Information Bulletin
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) Report on Bell's Brae Primary School and Nursery Classes
Bell’s Brae Primary School and Nursery Classes were inspected in March 2008 as part of a national sample of primary and nursery education. During their visit the inspectors evaluated key aspects of the work of the school at all stages including the work of the Additional Support Needs Department which provides a service for pupils with severe and complex needs from across Shetland.
The inspectors’ report highlights important or major strengths in eleven of the sixteen quality indicators being used by HMIe at this time. They commend, in particular, the highly motivated and well-behaved pupils, the quality of the pupils’ learning experiences in music, art and physical education, attainment in English language, the staff contribution to the care and welfare of all pupils and the schools approach to inclusion, especially its teamwork with partner agencies. Across the school the pupils benefit from a broad range of learning experiences within a balanced curriculum. The quality of teaching was good and overall the lessons were well planned and organised.
In English language the children in the nursery classes were making good progress and attainment in this area in the primary stages had been consistently high. Almost all pupils presented their written work neatly and demonstrated a good level of knowledge about language.
Good progress was being made in the nursery classes in mathematics and attainment levels in mathematics in the primary stages were also good. Pupils’ recall of number facts was a particular strength in P6 and P7 although problem-solving strategies require further development across the school.
The staff in the Additional Support Needs Department provided strong support to pupils. They effectively met pupils’ complex individual needs. A particular strength was the quality of the teamwork between staff and partner agencies. Together they provided very effective support for pupils in the school and those pupils with shared placements in other schools.
The report acknowledges the commitment of the Head Teacher and the valuable contribution of the two Depute Head Teachers in carrying out their respective duties. They also highlighted the need for the senior team to work more strategically to take forward planned improvement in identified areas. These should include improving the involvement of parents, involving the staff more fully in curriculum development and developing approaches to self-evaluation.
Helen Budge, Head of the Schools Service, commented that she was very pleased that the inspectors had recognised the good or very good progress being made by the pupils in the nursery classes, the Additional Support Needs Department and in the primary classes of Bell’s Brae Primary School. She wished to thank all of the staff involved including the Head Teacher who is already working with the Service to produce an Action Plan to address the issues arising from the inspection.
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