Inspectors found Glaitness School bairns “polite, happy and eager to learn”

“Polite, happy and eager to learn” children attend at Glaitness School, according to Education Scotland Inspectors following a recent visit.

The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work:

• Children who are polite, happy and eager to learn. They are keen to share their learning and contribute well to the wider community.
• Staff’s successful approach to checking the progress of children across the school who require additional support with their learning.
• Approaches to learning through play for the youngest children. This is supporting children to be independent learners.

The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the Headteacher and a representative from the Council:

• Improve the quality of learning and teaching across the school. Senior leaders and teachers should work together, as planned, to agree what high-quality learning and teaching looks like at Glaitness School.
• Teachers should plan learning and assessment more effectively. This will support them to raise children’s attainment.

Education Scotland gave Glaitness School a “satisfactory” evaluation for “learning, teaching and assessment” and “raising attainment and achievement”.

Inspectors added that they are confident that improvements will continue to be made so won’t be carrying out further visits in connection with this inspection.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “Overall, this is a good inspection report highlighting some positive areas and it’s important to point out that there were major building works in the school during this period which impacted on the learning environment.

“I am also pleased to note the confidence the Inspectors have in terms of ongoing improvements at Glaitness. I am sure we all share this confidence which is down to the hard work of the staff.”

The report is available on the Education Scotland website at Reports page | Inspection reports | Education Scotland.