Inspectors positive about community schools

Today, Tuesday,  inspectors from Education Scotland published positive reports following visits to Stenness Community School and Orphir Community School earlier this year.

At Orphir, the inspection team highlighted a number of strengths such as the warm, caring and inclusive environment throughout the school; improvements to children’s engagement in learning; children’s learning experiences in the nursery class; and support and involvement of parents and the community in children’s learning.

Key strengths at Stenness flagged up by the inspectors included children’s behaviour, motivation and engagement in learning; children’s experiences in the nursery class; the warm, positive and caring ethos throughout the school; the support and involvement of parents in children’s learning; and the contribution that staff make to the wider school community.

Both schools were given the same priorities for improvement. These include continuing to raise children’s attainment in reading, writing and mathematics; improving further self-evaluation, including tracking children’s learning and achievement to help them to make the best possible progress; and improving strategic leadership of the development of the curriculum.

The inspection reports are available at www.educationscotland.gov.uk