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Standard Inspection of Drumbrae Primary School and Nursery Class City of Edinburgh Council ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Introduction 2. How well are pupils performing?
Drumbrae Primary School has a roll of 273, including 46 children in the nursery class. The school serves parts of the Drumbrae and East Craigs districts in the west of Edinburgh. Attendance was in line with national levels.
The inspection took place in June 1999 as part of a national sample of primary education. It evaluated how well pupils were performing, the effectiveness of the school and how well the school was managed.
HM Inspectors assessed the school’s processes for self-evaluation and development planning. They evaluated learning and teaching, examined pupils’ work and interviewed staff and pupils. English language, mathematics and environmental studies were inspected. There was a particular focus on attainment in English language and mathematics.
The results of a questionnaire sent to a sample of parents were taken into account during the inspection. Members of the inspection team also met the Chairperson of the School Board and a group of parents.
In English language, the overall quality of attainment was good. At P1 and P2 most pupils had made a good start in developing literacy skills. At P3, P4 and P5, most pupils attained appropriate 5-14 levels in
listening
,
talking
,
reading
and
writing
. At P6 and P7 the majority of pupils reached these standards, except in writing where less than half reached the levels. Pupils at all stages listened carefully to teachers’ explanations and responded well orally. Many pupils had developed good personal reading habits. In writing, most pupils presented their work neatly, but at P6 and P7 many pupils needed to develop their skills, in particular in personal and imaginative writing.
The overall quality of pupils' attainment in mathematics was good and most pupils performed well in their coursework. Almost all pupils at P3, but less than half at P7, were meeting appropriate national targets in information handling; number, money and measurement; and shape, position and movement . However, P7 pupils made skilled use of computers to collate and display information. Although pupils enjoyed the regular opportunities provided to practise mental calculation, the majority performed calculations slowly. Overall, pupils' problem