Praise for Aviemore Primary School but also plenty of room for improvement, say inspectors
Good strides are being made at Aviemore Primary School but there is still plenty of scope for improvement, inspectors have found.
Education Scotland has just published its findings from its recent visit to the school of 240 children.
There were lots of positive comments in the report yet the inspectors graded the school as being ‘weak’ for leadership of change and for raising attainment and achievement.
The other two areas of assessment - learning, teaching and assessment, and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion - were both deemed as ‘satisfactory’.
The key strengths of the school included the acting headteacher, supported by senior leaders, establishing ‘highly positive relationships’ with staff and children.
This has enabling staff to start to review and improve learning, teaching and assessment.
Across the school and Rainbow rooms - which is the base for pupils with additional learning needs, staff were found to have created a ‘nurturing and calm ethos’.
Teachers and pupil support assistants work well together, responding sensitively to children’s wellbeing and health needs.
The report stated: “Children are welcoming, friendly and caring to one another…
“Children experience a range of wider achievement opportunities. This is helping them to develop skills for learning, life and work.”
There have been concerns from some parents in the past year over the council’s lack of funding for additional support needs (ASN) pupils with assertions this is impacting on the education of all pupils.
Around 60 per cent of children in the mainstream classes require additional support with their learning.
The inspectors found that most children participate well in learning, completing tasks and activities willingly.
But the report states: “In a minority of lessons, a few children become disengaged and display low level behaviours. As a result, the flow of learning is interrupted.
“Teachers need to ensure that all tasks and activities are purposeful and engage all children.
“This will support all children to remain on task and maximise their learning time.”
Most children feel safe at school, however, some children ‘do not know if they feel safe’.
A minority of children and parents feel that the school needs to do more to deal with bullying.
The report notes there have been significant changes in staffing across the school in recent years which has caused increased challenges.
The acting headteacher and acting depute headteacher have been in post for a year and have had a positive impact.
The inspectors stated: “The acting headteacher has developed nurturing and respectful relationships with staff, children, parents and partners.
“She is assisted well by the acting depute headteacher and principal teacher.
“As a result of the positive ethos, staff feel listened to. Senior leaders support them appropriately to carry out their roles.
“Almost all parents believe the school is well led and the acting headteacher is approachable. They feel she is making a positive difference to the school.
“The acting headteacher has created the conditions to improve the work of the school which includes regular well-planned staff development time.
“This is beginning to support improvements in children’s experiences. The staff team know children and families very well.
“They work effectively together to provide an inclusive culture where everyone’s voice is included as part of school improvement activity.”
But the report also highlights some areas in need of greater improvement.
The report states all staff need to have a clear focus on raising attainment in literacy and numeracy.
Inspectors report: “Staff have made a positive start to this in a few classes with new approaches to teaching writing. This is impacting positively on children’s written work in these classes.”
Children’s progress in numeracy and mathematics is variable but a majority of children are making satisfactory progress.
It also points out: “Senior leaders should improve the strategic leadership of change within the school and the Rainbow rooms.
“They need to monitor progress towards school improvement priorities regularly throughout the year and keep track of how well changes lead to improvement.
“The pace of change needs to increase. As part of this, the headteacher should ensure appropriate priorities are agreed for the Rainbow rooms to improve outcomes for children accessing the provision.”
It also highlights: “All staff should work together to improve the overall quality and consistency of learning, teaching and assessment.
“They should ensure learning activities are well-planned, engaging and meet the needs of all learners. In doing so, they need to ensure that learning time is maximised.”
The inspectors concluded the school needs additional support and more time to make the necessary improvements.
They will return within the year and liaise with Highland Council in the meantime.
The full report can be viewed by clicking here.
The Strathy will publish a separate report on the school’s Rainbow class inspection.