Park Mains HS Inspection ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 9 March 2023
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 9 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
1 ___________________________________________________________________ To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 9 March 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Education Scotland Inspection of Park Mains High School ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Park Mains High School was inspected by Education Scotland in November 2022 as part of a national sample of education. Education Scotland uses different models of inspection and at Park Mains High School the duration of the inspection was the short model. Inspectors assessed the school with a focus on two quality indicators, which were: learning, teaching and assessment and raising attainment and achievement. 1.2 This was a positive inspection which evaluated both quality indicators as ‘good’. 1.3 The inspection report in the form of a letter to parents, published by Education Scotland on 24 January 2023, is attached as an appendix to this report and is also available from the Director of Children’s Services or from the Education Scotland website. The letter to parents identified three key strengths of the school. These were: The staff, with strong leadership from the headteacher and senior leadership team, are establishing a culture of aspiration across the school. This is increasingly engaging young people more effectively in their learning. Across the school, there are examples of strong practice in learning and teaching. Where these are most effective, young people benefit from learning that is creative, active, challenging, and well-paced.
Page 2
2 Young people are developing a range of skills through a wide variety of opportunities to learn, attain and achieve across a range of contexts. Achievements are celebrated widely, and this is motivating young people well. 1.4 The inspection report also identified three areas for further improvement: Senior leaders have correctly identified learning and teaching as a key priority in the school improvement plan. Maintaining this focus on high- quality learning and teaching will help to ensure that all learners experience learning and teaching that meets their needs. Continue to improve attainment, particularly building on recent improvements in young people’s attainment in numeracy. Continue to develop the skills of staff at all levels in using information and data to inform and evaluate priorities for improvement. 1.5 There is an agreed set of procedures for responding to inspection reports which will support the school and Children’s Services to plan how the area for further improvement will be addressed. Actions are detailed within the school improvement plan which is shared with parents. In addition, the school will be supported in its improvement journey by Children’s Services. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board are asked to note and celebrate the key strengths and recognise the area for further improvement in the Education Scotland report on Park Mains High School. __________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Following a pause to inspections due to the pandemic, Education Scotland’s routine programme of inspection of schools and early years settings resumed in September 2022. Children’s Services welcomes the process of audit undertaken by Education Scotland as supportive to continuous improvement in Renfrewshire’s education establishments. The school team at Park Mains High School approached the inspection in a positive manner and embraced it as a professional learning opportunity in partnership with colleagues at Education Scotland. 3.2 The report includes three areas for further improvement, and progress in addressing this will be monitored by Children’s Services staff through the Quality Improvement Framework. 3.3 The inspection report will inform planned improvement activity, and will enable the school and wider service, to build on the recognised strengths and focus further development on areas for improvement to enable the school to continue to deliver a quality educational provision.
Page 3
3 __________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - None 2. HR & Organisational Development - None 3. Community/Council Planning – engaging with, and learning from external inspection, ensures that our Renfrewshire is thriving: high standards of education provision ensure that children and young people are given the best start in life so that they promote and contribute to a more prosperous, fairer society. It also ensures our Renfrewshire is well – by providing an environment which encourages care, welfare and development, establishments play a crucial role in developing children and young people so that they become responsible citizens. The inspection process also supports delivery of the Council Plan cross- cutting theme of improving outcomes for children and families as well as other Council Plan key strategic outcomes, for example: Economy - Equipping all children and young people to achieve success in life Fair - Creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for children and young people - Embedding children’s rights in our decision-making processes 4. Legal - None 5. Property/Assets - None 6. Information Technology - None 7. Equality & Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety - None 9. Procurement - None 10. Risk - None 11. Privacy Impact - None
Page 4
4 12. Cosla Policy Position – N/A 13. Climate Risk - None. ________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers - The inspection report and additional evidence is published on the Education Scotland website and can be accessed via this link. __________________________________________________________ SB/TMcG 30 January 2023 Author: Susan Bell, Education Manager Susan.bell-hq@renfrewshire.gov.uk 07983 855712
Page 5
1 | Park Mains High School, Renfrewshire Council, 8627932 © Crown Copyright 24 January 2023 Dear Parent/Carer In November 2022, a team of inspectors from Education Scotland visited Park Mains High School. During our visit, we talked to parents/carers and young people and worked closely with the headteacher and staff. The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. • The staff, with strong leadership from the headteacher and senior leadership team, are establishing a culture of aspiration across the school. This is increasingly engaging young people more effectively in their learning. • Across the school, there are examples of strong practice in learning and teaching. Where these are most effective, young people benefit from learning that is creative, active, challenging, and well-paced. • Young people are developing a range of skills through a wide variety of opportunities to learn, attain and achieve across a range of contexts. Achievements are celebrated widely and this is motivating young people well. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Renfrewshire Council • Senior leaders have correctly identified learning and teaching as a key priority in the school improvement plan. Maintaining this focus on high-quality learning and teaching will help to ensure that all learners experience learning and teaching that meets their needs. • Continue to improve attainment, particularly building on recent improvements in young people’s attainment in numeracy. • Continue to develop the skills of staff at all levels in using information and data to inform and evaluate priorities for improvement.
Page 6
2 | Park Mains High School, Renfrewshire Council, 8627932 © Crown Copyright We gathered evidence to enable us to evaluate the school’s work using quality indicators from How good is our school? (4th edition). Quality indicators help schools, local authorities and inspectors to judge what is working well and what needs to be improved. Following the inspection of each school, the Scottish Government gathers details of our evaluations to keep track of how well Scottish schools are doing. Here are Education Scotland’s evaluations for Park Mains High School Quality indicators Evaluation Learning, teaching and assessment good Raising attainment and achievement good Descriptions of the evaluations are available from: How good is our school? (4th edition), Appendix 3: The six-point scale. A more detailed document called Summarised Inspection Findings (SIF) will be available on the Education Scotland website at: Reports page | Inspection reports | Education Scotland. What happens next? We are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection. Renfrewshire Council will inform parents/carers about the school’s progress as part of its arrangements for reporting on the quality of its schools. David Drysdale HM Inspector