HMIE Inspection Report - Dyke Primary School

Following an inspection in December 2004 HM Inspectorate of Education has published a report on Dyke Primary School.   The school was inspected as part of a national sample of primary education.  The inspection covered key aspects of the work of the school at all stages.  It evaluated the pupils’ achievements, the effectiveness of the school and the environment for learning.  There was a particular focus on attainment in English language and mathematics.

HM Inspectors examined pupils’ work and interviewed staff and pupils.  They assessed the school’s processes for self-evaluation and analysed responses to questionnaires issued to all parents, P4 to P7 pupils and to all staff.  Members of the inspection team also met with representatives of the PTA and School Board.

The key strengths of the school identified by HMIE were:

¨      Dedicated and highly committed staff.

¨      Partnership with parents and positive staff-pupil relationships.

¨      Care and concern shown to pupils with additional support needs.

¨      Aspects of learning and teaching.

¨      The vision and commitment of the new Headteacher to improving the school.

 

Parents, carers and staff were very positive about the school.  They felt that it was well led and that the new Headteacher and his staff were supportive and approachable. Parents and carers appreciated the school’s prompt and effective responses to their enquiries.  They felt that the school had a good reputation in the community and that they were made welcome in the school.  Parents found parents' evenings helpful and informative.  They felt the school buildings were kept in good order.  The pupils felt that the school helped them to keep safe and healthy and that they were well taught. They particularly liked the opportunities to use computers and to play sport.  All teachers liked working in the school and felt that the pupils were enthusiastic about learning.  Staff particularly appreciated the supportive and approachable leadership style and the vision and commitment of the new Headteacher.

Inspectors judged the overall breadth and balance of the school’s curriculum to be good.  However, pupils did not have sufficient opportunities to use information and communications technology (ICT) skills across the curriculum.  Music, technology and health education required additional attention.  Teachers made good use of questioning during their teaching and their explanations were detailed and clear.  Very good use was made of praise in teaching.  In most lessons, pupils worked quietly and purposefully and listened carefully to teachers’ explanations and instructions.  Overall the teaching process and pupils' learning experiences were good.  Some able pupils could be given greater challenge and better use might be made of homework in some areas.

The overall quality of attainment in English language was good. Standards in reading had improved steadily over the last three years but had fallen in writing to just below the national average.  However many children at Dyke Primary were doing better than the national standards in both reading and writing.

The overall quality of pupils’ attainment in mathematics was good and had remained steady over the last three years.  At most stages, pupils were making steady progress through their course work.  Most pupils were reaching national standards in key areas of mathematics.

HMIE commented that members of staff knew their pupils very well and showed care and concern for them as individuals.  However there were recognised weaknesses in the range of training which had been undertaken on child-protection and anti-racism strategies.  The Headteacher provided very effective support for learning for pupils who were encountering difficulty in their learning.  He maintained detailed records and planned the learning of pupils with additional support needs thoroughly.  Pupils at all stages were very well supported by their class teachers when they experienced difficulty.  Classroom assistants provided very effective help to pupils and teachers. 

The overall quality of accommodation and facilities was judged to be fair.  The school was on a split site, with the school hall and dining facilities located across the main road which ran through the village.   Groups of pupils crossed from one building to the other at frequent intervals.  Although these groups were well supervised by staff, passing traffic presented potential dangers.  The fabric of the school was in good condition.  The building was, however, cramped and lacked many facilities.  Aspects of security required review.  The extensive playing fields were well used by pupils for free play and team games.  A number of health and safety issues were brought to the attention of the school.

Staff and pupils were very proud of the school.  The school's partnership with parents and the community had major strengths.  The new Headteacher Willie Walker had been in post for only four months at the time of the inspection.  In that time he had made a very good start to taking the school forward.

In conclusion the inspectors noted that the school provided a good and improving standard of education within a caring and supportive ethos.  There was mutual respect between staff and pupils and learning and teaching was of good quality.  Attainment in English language and mathematics was good but more could have been asked of higher attaining pupils.  The system for monitoring pupils’ progress required review to ensure that the good work achieved by staff and pupils was appropriately recorded and acknowledged.

The appendix to the report summarises the performance of the school judged against quality indicators, which HMIE use in all inspections.  In the report, three indicators were judged to be "very good", nine were "good", two were "fair" and none was "unsatisfactory".

As a result of the inspection the school and education authority have been asked to take action to improve pupils’ attainment.   In doing so they should take account of the needs to:

 

·        ensure that higher attaining pupils are fully challenged;

·        establish a system for tracking, monitoring and predicting pupils’ attainment;

·        develop a robust system of quality assurance and self-evaluation; and

·        ensure staff receive appropriate training in child protection and anti-racism and that health and safety issues are addressed.

The school and education authority have been asked to prepare an action plan indicating how they will address the main findings in the report, and to share the plan with parents and carers.   Within two years of the publication of the report parents will be informed about the progress made by the school.

Commenting on the report, Donald Duncan, Director of Educational Services said, "Overall this is a good report which recognises many positive achievements of staff, pupils and parents at Dyke Primary.  I am especially pleased to see the recently appointed Headteacher Willie Walker recognised for his enthusiasm and vision.  I am confident that under his leadership the areas identified for improvement will be addressed effectively”.

Councillor Alasdair Urquhart, Chairman of the Moray Council's Educational Services Committee added, "This is a very good Inspection Report on Dyke Primary School which identifies many of the key strengths of this small rural school.  The pupils' good attainment in English and Mathematics is recognised and the new Headteacher is rightly praised for the good start he has made in his short time in post.  Everyone associated in any way with the school should be justifiably proud of this report”.

Headteacher Willie Walker commented, "I believe this is a very positive report which shows that the school has many important strengths.  Credit should go to the staff and the previous Headteacher, Ian Mackay, who have worked hard to achieve this, along with the co-operation of parents, the PTA and the school board.  As part of the inspection process, the inspectorate have highlighted areas where the school needs to improve.  This sets a clear agenda for the school and we will address these as a matter of priority”.

For further information contact Jim Gibson (Quality Improvement Officer) Educational Services, The Moray Council, 01343 563093    jim_gibson@moray.gov.uk

Contact: Joyce Pirie, Public Relations Co-ordinator on 01343 563046