Tarbert Academy
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 June 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 4 June 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTAINMENT REPORT AREA COMMITTEE Tarbert Academy 4th June 2025
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Tarbert Academy is a 2-18 school located in the village of Tarbert. We are a friendly, happy and vibrant school which enjoys the support and friendship of the communities we serve. Our pupils are Tarbert Academy’s greatest asset – courteous and personable young people of whom we are justly proud. There are three stages of schooling in Tarbert Academy. • The Pre-5 unit serves the village and near environs of Tarbert. • The Primary serves the village and the surrounding community. • The Secondary serves the communities of South Knapdale and North Kintyre. In additions to its own Primary, the school’s associated Primary is Clachan Primary School. Pupils in Gigha Primary School and Rhunahaorine Primary School choose between Campbeltown Grammar School and Tarbert Academy for secondary education. Tarbert Academy’s combined role is 209 pupils. We recognise and celebrate the three stages of schooling in Tarbert Academy yet have softened the interface between them – often working together across sectors and as a whole school community 6.7% of young people were registered for free school meals. In September 2023, 0.8% of young people live in 20% most deprived data zones in Scotland and 40% of young people have a additional support need. A joint headship is currently in place. An acting Headteacher will take up post in August 2025.
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Section 1 S3 ACEL Attainment in Literacy and Numeracy School Level % Achieved Reading Writing L&T Literacy Numeracy Tarbert Academy Third Level or better 88.0 84.0 92.0 84.0 80.0 Argyll & Bute Third Level or better 91.9 87.5 89.8 86.3 92.1 Tarbert Academy Fourth Level 56.0 52.0 52.0 48.0 52.0 Argyll & Bute Fourth Level 67.2 65.6 69.6 64.1 64.4 Evaluative Comment – Areas of Strength in BGE Attainment: • The percentage of young people achieving Third level reading is very closely in line with Argyll and Bute • The percentage of young people achieving Third level writing is very closely in line with Argyll and Bute • The percentage of young people achieving Third level Listening and Talking is above Argyll and Bute • The percentage of young people achieving Third level Literacy is very closely in line with Argyll and Bute Evaluative Comment – Areas for Development in BGE Attainment: • The percentage of young people achieving fourth level Literacy and Numeracy requires to be improved. • A numeracy action plan has been developed to improve the data. • Increased working with Primary school staff has been planned to ensure there is a clear understanding of the required standard. • Further whole school moderation sessions. • Revised whole school planning procedures. • Revised whole school tracking.
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Section 2 National Qualifications 2024 – Percentage of Awards – A-C and A-D Evaluative Comment – Areas of Strength • National 5 A-C passes are broadly in line with Argyll and Bute Council and the National Establishment • Higher A-C passes are higher than Argyll and Bute • National 5 A-D passes are broadly in line with Argyll and Bute and the National Establishment
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Evaluative Comment – Areas for Development • Higher A-C passes are slightly below the National establishment • Advanced Higher A-C passes and A-D passes are below the National Establishment • Higher A-D passes are slightly below Argyll and Bute council and the National Establishment • Changes have been made to the curriculum to address the areas of development. • Improved tracking procedures implemented. • Continue to implement more effective coursing procedures. Section 3 Insight Data What is Insight Scotland? Insight is a professional tool, aimed at teachers and other staff. It is used to help secondary schools and local authorities identify areas of success and where improvements can be made for pupils in the senior phase. The dashboard has four measures: • Improving Attainment in Literacy and Numeracy (presented below as separate Literacy and Numeracy graphs) • Increasing Post-School Participation • Improving Attainment for All • Attainment Versus Deprivation The school’s data below is compared to what is termed The Virtual Comparator. The virtual comparator consists of a sample group of school leavers from schools in other local authorities who have similar characteristics to the school leavers from the school in question. This allows the most accurate and meaningful comparison of attainment data.
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3a Improving Attainment in Literacy and Numeracy
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Evaluative Comment – Areas of Strength • For the last four years 100% of young people have achieved level 4 literacy. For the last 4 years this has been above the Virtual comparator. • For the last 5 years 100% of young people have achieved level 4 numeracy. Is all cases this is above the Virtual Comparator
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Evaluative Comment – Areas for Development • There was a drop in the percentage of young people achieving a level 5 literacy compared to 2023 • There was a drop in the percentage of young people achieving level 5 numeracy. This is lowest percentage from the last 5 years. • Revised Numeracy Strategy in place. • Whole school moderation sessions to continue. • Improved tracking procedures implemented. • Further use of standardised assessments to identify students requiring additional support. • Extra time allocated on timetable to support literacy and numeracy skills development.
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3b Increased post-school participation Evaluative Comment – Areas of Strength • During the last 3 out of the 5 last years positive destinations have been above Argyll and Bute, Virtual Comparator, The Northern Alliance and The National establishment. The positive destinations have been 100% • For 2023-24 Tarbert Academy is in line with Argyll and Bute, The Northern Alliance and the National Establishment.
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Evaluative Comment – Areas for Development • There was a drop in the percentage of leavers in a positive destination from 2022-23. As a school we are aware of the reasoning for this. This situation has been monitored and the pupil is now in a destination. • Continue to work with DYW Argyll to focus on appropriate pathways for our young people • Further develop local community partnerships that will support young people to progress into the world of work • Introduce a new unit of work with our associated primary schools. This will support the aspirations of pupils before joining Tarbert Academy. • Refreshed approach to work experience. • Increased wider achievement offer.
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3c Improving attainment for all
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Evaluative Comment – Areas of Strength • For the last 5 years our lowest 20% of learners have been performing better that Argyll and Bute, The Northern Alliance and the National establishment. 2022 was the only year Tarbert Academy was below our Virtual Comparator. • In 4 out of the last 5 years our middle 60% of learners have performed in line of better than Argyll and Bute, The Northern Alliance and the national establishment. • For the last 4 out of the 5 last year’s our average total tariff points have been in line with the Virtual comparator, Argyll and Bute, the Northern Alliance and the National Establishment
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Evaluative Comment – Areas for Development • In 2024 our total tariff points was below our Virtual Comparator, Argyll and Bute, The Northern Alliance and The National Establishment • Our highest 20% of learner in 2024, were below our Virtual Comparator, Argyll and Bute, The Northern Alliance and The National Establishment • In 2024 our middle 60% of learners below our Virtual Comparator, Argyll and Bute, The Northern Alliance and The National Establishment • We have introduced a new senior phase tracking and monitoring package which will identify learners who are not achieving their potential early. An intervention package has also been introduced. • We will be introducing new wider achievement opportunities in the senior phase. This will support an increase in our total tariff points. • Increased curriculum requirement in S6. • New courses introduced.
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3d Attainment versus Deprivation Evaluative Comment – Areas of Strength • In SIMD 5 Tarbert Academy is above the virtual comparator.
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Evaluative Comment – Areas for Development • In SIMD 6 and 7 Tarbert Academy is below the virtual comparator. • Increased curriculum requirement in S6. • New courses introduced. • Wider Achievement opportunities for all.
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Section 4 Wider Achievement Qualifications National Certificates; Higher National Certificates; Scottish Vocational Qualifications; National Progression Awards; Skills for Work qualifications; Foundation Apprenticeships; Scottish Baccalaureate Overall evaluative comment/narrative on Wider Achievement Qualifications in your school: FA Creative Digital Media FA Social Services and Young People Higher Psychology H Sociology NPA Level 5 Engineering NPA Level 6 Criminology Bikeability Step Up to University: Foundation Academy Module Duke of Edinburgh Awards Dynamic Youth Awards Saltire Awards Hi-5 Awards Enterprise and Employability Units Leadership Award
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Section 5 Equity and Attainment – Evaluation of Key Factors Factor in attainment Attendance School Ave. Att. 23-24: 89.3% (87.3% in Argyll and Bute) Persistent Absence: 46% (45% in Argyll and Bute) Exclusion No. of Exclusion Incidents 23-24: 0 No. of Exclusion Openings 23-24: 0 Rate per 1000 pupils: 0 (18.2 in Argyll and Bute) Additional Support Needs Census 2023: 40% (40% in Argyll and Bute) SIMD Census 2023: 2.5% in Deciles 1-3 (18% in Argyll and Bute) Free School Meal Entitlement Census 2023: 7% (14% in Argyll and Bute) Care Experienced (and previously Care Experienced) Census 2023: 4.2% (5 pupils) English as Additional Language Census 2023: 0% Other (give details)
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Pupil Equity Funding • Funding used to support a Family Liaison Officer (FLO). Supports targeted young people and their families in school and at home. • FLO interventions has directly impacted attendance improvements and wellbeing scores. Section 6 Other information Add good news etc. • S3 class have continued to support local charities through their participation in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. • Geobus visit for S1&2. • Austrian Exchange. • S1/2 participation in Rugby sessions with Mid Argyll RFC. • S1 Kilmartin Museum and Dunadd project. • Annual Scottish Parliament visit. • Loch Eil: S6 Leadership and S3 Resilience courses. • S4 accepted to NYOS. • Students in Youth Fire Service.