External Education Establishment Inspection Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 March 2024
Back to Community Services Committee — 7 March 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 7 March 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 October 2023 to January 2024 1.2 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee notes: a) The contents of this report; b) 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 7 March 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 October 2023 to January 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. This evidence will be gathered in a range of ways, including through an updated child protection and safeguarding evaluation form. 2.4 In inspections of early learning and childcare settings, HMIE use the equivalent QIs from ‘How Good Is Our Early Learning and Childcare?’
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3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that the Community Services Committee notes: a) The contents of this report; b) 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 Hermitage Primary School was inspected using the short model of inspection. The school received very positive feedback from the Managing Inspector with specific reference to: staff approaches to professional learning. Led very effectively by senior leaders, staff work very well together to improve the quality of learning and teaching; children who are happy, kind and respectful who are enthusiastic learners and are proud of their school. They demonstrate the school values and enjoy learning in a range of contexts, including outdoors; highly-effective approaches to extend and enhance children’s learning experiences using digital technology. As children move through the school, they become increasingly skilled in using technology purposefully and effectively; and, children’s very good progress in their learning. They have a very wide range of opportunities in which to achieve and be successful. The school’s work in developing their use of digital approaches across the school to support and enhance learning was identified in the report as an area of practice worth sharing more widely. As a result of the very positive inspection at Hermitage Primary School, the headteacher received a letter from Janie McManus (Interim Chief Inspector of Education, Education Scotland) offering her warm congratulations and acknowledging the school’s highly effective practice. 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 4.2 Tayvallich Primary School was inspected week beginning 20th November using the long model of inspection. The school received positive feedback from the Managing Inspector with specific reference to: the headteacher and staff who have created a nurturing, inclusive ethos, across the school and ELC. Strong, positive relationships between adults and children are based on mutual respect
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and understanding; the polite, happy children who work well together in the mixed-age classes. They are keen to learn and show respect and kindness to each other; the successful partnership working between staff and parents. This results in parents feeling valued partners in their child's learning: staff in the ELC providing children with rich, real-life learning opportunities using the local environment and the wider community well; and, ELC staff working well with school staff to plan valuable opportunities for children to learn and play with children in the primary school. The school and ELC’s work in learning across the early level was identified in the report as an area of practice worth sharing more widely. 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 Arrochar Primary School was inspected week beginning 22nd January 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. 4.4 Kilninver Primary School was inspected week beginning 29th January using the long 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 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 has been scheduled for week beginning 26th February 2024. The link to the published letter will be accessible when it has been finalised and is available on Education Scotland’s website. 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 October 2023 to January 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. 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
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2023. Both headteachers received very positive oral feedback from HMIE at the end of their respective visits. 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. 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 Class; and, Tarbert Academy (3-18). 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 October 2023 to January 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
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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 Councillor Yvonne McNeilly - Policy Lead for Education Wendy Brownlie Head of Education: Performance and Improvement January 2024 For further information please contact:- Victoria Quinn, Education Officer Telephone: 01631 567942 Email: Victoria.Quinn@argyll-bute.gov.uk.
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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 Hermitage Primary School Primary October 2023 N/A 5 N/A 5 Tayvallich Primary Primary November 2023 4 4 4 4 Tayvallich ELC ELC November 2023 5 5 5 5 Arrochar Primary Primary January 2024 N/A Not yet published N/A Not yet published Arrochar ELC ELC January 2024 N/A Not yet published N/A Not yet published Kilninver Primary School Primary January 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Kilninver ELC ELC January 2024 Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published Not yet published The Six-point Scale for Inspection Grading
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Excellent 6 Very Good 5 Good 4 Satisfactory 3 Weak 2 Unsatisfactory 1
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Appendix 2 - Establishment Detail of Inspection Outcomes
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Report Title: Hermitage Primary School Inspection Agency: Education Scotland Key Findings: The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. • Staff approaches to professional learning. Led very effectively by senior leaders, staff work very well together to improve the quality of learning and teaching. • Children, who are happy, kind and respectful. They are enthusiastic learners and are proud of their school. Children demonstrate the school values very well and enjoy learning in a range of contexts, including outdoors. • The highly-effective approaches to extend and enhance children’s learning experiences using digital technology. As children move through the school, they become increasingly skilled in using technology purposefully and effectively. • Children’s very good progress in their learning. They have a very wide range of opportunities in which to achieve and be successful. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Argyll and Bute Council. • Continue to develop approaches for checking the progress of children across all curriculum areas. Date of Inspection: October 2023 Return Visit: N/A Lead Officer to take forward improvement: Marianne Docherty – Acting Headteacher Central Officer to support improvement: Brendan Docherty – Education Manager
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Report Title: Tayvallich Primary School Inspection Agency: Education Scotland Key Findings: The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work. • The headteacher and staff have created a nurturing, inclusive ethos, across the school and ELC. Strong, positive relationships between adults and children are based on mutual respect and understanding. • The polite, happy children who work well together in the mixed-age classes. They are keen to learn and show respect and kindness to each other. • The successful partnership working between staff and parents. This results in parents feeling valued partners in their child's learning. • Staff in the ELC provide children with rich, real-life learning opportunities using the local environment and the wider community well. • ELC staff work well with school staff to plan valuable opportunities for children to learn and play with children in the primary school. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Argyll and Bute Council. • The headteacher and staff should continue developing approaches for planning learning. This will help them to raise attainment further. • The headteacher and staff should continue to develop and embed consistent approaches to assessing children’s learning. They should continue to work together to achieve consistency in their judgements about children’s progress and attainment. Date of Inspection: November 2023 Return Visit: N/A Lead Officer to take forward improvement: Lena Carter – Headteacher Central Officer to support improvement: Rosie MacKay – Education Manager