‘Progress’ being made at Invergordon Academy in Easter Ross following calls for improvements, say Education Scotland inspectors
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"Important progress" has been made at an Easter Ross school since education inspectors flagged up areas for improvement earlier this year.
That's the view of Education Scotland after its inspectors carried out a follow up visit at Invergordon Academy.
During its earlier visit to the school, inspectors had warned that the academy needed to "address challenging staffing issues and improve young people's experiences in learning".
It also called for further development of systems to track pupils' progress, and urged it to work to raise attainment, “especially in relation to young people's literacy and numeracy".
It its latest update, Education Scotland has written to parents to say that progress has been made. In a letter, it said: "The school has made some important progress since the original inspection.
"We will ask The Highland Council for a report on progress within 18 months of the publication of this letter.
"This report will inform any decision made by Education Scotland regarding further engagement. This may include another inspection visit."
Moving on to address its earlier recommendations, it noted that the school had made “important progress in addressing staffing issues”, adding: “Almost all staff vacancies have been filled over the last year.
“Senior leaders have worked creatively with local authority, third sector and community partners to increase the range of young people’s curricular experiences.”
They added: “School staff have made important progress in improving learning, teaching and assessment” and “young people are benefitting from increasingly positive learning experiences.”
However, they cautioned that while various systems “are being introduced which aim to ensure that young people attain as highly as possible” they noted that “it is too early, however, to identify sustained patterns of improvements in attainment.
“The school needs more time to be able to show that these new systems are having a significant impact on young people’s attainment.”
