1. To improve attainment the school should:
- ensure that 5-14 national advice on curriculum and assessment in S1/S2 is implemented by all departments, and that due account is taken of pupils’ prior attainment;
- implement fully the use of National Tests in English; and - review the time allocated to subjects at Standard Grade and Higher Grade, and the amount of time given to study leave.
While some good progress had been made with this recommendation, it had not been fully addressed.
Most departments had taken account of national advice when assessing and reporting pupils’ progress. However, a few still did not assess the full range of pupils’ attainment. In S1 generally good account was now being taken of pupils’ prior attainment in primary schools through the use of a common format for transferring information. There was good use of National Tests in English to confirm teachers’ judgements of pupils’ attainment. The headteacher had led an extensive review of the time allocations given to subjects from S4 to S6. The appropriately revised timings were to be introduced from session 2001-2002. The school now used a local community centre for some preliminary examinations. This use of additional accommodation had significantly reduced the length of study leave.
2. The school should review its curricular structure in S3/S4 to meet national guidelines and to ensure that all pupils study a modern foreign language and a technological subject.
The school had made good progress towards meeting this recommendation.
In consultation with staff, pupils and parents, the school had carried out a thorough review of its S3/S4 curriculum structure. This review had led to a revised framework for subject choice which gave all pupils the opportunity to study a modern foreign language and a technological subject. The new S3/S4 curriculum structure was to be implemented over the next two school years.
3. The time allocated to religious and moral education at all stages, and the provision of opportunities for religious observance, should be aligned with national advice.
The school had made good progress towards meeting this recommendation, but it had not yet been fully implemented.
The revised curriculum structure had ensured that appropriate time would be given to religious and moral education at all stages from June 2001. A principal teacher of religious and moral education had recently been appointed, and a further part-time appointment was to be made. The headteacher and the principal teacher of religious and moral education were considering ways of providing more opportunities for religious observance.