External Education Establishment Inspection Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 12 December 2024
Back to Community Services Committee — 12 December 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 12 DECEMBER 2024 EXTERNAL EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTION REPORT 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report provides details of all external education establishment inspection reports received across Argyll and Bute Education Service during the period August 2024 To December 2024. 1.2 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee notes: 1.2.1 The contents of this report; 1.2.2 This quarterly report will be presented on an ongoing basis to the Community Services Committee detailing all establishment inspections conducted and published by Education Scotland within that period, and 1.2.3 That Ward members will receive copies of school inspection reports for schools within their area as published by Education Scotland.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 12 DECEMBER 2024 EXTERNAL EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTION REPORT 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides details of all external education establishment inspection reports received across Argyll and Bute Education Service during the August 2024 To December 2024. 2.2 As required for the National Improvement Framework, HMIE report on and provide grades for the following Quality Indicators (QIs) as part of full model inspections (which typically take place over a full school week): QI 1.3 – leadership of change; QI 2.3 – learning, teaching and assessment; QI 3.1 – ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion; and QI 3.2 – raising attainment and achievement In addition, they include a focus on the following themes from other QIs: QI 2.2 curriculum: learning pathways QI 2.7 partnerships: parental engagement 2.3 Short model inspections (typically over two and a half days) focus on two QIs: QI 2.3 – learning, teaching and assessment; and QI 3.2 – raising attainment and achievement HMIE continue to have a focus on safeguarding in every inspection. An inspection advice note issued in January 2024 advised that Inspectors intended to strengthen the evidence they gather about relationships and behaviour in schools and settings during inspections notified from week beginning 15 January 2024. This evidence is being gathered in a range of ways, including through an updated child protection and safeguarding
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evaluation form. In addition to the inspection advice note, schools have been provided with supporting local authority guidance. 2.4 In inspections of early learning and childcare settings, HMIE use the equivalent QIs from ‘How Good Is Our Early Learning and Childcare?’ 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Community Services Committee notes: 3.1 The contents of this report; 3.2 This quarterly report will be presented on an ongoing basis to the Community Services Committee detailing all establishment inspections conducted and published by Education Scotland within that period, and 3.3 That Ward members will receive copies of school inspection reports for schools within their area as published by Education Scotland. 4.0 DETAIL – School Inspections 4.1 Easdale Primary School and ELC was inspected week beginning 20th May 2024 using the short model of inspection. The school received positive feedback from the Managing Inspector with specific reference to: Children who are kind and respectful to each other and to adults. They are proud of their school and nursery. In the school, children engage well in group working and enjoy learning about their rights and sustainability. A whole staff team who have a clear focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children. They provide a range of learning experiences which are relevant to the context in which children live. This ensures almost all children make good progress in their learning. Children in the nursery who benefit from playing and learning with children in the school very regularly throughout the year. They settle quickly and happily when they move into P1. This is helping them to engage well in their learning and make good progress. The link to the published letter and Summary of Inspection Findings (SIF) can be found below: Easdale Primary School | Inspection Report | Education Scotland 4.2 In May 2023, a team of inspectors from Education Scotland visited Bun-sgoil Srath na h- Apainne - Appin Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare and Gaelic Medium Unit. As a result of their inspection findings, it was decided
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that the school needed additional support and more time to make the necessary improvements identified. A return visit to review progress was undertaken with Inspectors the week of 3rd June 2024. The Inspectors reported that the school had made good progress since the original inspection and they were confident that the school had the capacity to improve. No more visits in connection with this inspection will take place. The link to the published letter and Summary of Inspection Findings (SIF) can be found below: Strath of Appin Primary School / Bun Sgoil Strath na h-Apainne (including Gaelic Medium Unit) | Inspection Report | Education Scotland 4.3 Colgrain Primary School and ELC was inspected week beginning 9th September using the full model of inspection. The ELC inspection was a joint inspection with the Care Inspectorate. The link to the published letter and Summary of Inspection Findings (SIF) will be accessible when these documents have been finalised and are available on Education Scotland’s Website. 4.4 Dervaig Primary School was inspected week beginning 23rd September using the full model of inspection. The link to the published letter and Summary of Inspection Findings (SIF) will be accessible when these documents have been finalised and are available on Education Scotland’s Website. 4.5 A joint review focussing on the two remaining areas for improvement at Campbeltown Grammar School took place on 28th and 29th October. This was conducted in partnership with colleagues from HMIe and was a positive engagement. The link to the published letter will be provided once made available. 4.6 A summary of all external school inspection audit reports published by Education Scotland across Argyll and Bute Education Service establishments during the period August 2024 to December 2024 is provided in Appendix 1. 4.7 A summary of the inspection outcomes per establishment detailing strengths and areas for improvement is provided in Appendix 2.
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5.0 DETAIL – National Thematic Inspections 5.1 In addition to visits to schools and settings, HMIE also carry out national thematic inspections. 5.2 The most recent phase of National Thematic Inspection focused on Local Authority Approaches to School Improvement and focused on the following four themes: 1. How do local authorities support schools to improve the quality of education through implementing effective improvement planning and standards and quality reporting? 2. How do local authorities support schools to improve the quality of education through self-evaluation and quality assurance? 3. How do local authorities support schools to improve the quality of education through professional learning? 4. How do local authorities deliver universal support and challenge for all schools, and/or targeted support for specific schools to improve the quality of education? 5.3 Overall findings will be shared through a national report expected to be published early in 2025. The link to the published report will be made accessible when it is available on Education Scotland’s website. 6.0 CONCLUSION 6.1 In summary, two published reports are available from the two inspections which took place during the period of August 2024 To December 2024. 6.2 The Education Service will continue to use the outcomes of establishment inspections to work collaboratively with our Head Teachers to target support and challenge to secure improvement for our children and young people. 7.0 IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Policy – The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 places a duty on Education Authorities to provide children and young people with school education and (in terms of raising standards) requires Authorities to endeavor to secure improvement in the quality of that school education. 7.2 Financial – None 7.3 Legal – None 7.4 HR – None
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7.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: – None 7.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – None 7.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None 7.5.3 Islands – None 7.6 Climate Change - None 7.7 Risk – Reputational risk to the Education Service following a weak report. 7.8 Customer Service – The outcome of establishment inspections of the Education Service of Argyll and Bute Council may significantly enhance or detract from the Council’s reputation and attractiveness as an area to work and live in. 7.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) - None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Education Audrey Forest - Policy Lead for Education Jennifer Crocket Chief Education Officer Head of Education: Wellbeing, Inclusion and Achievement Wendy Brownlie Head of Education: Performance and Improvement For further information please contact:- Simone McAdam, Education Manager Email: Simone.McAdam@argyll-bute.gov.uk December 2024 Appendix 1 - Overview of Inspection Outcomes Appendix 2 – Summary of Inspection Outcomes
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Appendix 1 - Overview of Inspection Outcomes Leadership of Change Learning, Teaching and Assessment Ensuring Wellbeing, Equality and Inclusion Raising Attainment and Achievement Establishment Sector Date of Inspection 1.3 2.3 3.1 3.2 Easdale Primary School May 2024 N/A 4 N/A 4 Easdale ELC ELC May 2024 N/A 4 N/A 4 Colgrain Primary School September 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Colgrain ELC ELC September 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Dervaig Primary School September 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published The Six-point Scale for Inspection Grading Excellent 6 Very Good 5 Good 4 Satisfactory 3 Weak 2 Unsatisfactory 1
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Appendix 2 – Summary of Inspection Outcomes Report Title: Easdale Primary School and Pre-Five Unit Inspection Agency: Education Scotland Key Findings: The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. • Children who are kind and respectful to each other and to adults. They are proud of their school and nursery. In the school, children engage well in group working and enjoy learning about their rights and sustainability. • A whole staff team who have a clear focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children. They provide a range of learning experiences which are relevant to the context in which children live. This ensures almost all children make good progress in their learning. • Children in the nursery who benefit from playing and learning with children in the school very regularly throughout the year. They settle quickly and happily when they move into P1. This is helping them to engage well in their learning and make good progress. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Argyll and Bute Council. • Across the school and nursery, staff should develop further the planning of learning across all areas of the curriculum. This should help them to build on what children already know and can do to help them make the best possible progress in their learning. • In the school, teachers should develop further a clear assessment strategy which includes regular, planned high-quality assessment. This should help them to identify how well children can use their skills and knowledge in new and relevant contexts Date of Inspection: May 2024 Lead Officer to take forward improvement: Judith Frost – Headteacher Central Officer to support improvement: Rachel Binnie – Education Manager