Big gap in inspections

Many primary schools not been assessed for a decade

MORE than 70 primary schools across Tayside and Fife have not been inspected for at least a decade, new statistics have revealed.

A freedom of information (FOI) request published by the government has shown there were 74 primary schools across Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross which had not been visited by HM Inspectors of Education since 2010 at the earliest.

This makes up approximately 12% of the total number of primary schools across Scotland which have not been inspected by officials in at least a decade.

The FOI categorised the number of schools by council area and broke them down by ward. However, the individual schools in the area were not named.

Inspections are carried out by Education Scotland, a Scottish Government executive agency, which operates independently and impartially but is directly accountable to government ministers.

In Dundee, six schools make up the overall figure for Tayside and Fife, with 17 in Angus, 34 in Fife and 17 in Perth and Kinross.

Councillor Fraser MacPherson, who represents the Liberal Democrats, said the local authority conducts their own reviews in schools between inspections.

He said: “Dundee City Council does conduct reviews of schools from within the education directorate. Not only does this ensure that a review does take place between inspections, but it also helps schools in their preparation for when one does take place.”

An Education Scotland spokesman said: “Schools are selected for inspection each year on a proportionate basis, using a sampling approach and predetermined set criteria rather than a cyclical approach.”

An Angus Council spokesman said: “We engage in all HMIE school inspections and very much welcome these visits.”

Dundee City, Fife and Perth and Kinross councils did not respond to requests for comment.

Councillor Fraser MacPherson.