Watten primary school has strengths but areas which need improved, according to Education Scotland
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
WATTEN primary school has a number of strengths but there are areas which could be improved, according to inspectors from Education Scotland.
The team visited the school in September and talked to parents/carers and children and worked closely with the acting headteacher and staff.
The inspection team found staff, children and parents are supportive and caring to each other. "Parents’ support in raising funding helps ensure equity in learning. Pupil Support Assistants work very well with teachers and children, said the report.
"Children participate successfully in a range of local activities and events. These achievements are building children’s skills and deepening their connection with the local area, culture, language and community. Children’s purposeful links with other rural schools helps them develop friendships, extend experiences and promotes
confidence in moving to the secondary school," it stated.
However, the team identified areas which could be improved and discussed them with the headteacher and representatives from The Highland Council.
The school has to continue to develop high-quality learning and teaching, which has "a brisker pace and is more challenging. Teachers should continue to teach across all curriculum areas, for which longer-term, structured planning of learning should be used."
Efforts should also be made to raise further attainment, "particularly in writing and for those children who need a faster pace of learning. Teachers should make sharper use of assessment and data to accelerate children’s progress."
Evidence was gathered by the team to evaluate the school’s work using quality indicators which help schools, local authorities and inspectors to judge what is working well and what needs to be improved. "Following the inspection of each school, the Scottish Government gathers details of our evaluations to keep track of how well Scottish schools are doing," stated the report.
It gave Watten primary gradings of satisfactory for learning, teaching and assessment and also for raising attainment and achievement.
Within a year the team will ask The Highland Council for a report on progress with the agreed areas for improvement.
"Taking account of the progress report, we will then decide whether further engagement with the school is required. This may involve another inspection visit," it added.
