Information Bulletin
24 October 2005
Strong Leadership and a Very Positive Environment for Learning
As part of a national sample of primary education Cunningsburgh Primary School was inspected in June 2005.
HM Inspectors evaluated pupils' achievements, the effectiveness of the school, the environment for learning, the school's processes for evaluating its own progress and its capacity to continue improving. There was a particular focus on attainment in English Language and mathematics.
This is a very positive report. All areas of the school examined by the Inspectorate were judged to be either Good or Very Good.
The key strengths of the school were identified as:
- High standards of attainment
- Strong leadership from the headteacher
- A very positive school ethos
- The wide range of links with the local community
- Effective pastoral care and support for pupils with additional needs
The inspectors believed the school to be very well engaged in the process of improvement. In particular they highlighted the strong leadership of the head teacher, who at the time of inspection, had only been in place for eighteen months. Her professional competence, and a very clear vision for the school had secured good teamwork amongst all staff and had created the momentum for improvement. A key element of this had been the improvements in pupil attainment levels in the school.
They also recognised the high quality of the learning and teaching in the school and the support provided to pupils.
Pupils themselves said they enjoyed being at school and felt safe and well looked after there. Parents were also very positive about the school and felt that it had a good reputation in the community.
Because the school is performing so highly and the leadership is so strong, Her Majesty's Inspectorate will not make a return visit to school and will ask the Education Service to write a progress report to parents in two years' time.
In this report they will require comment on:
- Continued progress in the quality of teaching and assessment
- The extension of information and communication technology in learning and teaching
- Curriculum development in expressive arts
They have asked the school and the education authority to prepare an action plan indicating how they will address the findings in the report, and to share this plan with parents and carers. The action plan has already been incorporated into the School Development Plan for 2005-06.
The full report can be downloaded from the HMIE website http://www.hmie.gov.uk
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