Main points for action
1. At S1/S2, the school should give a priority to raising attainment, and in particular language and numeracy skills by better identification of pupils’ needs through assessment, improved timetabling and wider use of information technology to support learning.
The school was making good progress with this recommendation.
The school has taken positive steps to raise pupils’ attainment in English language at S1/S2. The school has allocated an extra 30 minutes per week to language, provided additional support and introduced personal reading programmes. Assessment information is now being used appropriately to identify the next steps in pupils’ learning. At the time of the follow-up inspection evidence was emerging of improvements in pupils’ attainment in English language. Staff have also taken a number of appropriate measures in an effort to improve pupils’ attainment in mathematics at S1/S2. They have reviewed the course to include more mental work and greater use of information technology, purchased new resources, developed homework and introduced speed tests in numeracy. However, there has not yet been a significant improvement in pupils’ attainment in mathematics. Staff need to take further steps to improve assessment procedures and to match work more closely to pupils’ attainments.
2. Building on the good practice already established, the school should work to raise pupils’ expectations, increase the number of General and Credit level passes at Standard Grade and improve performance at Higher Grade and in SQA modules at S5/S6.
The school was making some progress in addressing this recommendation.
All subject departments have taken steps to raise pupils’ expectations. Initiatives have included actions to improve pupils’ study skills and the introduction of monthly “Recognition of Achievement Certificates”. Teachers have taken positive action to ensure that pupils clearly understand their learning objectives and the attainment targets which they are expected to achieve. The school has further developed links with employers and further and higher education to encourage more pupils to raise their personal expectations. The school should continue to strive to increase the number of Credit level passes and improve performance at Higher Grade.
3. The school should review the quality of pupils’ learning and attainment, making use of the relevant indicators in the HMI publication “How good is our school?” The results should be used as a basis for more rigorous development planning.
The school has made good progress with this recommendation.