Headteacher's Welcome

We are delighted to welcome you to Paradykes Primary School & Family Learning Centre!

Whether you are a pupil, parent/carer or a member of our community, I hope our website will help you to gain a greater understanding of who we are, what we stand for and what we do.

Paradykes Primary School is a co-educational, non-denominational school serving parts of Loanhead and Straiton. Loanhead is a town in Midlothian, in the commuter belt to the south of Edinburgh, and close to Roslin, Bonnyrigg and Dalkeith. The town was built on coal and oil shale mining, and the paper industries. Straiton is an area of newer housing and a retail park, which includes large retail stores such as Ikea, Costco and Next.

Paradykes Primary School is one of 7 schools which feed into Lasswade High School, although some of our P7 children move on to Beeslack High School in Penicuik.  We are currently in a period of consultation over the new Beeslack Community High School of which Paradykes will be a feeder primary school upon its completion in August 2026. 

The main school building, which opened in October 2018, forms part of a larger complex which includes a leisure centre, a library and a medical practice, as well as SureStart Nursery and Loanhead After School Club. This session, the school comprised a nursery, catering for 48 full time places, and 13 classes from P1 to P7, for 340 children. 

The staff team is a close team and extremely committed. The Senior Leadership Team consists of Helen Reed (Head Teacher), Jennifer Sommerville (Deputy Headteacher), and Lynsey Stewart (Principal Teacher). The rest of the team includes 15 teachers, 1 Support for Learning teacher, 12 Learning Assistants, two Senior Early Years Practitioners, 6 Early Years Practitioners, an Office Administrator, Office Support, a Facilities Manager, 4 cleaners and 7 catering staff. The school has continued to benefit from our Play Therapist, who provides a drop-in service as well as individual/filial therapy for a number of our children and families.

The school is really well supported by an active Parent Council. Parents organise social and fundraising events to raise monies for school priorities, and meet regularly to discuss concerns, issues and queries that affect parents and families within our community. 

We recognise that parents, carers and families are the key educators of their children and we look forward to developing a partnership with you so that your child is happy, motivated and supported in achieving their full potential.

Paradykes Primary School & Family Learning Centre aims to be a nurturing school. We have an extremely caring and committed staff who work together as a team to ensure that we meet the needs of your child.

Please feel free to contact the school office or any member of the Senior Leadership Team if you have any queries

If you are considering enrolling your child at Paradykes Primary school and Family Learning Centre, please do get in touch to arrange a visit to the school so that you can get a feel for us and our ethos.

I look forward to meeting and working with you!

Helen Reed

Headteacher