Auchtertyre Primary School praised by Scottish Government inspectors for big strides in improving teaching and attainment of its Lochalsh pupils
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A LOCHALSH primary and nursery school heavily scrutinised by Education Scotland for the last five years has been praised for strides taken in improving teaching and attainment.
The Scottish Government executive agency put Auchtertyre Primary School and Nursery Class under the microscope after failings highlighted in a 2018 inspection report.
They included weaknesses in leadership, learning, teaching and assessment, in securing children’s progress and in ensuring well-being, equality and inclusion.
A letter published by the agency then set out areas for improvement agreed with the school and Highland Council.
Education Scotland published further letters updating parents and carers on progress in January 2021 and January 2022.
In January 2022, the update stated there needed to be more progress in developing mutually respectful relationships between teachers and children where there were high expectations of learning and behaviour.
There also needed to be a clear strategic direction to guide improvements, high standards and well-paced change as a responsibility of all staff,
The school was also charged with better developing the curriculum to meet national expectations.
It was tasked with ensuring “prompt and structured action” to raise children’s attainment in literacy and numeracy, as well as in other areas of learning.
The latest report identified sufficient progress at the school and nursery, six miles east of Kyle, and concluded there was no longer a need to publish further updates.
The letter to parents said: “After reviewing the evidence, we are now confident Auchtertyre Primary School and Nursery Class has the capacity to continue to improve.”
The update said officers from Highland Council had pledged to continue to work with the school to continue progress.
Significant areas of improvement included bringing “breadth and balance” to the curriculum, while ensuring that children built appropriately on knowledge, skills and understanding as they moved through the school.
Teaching staff had collaborated with the headteacher and principal teacher to improve the early level curriculum, with increased focus on literacy and numeracy and an increased understanding of the value of teaching through play
The report stressed: “This is having a positive impact on learning and teaching in the early level (with) increased pupil engagement and motivation.”
Other successes among a good number listed included creating a school ethos that was “warm, welcoming and inclusive”, with pupils showing kindness and respect to one another and to staff.
Through data tracking, staff now had a clearer understanding of the progress of individual pupils.
The update also stated: “Teaching and learning observed is good.
“Learning intentions and success criteria were clear, (with) good pace within lessons and pupil collaboration evident.
“In observations, pupils talk positively about their teachers and their lessons. Pupils can identify their learning and next steps… and are benefitting from the rich questioning evident throughout lessons.”
