External Education Establishment Inspection Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 June 2024
Back to Community Services Committee — 6 June 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 6 JUNE 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 January 2024 to April 2024 1.2 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: a) Notes the contents of this report; b) That 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 c) 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 6 June 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 period January 2024 to April 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 intend 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 will be gathered in a range of ways, including through an updated child protection and safeguarding evaluation form. In addition to the inspection advice note, schools have been provided with supporting local authority guidance.
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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 3.1 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: a) Note the contents of this report; b) That 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 c) 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 Arrochar Primary School was inspected week beginning 22nd January using the short model of inspection. The school received very positive feedback from the Managing Inspector with specific reference to: highly positive relationships in the school and ELC class. Senior leaders and all staff work very well together to ensure a warm, nurturing and inclusive ethos where children flourish. They enjoy learning and support each other very well; consistently high-quality learning and play experiences provided by staff, particularly through use of the outdoors. This enhances all children’s learning and supports them to attain and achieve well; highly effective partnership working with local community and partner organisations. Purposeful, authentic experiences are regular features of school and ELC life and support all children to learn, achieve success and grow in confidence; and, children’s sustained high standards of progress and attainment in literacy, numeracy and wellbeing. Children apply their skills and knowledge to a wide range of contexts across their learning. Two areas were identified as practice worth sharing more widely: The school’s work in providing high-quality outdoor learning experiences; and, the highly effective opportunities for children to apply their numeracy and mathematics skills and learning regularly within purposeful, real-life experiences including through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) enquiry challenges and problem solving. The link to the published letter and Summary of Inspection Findings (SIF) can be found below:
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Details | Find an inspection report | Find an inspection report | Inspection and review | Education Scotland 4.2 Kilninver Primary School was inspected week beginning 29th January using the full model of inspection. The school received positive feedback from the Managing Inspector with specific reference to: the headteacher and staff across the school and early learning and childcare setting (ELC) have created a calm, inclusive learning environment. Children feel cared for and happy as a result; children are enthusiastic and eager to learn. They are polite, friendly and have a well-developed understanding of their own wellbeing; and, children in the ELC are motivated and engaged in their learning. Skilled practitioners help them to make good progress in their learning. They provide stimulating learning experiences that build on children’s interests and promote curiosity. The link to the published letter and Summary of Inspection Findings (SIF) can be found below: Details | Find an inspection report | Find an inspection report | Inspection and review | Education Scotland 4.3 Lochgilphead Joint Campus was inspected week beginning 18th March 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. 4.4 Park Primary School was inspected week beginning 15th April 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 Easdale Primary School will be inspected week beginning 20th May using the short 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. 4.6 In January 2023, a team of inspectors from Education Scotland visited Kilmartin Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare. As a result of their inspection findings, it was decided that the school needed additional support and more time to make the necessary improvements identified. A return visit to review progress was undertaken week beginning 26th February 2024. The school received positive feedback from the Managing Inspector, which noted that very positive progress has been made since the original inspection. Inspectors are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and consequently, will make no more visits in connection with the original inspection.
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The link to the published letter can be found below: Details | Find an inspection report | Find an inspection report | Inspection and review | Education Scotland 4.7 A summary of all external school inspection audit reports published by Education Scotland across Argyll and Bute Education Service establishments during the period January 2024 to April 2024 is provided in Appendix 1. 4.8 A summary of the inspection outcomes per establishment detailing strengths and areas for improvement is provided in Appendix 2. 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 the national thematic inspection focused on curriculum design. Oban High School participated in this national thematic on 7th - 8th March 2023 and Ulva Primary School was visited on the 2nd and 3rd May 2023. Both headteachers received very positive oral feedback from HMIE at the end of their respective visits. Overall findings have been shared through a national report. The link to this can be found below: evaluation-of-curriculum-design-in-scotland-national-thematic-report.docx (live.com) 5.3 Directors of Education have been advised that HMIE intend to develop their national thematic inspection of mathematics in 2023-2024. This thematic inspection will have a specific focus on learning and teaching of mathematics. They will gather evidence for this inspection between 26th February and 21st June 2024. This will enable them to publish findings in autumn 2024. 5.4 HMIE will visit around 50 settings and schools. The selection will include a geographical spread across Scotland and include Early Learning and Childcare, primary, secondary and special schools. 5.5 As part of the planned thematic inspection, HMIE propose to visit two Argyll and Bute schools: Rockfield Primary School and Rockfield Gaelic Unit and Nursery
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Class which was visited week beginning 29th April; and, Tarbert Academy (3- 18), for which visit dates have still to be confirmed. 5.6 Overall findings will be shared through a national report. The link to the published report will be 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 January 2024 to April 2024, and one published report is available from a return HMIE visit which took place in February 2024. 6.2 The Education Service will continue to use the outcomes of establishment inspections to work collaboratively with our headteachers 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 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 4 detract from
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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 Forrest - Policy Lead for Education Wendy Brownlie Head of Education: Performance and Improvement For further information please contact:- Victoria Quinn, Education Officer Telephone: 01631 567942 Email: Victoria.Quinn@argyll-bute.gov.uk. March 2024 Appendix 1 – Overview of Inspection Outcomes Appendix 2 - Establishment Detail of Inspection Outcomes
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Appendix 1 - Overview of Inspection Outcomes Quality Indicator Leadership of Change Learning, Teaching and Assessment Ensuring Wellbeing, Equality & Inclusion Raising Attainment & Achievement Establishment Sector Date of Inspection 1.3 2.3 3.1 3.2 Arrochar Primary Primary January 2024 N/A 5 N/A 5 Arrochar ELC ELC January 2024 N/A 5 N/A 5 Kilninver Primary School Primary January 2024 3 3 3 3 Kilninver ELC ELC January 2024 3 4 4 4 Lochgilphead Joint Campus School March 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Lochgilphead Joint Campus ELC ELC March 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Park Primary School April 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Park ELC ELC April 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published
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Quality Indicator Leadership of Change Learning, Teaching and Assessment Ensuring Wellbeing, Equality & Inclusion Raising Attainment & Achievement Establishment Sector Date of Inspection 1.3 2.3 3.1 3.2 Easdale Primary School May 2024 N/A Not yet published N/A Not yet published Easdale ELC ELC May 2024 N/A Not yet published N/A 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 - Establishment Detail of Inspection Outcomes Report Title: Arrochar Primary School Inspection Agency: Education Scotland Key Findings: The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. • Highly positive relationships in the school and ELC class. Senior leaders and all staff work very well together to ensure a warm, nurturing and inclusive ethos where children flourish. They enjoy learning and support each other very well. • Consistently high-quality learning and play experiences provided by staff, particularly through use of the outdoors. This enhances all children’s learning and supports them to attain and achieve very well. • Highly effective partnership working with local community and partner organisations. Purposeful, authentic experiences are regular features of school and ELC life and support all children to learn, achieve success and grow in confidence. • Children’s sustained high standards of progress and attainment in literacy, numeracy and wellbeing. Children successfully apply their skills and knowledge to a wide range of contexts across their learning. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Argyll and Bute Council. • As planned, staff should continue to review and refine approaches to planning and assessment across the ELC class and school. This should include supporting children to set and reflect on individual targets. Date of Inspection: January 2024 Return Visit: N/A Lead Officer to take forward improvement: Lynn Wells - Headteacher Central Officer to support improvement: Brendan Docherty – Education Manager
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Report Title: Kilninver Primary School Inspection Agency: Education Scotland Key Findings: The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. • The headteacher and staff across the school and early learning and childcare setting (ELC) have created a calm, inclusive learning environment. Children feel cared for and happy as a result. • Children are enthusiastic and eager to learn. They are polite, friendly and have a well-developed understanding of their own wellbeing. • Children in the ELC are motivated and engaged in their learning. Skilled practitioners help them to make good progress in their learning. They provide stimulating learning experiences that build on children’s interests and promote curiosity. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Argyll and Bute Council. • The headteacher should use national guidance to strengthen the approaches for school improvement. • The staff team at the primary stages should work together to improve children’s progress and attainment across the curriculum, particularly in writing. • The headteacher should work with teachers to develop greater consistency in learning, teaching and assessment. They should ensure the pace of learning is brisker and lessons and activities are well-matched to meet all children’s needs. This will help children to make the best possible progress. Date of Inspection: January 2024 Return Visit: N/A Lead Officer to take forward improvement: Sharon Burt – Headteacher Central Officer to support improvement: Rachel Binnie – Acting Education Manager