Papay School children are “thriving” say Inspectors

Children are “thriving” at Papa Westray Community School and Nursery Class, according to Inspectors from Education Scotland. 

An Inspection team visited the school during April 2024 and found the following strengths: 

• The effective direction and leadership of the acting headteacher and nursery lead practitioner. Their clear vision and drive have secured positive improvement in the work of the school and nursery. 
• The school and nursery’s authentic connection to the island environment, heritage and culture. Staff foster positive partnerships with the community and make effective use of the unique setting to provide rich learning experiences for children. 
• The nurturing and caring ethos. The wellbeing of children is of high importance to all staff across school and nursery and sits at the centre of their work. As a result, children are thriving. 
• The skilful interactions of nursery staff with each individual child. They offer time and space in a carefully considered way which supports children to develop their ideas and lead their own learning.

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

• Continue to develop approaches to measure and demonstrate the impact of improvement work. The information gained should be used to support strategic decision making and inform future priorities across the school and nursery.
• Continue to develop the curriculum. Children will benefit from building their skills and knowledge in deliberately planned, progressive ways.
• Continue to develop and embed high-quality teaching and learning approaches in the primary class. This should include children taking further ownership of their learning in meaningful ways.

Within the primary stages, the Inspectors evaluated leadership of change, learning, teaching and assessment, wellbeing, equality and inclusion and raising attainment and achievement as “good.” 

Quality indicators for the nursery class were “very good” for learning, teaching and assessment, wellbeing, equality and inclusion and securing children’s progress. A “good” rating was assessed for leadership of change. 

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “What a heartwarming read, especially knowing that the children and young people at Papay School and Nursery are in the words of the Inspectors ‘thriving’ - which by definition means flourishing, prosperous and growing. 

“I commend the dedication and commitment by the small staff team and wider community for their ongoing work which has led to such a positive Inspection report.” 

No more visits will be carried out in relation to this inspection. 

The report can be accessed via the Education Scotland website https://education.gov.scot/