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Grange Academy earns positive inspection report as head teacher praised
Grange Academy earns positive inspection report as head teacher praised

Daily Record

time17-06-2025

  • General
  • Daily Record

Grange Academy earns positive inspection report as head teacher praised

"The report highlights that the Head Teacher is held in high regard by all members of the school community" Grange Academy received a very positive HMIE report following Education Scotland inspection in March. The Education Scotland inspection team worked closely with the head teacher and staff, throughout the five day inspection and engaged closely with parents and carers, and young people from all age groups. ‌ The inspection report highlighted strengths in the school's work including the leadership of head teacher and head of campus, Scott Robertson, who has been identified as being instrumental as maintaining a focus on improving young people's wellbeing and attainment. ‌ The inspectors also highlighted the "positive, mutually respectful relationships between staff and young people" that are "built on shared values", which creates "calm, welcoming learning environments across the school and Hearing Impairment Unit". Improvements that have been made to approaching and promoting the wellbeing of young people by school staff was also highlighted in the report. These changes have led to improvements in their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing. The following areas for improvement were also identified and discussed with the Head Teacher and a representative from East Ayrshire Council. Teachers are advised to make greater use of ongoing assessment in the broad general education. They should continue to work together to agree a shared understanding of standards and expectations. This will support planning for learning which enables young people to make progress at a rate that best meets their needs. Inspectors also suggested that senior leaders should continue to develop approaches to equality across the school. This should build on existing work to improve attendance of young people. Senior leaders and staff should develop further whole school supportive and restorative approaches. ‌ Lastly, staff should continue to focus on raising attainment in National Qualifications, particularly at National 5 and Higher levels. Local elected members, Councillors Douglas Reid, Jayne Sangster and James Adams with Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer and Head of Education, and Graham McGinn, Depute Head of Education, visited Grange Academy to meet Scott Robertson, his senior management team and young people – Aiden, Amelia, Kayden, Annie, Luke, Alix and Harry. They spoke to the young people about their role in the inspection, which included meeting with the inspectors and leading tours of the campus. And about all things education, including the upcoming senior prom on Thursday, June 12. ‌ Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People, said: "The report highlights that the Head Teacher is held in high regard by all members of the school community who value his – 'careful, sensitive management of the pace and direction of change'. This is very clear whenever you visit the school. The young people are positive in their attitude and it is clear that this is fostered by their Head Teacher and all the staff within the school. "The inspectors highlighted the wide range of achievement and attainment activities across the curriculum and within the wider community, which is developing young people's skills for learning, life and work. And for me, this is key. Education is about preparing our young people for the future - for further learning, for work and for life. "It is incredibly encouraging to read an HMIE report where this has been highlighted. I was so sorry to be unable to offer Scott my congratulations in person but I have been in touch with the school to let them know how proud we all are." ‌ Scott Robertson, Grange Academy Head Teacher and Head of Campus said: "A team of 12 inspectors from Education Scotland joined us for a week in March and participated in all aspects of school life. Our young people had a vital role to play in the inspection process, meeting and talking with the inspectors, and I am very proud of their positive input. "Our school's report is the result of teamwork and collaboration. The young people are at the centre of every decision the school takes and, their wellbeing and attainment are our highest priority. I am so pleased for my whole team that the inspectors recognised the work that has been carried out to improve the wellbeing and attainment of our young people. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank every member of the Grange Academy staff for their hard work and dedication to our young people; since joining Grange Academy three years ago, I have been overwhelmed by their professionalism and commitment to our children and young people; they are a credit to our school community. As the report highlights, our role to help prepare our young people for the future. We want them to achieve their very best and are committed to ensuring that this is possible through opportunities both within school and within the community."

Scotland education chief post rejected again – what can be done?
Scotland education chief post rejected again – what can be done?

The Herald Scotland

time18-05-2025

  • Politics
  • The Herald Scotland

Scotland education chief post rejected again – what can be done?

More important is the fact that on the first occasion the role, along with the post of chief executive of Education Scotland, did not attract enough candidates for interviews to be held. In the latest round - as TES magazine reports - interviews were held but no-one appointed. This should be a matter of deep concern to all those who care about how Scotland's pupils are taught. Now some might argue the appointment does not matter. There is an interim chief executive, who is getting on with the job. According to a recent freedom of information request, 46 secondary schools were inspected between 1 August 2023, and 11 October 2024, not including 'all through' schools with both primary and secondary provision. The inspectors keep calling. Others might argue there is no need for a chief inspector, or inspectors. Professionals, in this case heads and teaching staff, should be left to be professional. They know what they are doing, the argument goes. It is not a line of thought most would agree with. In any professional setting, particularly one as important as education, scrutiny is vital for progress and accountability. So, if there should be a Chief Inspector who leads school inspections, what has gone wrong, and what might be done to fix this problem? There are a number of possible reasons, and some possible solutions. First, the failed appointments come at a time when the Scottish government has proposed what it claims are major reforms to the education system. After recent controversies, it is planned to create three 'new' organisations, a qualifications body, a national education agency, and an 'independent' inspectorate. Under the education bill, published in June last year, Qualifications Scotland will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Anyone notice the similarities in the name? HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) will formally be created by removing the inspection function from the national education agency, Education Scotland. However, the process has been delayed by the education secretary Jenny Gilruth, and with uncertainty surrounding the reforms - critics draw parallels with those deck chairs and the Titanic - it is understandable why some might be reluctant to throw their mortarboard into the ring. There could also be an accountability problem. It was a scandal a previous SNP administration made the inspectorate part of Education Scotland, directed by ministers - one part of a public body marking another part's homework. Removing HMIE from Education Scotland is a start, though it will still be accountable to Scottish ministers and the Scottish parliament. Then there is a climate around inspections. Teachers in Scotland have in the past been critical of the process, saying it puts too much stress on them, and if there is notice of an inspection a false picture of a school is created as they spend weeks getting matters in order before the inspectors arrive. There is something in this, though it could be contended the process of preparing for the inspection is in itself beneficial to the schools. And after the inspections if there are problems identified, then good education authorities act upon them, or if the report is positive seek to build on achievements. If there is a criticism of this process, it is that the response to an adverse report is sometimes not robust enough. If a school is failing those it is there to serve - the students - then the people in charge must be held accountable. Ideally supported to improve, but if needs be new bringing new leadership may be the only solution. South of the Border there has been a lot of concern over a head teacher who took her own life while waiting for a report by Ofsted, the school standard's body. The inspectorate in England is changing from one word judgements of schools, to a more detailed system, which exists in Scotland already. However, there is always a danger obfuscation obscures the findings. Explaining negatives and positives clearly and succinctly in a way non-education experts (most people) can understand is important. Lastly, there is money. Yes, £117,000 a year is a lot, but you can be paid roughly the same if you are the top level as a secondary head, and much more for being the director of education in a big local authority, like Glasgow, paid more than £170,000 per annum. So, what might be done to improve the situation? First the Scottish government could be bold rather than timid, making HMIE accountable not to ministers but to the Scottish parliament, in the same way Audit Scotland is. That would give the Chief Inspector scope to be critical, when necessary, of the government of the day. Second, while there is a genuine concern over high levels of public sector pay in 'senior' roles, in some cases a high salary is justified by the high level of responsibility. Were HMIE responsible to Holyrood, there would be an added level of scrutiny on the inspector and their staff. There are many other ideas, but one final suggestion: the Scottish government must stop dithering over what it means by education reform, providing clarity over what it expects, and in particular the role, or otherwise, it sees for traditional exams. With an election ahead, those who aspire to government should do the same. What might these changes, proper radical reforms, achieve? Hopefully one, or more, of our many talented, dedicated, rigorous, committed educators will take up this enormous but rewarding challenge. And step forward to serve. Peter MacMahon is a commentator and writer, specialising in politics and public policy. He stood down recently as Political Editor of ITV Border after more than a decade covering Scottish and UK politics.

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