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------------------------------------------------------------ Standard Inspection of Whitfield Primary School Dundee City Council
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1. Introduction 2. How well are pupils performing?

Whitfield Primary School serves an area of urban regeneration on the northern outskirts of Dundee. At the time of the inspection it had a roll of 286 pupils, organised into 13 classes. Almost half the pupils were entitled to receive free school meals.

The inspection took place in November and December 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 representatives of the School Board and a group of parents.

The overall quality of attainment in English language was good. Most pupils at the early and middle stages and the majority at the upper stages achieved appropriate national levels in listening, talking, reading and writing. Pupils made good progress in appropriate coursework in listening, talking, reading and writing . Most listened attentively and talked well in groups. Pupils in P1 and P2 were developing their reading and writing skills at a good pace. Pupils in P3-P7 had a good knowledge about language. Many read for pleasure and wrote well for a variety of purposes. At the upper stages pupils gave good personal responses to poetry.

The overall quality of attainment in mathematics was good. Most pupils at the early and middle stages and the majority at the upper stages were achieving appropriate national levels in number, money and measurement and shape, position and movement . Although most pupils at all stages were reaching appropriate national levels in information handling , they had insufficient experience of using computers to organise and display information. Attainment in problem solving and enquiry was fair. Pupils at the upper stages often lacked confidence in tackling problems. Throughout the school pupils coped well with appropriately demanding classwork. Standards in written and