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4. Policies should be developed on learning and teaching and improving attainment to promote clearer and higher expectations of staff and pupils, especially in S5/S6.

This recommendation had been well met.

The headteacher, with the involvement of staff, had developed a comprehensive policy for learning and teaching. Development of the policy had been closely linked to staff development on raising standards of achievement. In addition, a new post of senior teacher (Raising Standards of Achievement) had been created. To help promote higher expectations the school had successfully increased the range of study support activities offered to pupils. These included the introduction of a homework club and an Easter holiday revision school, pupil participation in study skills seminars and a workshop for S4, S5 and S6 pupils on success in examinations.

5. To improve the effectiveness of management, the headteacher should provide a clear lead in taking forward the recommendations of this report, particularly those of improving the school’s links with the School Board and the overall partnership with parents.

The headteacher was making very good progress towards meeting this recommendation.

The headteacher had worked conscientiously to improve the effectiveness of his management of the school. He had taken a strong lead in reviewing the curriculum and developing the school’s policy on learning and teaching. He had also made a useful start to monitoring the quality of learning and teaching in some classes.

The headteacher had worked closely with the School Board and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). As a result, the school, School Board and PTA were working very effectively together to improve partnership with parents. An increase in the use of newsletters and a column in the local newspaper had also helped to keep parents better informed about the school’s developments, events and successes.

6. The education authority and the school should establish improved procedures for keeping the progress of pupils with Records of Needs under review.

Very good progress had been made in meeting this recommendation.

An appropriate system of reviews of progress and attainment of pupils with Records of Needs was now in place. The outcomes of these reviews were communicated to parents and staff. Individual educational programmes had been improved, and were shared and jointly planned with teachers. Copies of Records of Needs held in school have now been signed by a responsible officer.

HM Inspectors will make no further visits to the school in connection with the inspection report of June 1999.