Education / Improvements undertaken since Brae school inspection, councillor says
BRAE High School has received a mixed report following a visit by Education Scotland inspectors in June this year.
The school received ‘satisfactory’ and ‘weak’ ratings for four quality indicators, while the nursery attained four ‘good’ grades.
Chair of Shetland Islands Council’s education and families committee Davie Sandison said staff have already undertaken improvements in the school since the inspectors’ visit.
He added that the report highlights the “many aspects of good work” taking place in the school and nursery.
Inspectors spoke to parents/carers and children, and worked closely with the head teacher and staff, and found the following strengths in the school’s work:
- The head teacher, who leads across the nursery and school with integrity, has a clear sense of direction. He is creating a culture of leadership and of high expectations.
- In the nursery, practitioners have created a calm, inclusive learning environment. There are warm, respectful relationships across the setting.
- Staff in the nursery lead the development of learning zones in the playroom and outdoors effectively. This is helping children to learn and play in well-resourced environments in activities which match their needs and interests well. Children are making good progress in their learning and development.
- Children and young people are proud of their school. They benefit from strong, supportive relationships with each other and with staff. Children and young people make good progress in literacy across the primary and secondary departments.
The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the head teacher and a representative from Shetlands Islands Council:
- Senior leaders need to improve approaches to evaluating the work of the school. Senior and middle leaders should use this information more effectively to help them identify key priorities for school improvement.
- Middle leaders need to continue to develop their collective responsibility to lead change and plan for improvement. They need to recognise and demonstrate their whole school responsibilities more effectively.
- In the nursery, senior leaders need to continue to develop methods of gathering evidence on the quality of learning, teaching and assessment in order to embed fully these approaches.
- In the school, teachers need to provide appropriate tasks and activities set at the right level for all children and young people to help them make better progress in their learning.
- This includes providing more high-quality learning experiences and teachers adapting learning activities as required to meet the needs of all children and young people.
- Teachers should continue to develop programmes and courses that build on prior learning more effectively.
- In the school, staff need to have higher expectations of what children and young people can attain and achieve in order to raise attainment and achievement.
Inspectors gathered evidence to enable them to evaluate the school’s work using four quality indicators:
Quality indicators for the school
- Leadership of change – Satisfactory
- Learning, teaching and assessment – Weak
- Raising attainment and achievement – Satisfactory
- Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion – Satisfactory
Quality indicators for the nursery
- Leadership of change – Good
- Learning, teaching and assessment – Good
- Securing children’s progress – Good
- Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion – Good
Inspectors will return to carry out a further inspection within the next twelve months.
Sandison said: “Inspectors have highlighted the many aspects of good work taking place in Brae High School and Nursery earlier this year.
“Since the inspectors’ visit, school staff have already undertaken improvements in the school which I hope will contribute to an improved evaluation when inspectors return.
“Councillors will also receive a report at the next education and families committee, with details of the actions required to address the identified areas for improvement.”
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