Following a recent inspection of Castlebay School, HM Inspectorate of Education has now published their findings.  The inspection covered key aspects of the school’s work at all stages.  It evaluated the quality of the curriculum and pupils’ achievements, including their performance in examinations.  Inspectors also evaluated the quality of learning and teaching and pupil support, the environment for learning, the school’s processes for self-evaluation, and its overall effectiveness and capacity for improvement.  They identified the following as key strengths of the school.

• The high levels of motivation and interest in learning which pupils brought to school.
• The wide range of activities within the school and community which promoted pupils’ broader interests.
• Learning and teaching in social subjects.
• The quality of relationship between and among teachers and pupils in the primary department.
• The Primary Department provided a positive learning environment and aspects of learning and teaching were improving.  The quality of the relationship between teachers and pupils in the Primary Sector was also commended.  The areas where the need for improvement was highlighted were writing skills and attainment in language and mathematics.
• In the secondary sector the Social Subjects Department was commended as it demonstrated a number of strong features in attainment.  However, most other subject areas were described as adequate.

The main points for action were as follows.

• the corporate leadership of the school by improving the leadership for learning of all staff within the school;
• the quality of support for pupils, including pastoral care in the secondary department;
• the climate for learning and relationships among secondary staff;
• communication and joint working between and among primary and secondary teachers so that pupils gain maximum benefit from the school’s status as an all-through school;
• the approaches taken by staff to evaluate and improve pupils’ attainment, achievements and attendance, and the quality of education overall; and
• the fabric of the building, and aspects of safety and security.

The school in consultation with the education authority will now prepare an action plan indicating how they will address the main findings of the report, and they will share the plan with parents. 

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk