Published on:
19
June 2012
Staff at St John's Primary School and Nursery Class have been highly praised for creating a very positive environment for learning.
The praise comes in a report published today by Her Majesty's Inspectors.
Their report states that staff support children very well, with pastoral care of a very high quality and the provision of activities which develop confidence and independence.
Children are making very good progress in their learning, with the quality of children's writing particularly strong. Children's understanding and application of numeracy skills is very sound. The Inspectors also found that children are experiencing a wide range of out-of-class activities, as well as participating well in expressive arts, particularly music.
The Inspectors found the following key strengths:
The Inspectors found that children are learning well, are happy and engage well in their learning. In the nursery, staff plan stimulating activities to meet children's needs and interests. Children in both the nursery and the school participate enthusiastically in their learning.
Staff provide children with a broad and balanced curriculum and are using the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence with growing confidence.
Parents give valuable support to the school and help in a range of ways. Transition arrangements into P1 and into secondary school support children very well.
Education Convener Councillor Ellen Forson said: "I am very pleased for the school, the parents and the community that the good work going on at St John's has been recognised by Education Scotland. I am confident that the school will continue to improve under the leadership of the Headteacher and his staff."
Ian McNicol has been Headteacher at St John's for the last 24 years. The report describes him as "highly regarded by the school community, knows children and families very well and shows a passionate commitment to the school" giving it "a very clear sense of direction."
Ian McNicol said: "We are highly delighted with our recent inspection report. It acknowledges and reflects the very strong team work and dedicated efforts of our pupils, staff, parents and the community, in making St John's Primary School such an inclusive, hard-working, happy, positive and purposeful learning environment, for all our children and staff."
In summing up the report states: "All of this, together with the very effective leadership of the senior management team, and the continued support of the local authority, places the school in a very strong position to improve further."
The Education Scotland report recommends that the school continues to develop its work in two areas:
The school and the education authority will continue to work together with pupils and parents to ensure that these areas are addressed in the course of the next two years.