To provide learning through play according to age and ability, helping your child move on to the next stage of development.
• To support our young mums and their babies
• To treat all children and parents as individuals and respect all cultures and traditions.

There is excellent supervision and lots of toys and educational equipment available, suitable for the needs of very young children. Small babies are welcome. There is also a large enclosed garden/play area with a safety surface.

How to get a place in the Crèche:

Students attending classes within the school or using the leisure facilities may use the crèche.

Limited places are also available for the children of staff members or parents/carers supported by local agencies.

We also enjoy a successful partnership with the Young Mums Unit, which is based in the High School. This offers a small group of teenage mothers from schools within Edinburgh and Midlothian an opportunity to continue in education whilst we care for their babies.

To enquire about a booking, please telephone 0131 442 2201 ext 260

Wester Hailes Education Centre is a non-denominational six year comprehensive high school, offering a wide range of subjects at every level, including Higher and Advanced Higher. The school provides a first class education for students of all aptitudes and abilities.

We have good relationships with our associate primary schools and offer classes to primary students in a range of subject areas in order to prepare them for High School.

Teaching Departments

The High School at Wester Hailes Education Centre operates a departmental system, with departments based on subjects or groups of related subjects and departments based on providing support for students.

In the traditional academic area we have departments of

* Art

* Business and Computing

* Craft, Design and Technology

* Drama

* English

* Home Economics

* Mathematics

* Modern Languages

* Music

* Physical Education

* Religious and Moral Education

* Science and

* Social Subjects.

Our support for students departments are

* Support for Learning and

* Guidance.

Departments come together for a range of activities and many aspects of school, such as enterprise education, education for citizenship and the health promoting school initiative cross departmental boundaries. Each department is directly linked to the Centre's management team (the Executive) by an Executive link, a depute principal who liaises with and supports a group of specific departments.

Wester Hailes Education Centre has an extensive recreation and leisure programme which operates 85 hours per week, 52 weeks of the year, offering a variety of casual and coached activities to suit all ages and abilities.

The central feature is the leisure pool which consists of a 25m free form swimming pool, encompassing a diving pool with a 1metre springboard and 2 metre fixed board, plus a toddler pool with a slide and pool toys. Continuous admission throughout opening hours offers 40 - 60 minute sessions and incorporates programmed sessions for lane swimming, ‘fun' floats, the Crocodile Airchute and the Gladiator Run. A comprehensive Learn to Swim Scheme is in operation throughout the school term.

A recent addition to the leisure facilities is the Core Fitness Suite, a purpose built facility consisting of 21 pieces of Precor fitness equipment. The equipment is made up of a selection of 13 cardiovascular exercise machines and 8 sets of resistance weights, designed to give you a full body workout, Facilities also include a community hall, community lounge, conference rooms, dance studio, gymnasium, multi purpose sports hall, soft play area, squash courts, outdoor training area and grass pitches.

Sports activities available are aerobics, aqua aerobics, badminton, basketball, boxercise, carpet bowls, diving, fitness training, football, gymnastics, karate, line dancing, short tennis, squash, step aerobics, sub aqua, swimming and table tennis.

To book facilities and hire equipment it is necessary to have a Membership Card; application for Membership may be made at the Cash Desk. Bookings can be made up to one week in advance from the Cash Desk or alternatively by telephoning 0131 621 8303.

Groups, clubs or organisations may hire facilities. Applications for Lets together with the appropriate Scale of Charges and Terms and Conditions are available from the Cash Desk or Booking Clerkess, telephone 0131 442