Education Scotland has today published a positive inspection report for Sound Primary School and Nursery Class in Lerwick, following an inspection visit in April this year.
During the visit, inspectors from Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate spoke to parents/carers and children and worked closely with the head teacher and staff.
The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work –
- The highly respected headteacher provides very effective leadership to the staff team in the school and nursery. She is supported very well by senior leaders and staff. Together they evidence well the strong impact of school improvement work. This is resulting in highly positive experiences and outcomes for children.
- In the school and nursery, all staff create a very nurturing and inclusive environment. They have caring relationships with children. This is supporting children to be happy, enthusiastic to learn and to engage very well in learning.
- In the school, senior leaders use robust information about children’s learning and tracking information very well to provide effective support for children. This is helping children to achieve well across literacy and numeracy and health and wellbeing.
- In the school and nursery, staff make very good use of the local environment to support learning. They promote effectively Shetland's heritage and culture.
The following areas for improvement were identified –
- In the school, staff should provide increased challenge during lessons for a minority of children. This will help to ensure all children make the best possible progress.
- In the nursery, senior leaders should develop leadership opportunities for practitioners and children to allow them to contribute more fully to the work of the nursery.
- In the nursery, staff should develop further approaches to planning and tracking children’s learning to improve children’s experiences and outcomes.
Education Scotland’s quality indicators for the primary school were –
- Leadership of change- Very Good
- Learning, teaching and assessment- Good
- Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion - Very Good
- Raising attainment and achievement - Very Good
Education Scotland’s quality indicators for the nursery class were –
- Leadership of change - Good
- Learning, teaching and assessment - Good
- Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion - Good
- Securing children’s progress – Good
Inspectors will make no more visits to the school in connection with this inspection.
Councillor Catherine Hughson, Vice Chair of the Council’s Education and Families Committee said:
"This a very good inspection from Sound Primary School and Early Years setting, and is testimony to the hard work of the head teacher, staff, learners and wider school community. The whole school community should feel proud that their hard work and motivation has been recognised and the strengths of the school that have been identified will provide firm foundations for the future.”
The inspection reports and summarised findings are available on the Education Scotland website