25-06-2025
Inspectors update parents on progress of Cleland school after critical inspection earlier this year
After a visit to Cleland Primary, inspectors graded the school as 'weak' in one area and only 'satisfactory' in three other categories.
Inspectors have updated parents on the progress of a primary school following a critical inspection earlier this year.
After a previous visit to Cleland Primary, inspectors graded the school as 'weak' in one area and only 'satisfactory' in three other categories.
These included to improve the quality and consistency of learning, teaching and assessment across the school; support the headteacher and staff to plan and implement improvements across the school and to raise attainment in literacy and numeracy.
Inspectors returned in June to find out what the headteacher and other staff have taken to improve.
In his report, HM inspector Simon Gallon said: 'Senior leaders and the school community have worked together well to embed successfully the school's vision, values and aims.
'As a result, children understand and can talk about what the values mean in practice.
'Senior leaders and staff have established systems and processes which enable them to measure school improvement and assess the impact on improving outcomes for children.
Together, staff have developed a school improvement plan which sets out clearly the priorities across the year.
'They have identified appropriate areas for improvement. These include improving approaches to learning, teaching and assessment and raising attainment in literacy.
'Since the original inspection, all teachers now have opportunities to lead areas of change and improvement.
'These include pupil leadership groups and areas of curriculum development, such as literacy and numeracy.
'Children continue to learn in a positive ethos underpinned by the school values. They now have a greater say in school matters which are important to them.
'They like that staff listen to their views and opinions
The report states there has been an improvement in the quality and consistency of learning and plans to raise attainment in literacy and numeracy.
Mr Gallon's report adds: 'Across the school, children behave very well and have positive attitudes towards learning.
'Almost all engage well in varied activities which match their different needs when working on their own, with partners and in small groups. In almost all lessons, children make key decisions when learning.
'Senior leaders and teachers have a shared understanding of high-quality learning and teaching. They now use time for teaching better.
'They break down lessons into appropriate segments of learning to check children's knowledge and understanding. This is helping children to make better progress.
'Senior leaders and staff have taken positive steps to improve the accuracy of teacher professional judgements of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) levels.
'Teachers now have a better understanding of national guidance and national expectations. Their judgements of children's progress have improved.
'Attainment is improving across the school. Staff now have a clearer understanding of standards, expectations and progression in learning.
'The majority of children across the school are on track to achieve appropriate CfE levels in reading, writing and numeracy, with most children on track to achieve appropriate levels in listening and talking.
'Senior leaders have an understanding that it will take time to embed significant improvements in attainment over time.
'They should ensure that raising attainment, particularly in writing, remains a key priority across the school.'
Inspectors stated they were confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection.
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