Information Bulletin
25 January 2005
Inspection of Standards and Quality in Sandwick Junior High School - Follow Through Report
Today HM Inspectors published a Follow-Through report on Sandwick Junior High School. A team of inspectors revisited the school in November 2004 to examine progress made since the school's initial inspection published in January 2003. The revisit focused on the main points for action highlighted in the initial report. However in assessing the school's capacity for further improvement beyond the scope of the HM inspection cycle, they also examined and reported on other developments the school had take forward.
There were six points for action in the initial report. HM Inspectors reported that tow of these had been fully met, and good or very good progress had been made with the others:
In particular, they noted:
- Controlled access had been installed in the school
- Improvements had been made to programmes of study in the primary and secondary departments
- The school now ensured that the experience of primary school modern languages was built upon in S1
- More rigorous quality assurances processes were in place and teachers were now making use of quality indicators to self-evaluate their work and plan for improvement
- Increased pace and challenge for pupils in the secondary
- Revisited remits for the senior management team which enabled them to contribute effectively to quality assurance processes and to planning for improvement
- The school had implemented the Education Service's scheme of staff review and staff's professional development needs had been identified
- Inspected secondary departments had also made good progress towards their specific action points identified in the initial inspection
In respect of examining the school's capacity to further improve inspectors highlighted that, since their initial visit, the school had gained ECO School status and had further developed its transition programme for primary school pupils moving on to secondary. It had also introduced a Pupil Council into the primary to complement the one already in place in the secondary.
Aspects of attainment were noted: improvements in Reading and Writing in the primary and a steady performance in mathematics; however although attainment at Standard Grade had remained well above the national average, there was no trend of further improvement.
In assessing the school's performance, the inspectors also took account of the difficulties in recruiting teaching staff which the school had experienced since their first visit. These problems were now almost resolved and it was acknowledged that stability here would secure further improvement.
As a result of the considerable progress made by the school, HM inspectors will make no further visits to the school in respect of the report published in January 2003.
However they have asked the Education Service to monitor the school's continuing progress in specific aspects of its work. These are to ensure that:
- improved assessment and recording arrangements in the primary are implemented
- good arrangement for quality assurance processes are implemented, including the arrangement for senior managers to regularly monitor learning and teaching throughout the school
The Education Service is delighted with the progress made by the school and congratulates the head teacher, staff and pupils for their hard work and ongoing commitment to the school.
Cllr Florence Grains commented 'It is clear that good progress has been made and I am satisfied that this will continue'.