Education Scotland’s report on Cockburnspath Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare published

During their visit in February this year, inspectors talked to parents/carers and young people and worked closely with the head teacher and his staff.

Inspection findings

The Inspection team found several key strengths in the school’s and ELC’s work:

The children are polite and friendly in the school and ELC and are eager to learn and experience success.

The effective teamwork by all staff in the school, ELC and with partners was found to promote positive relationships and support children’s wellbeing. This approach is helping to create a nurturing, inclusive learning environment.

In the ELC, the leadership of the senior practitioner who works very well with a skilled team to create high-quality experiences for all children. Children in the ELC are making very good progress in their learning. They are happy, confident, curious, and engaged in their play.

The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the head teacher and a representative from ourselves:

• Improve approaches to leadership of change within the school, creating a stronger culture of self-evaluation to inform and plan improvements. This will help secure better outcomes for all children.
• Improve approaches to planning and assessment within the school. This will help ensure reliable evidence is gathered about children’s progress and used effectively to plan for children’s learning.
• Continue to develop approaches to promoting and supporting positive relationships and behaviour across the school.
• Improve children’s attainment in literacy and numeracy within the school, targeting gaps in children’s learning to ensure all children make the best possible progress.

As a result of the inspection findings, the school will receive additional support and time to make necessary improvements. Education Scotland will return to carry out a further inspection of the school within twelve months of the publication of this report.

Rachel Foy, Interim Headteacher of Cockburnspath Primary School

I am looking forward to working with the school community so that, together, we can build on our strengths and deliver the improvement priorities identified by Education Scotland to further improve the outcomes for our young people”.

Ms Foy takes over from Headteacher Melanie Knox, who recently took up a new position in Berwickshire and who after a period of handover to Ms Foy, was given a rousing send off from the school, with good wishes coming from colleagues across the region.

Rachel Thomson, Cockburnspath Parent Council Chair

“All information from the inspection was informative and we are very pleased that all the children came across well.  We are very proud of their efforts too.  Regarding the feedback given for improvements, the parent council will be happy to assist the school going forward”.