Schoolmakesthegrade with glowing report card
FROM hairdressing to car washes and construction – pupils at Cardinal Winning Secondary School are being prepared for the future.
And the success of teachers in getting young people with additional support needs into work has been hailed by education watchdogs.
The Tollcross school was put under the microscope by Education Scotland and has now secured a glowing report card.
Cardinal Winning gained “very good” grades for leadership of change; raising attainment and achievement; and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion.
The secondary school earned “good” for “earning, teaching and assessment”.
Gerry McDonald, who has been head teacher since 2003, said: “This is a great boost for the school and we are delighted with the outcome of the report.
“The report speaks of the input of our parents and the creativity of our teachers but some of the highlights of the report are having Education Scotland acknowledge our young people are engaged with their learning and are making great progress towards life after school.”
Cardinal Winning is an amalgamation of St Aidan’s School and St Joan of Arc School and opened in June 2011.
The decision to close the two schools, as well as Stonedyke Primary, was “called in” by Scottish Government ministers in 2010.
Education Secretary Mike Russell made the decision after education inspectors voiced concerns over the plans for Glasgow City Council. However, the situation was resolved and St Aidan’s and St Joan of Arc were merged to become a new school named for the first Roman Catholic Cardinal of Glasgow who died in 2001.
Mr McDonald said the first three years of the merger were difficult and so the report praising the school has extra significance.
He added: “Bringing together two sets of teachers and two sets of pupils wasn’t easy and the first three years were difficult.
“But we are thriving now. Everybody knows our ethos and what Cardinal Winning stands for. They know what our goals are and work to achieve them.”
Pupils are prepared for life after school with construction and painting and decorating; hairdressing and personal care; digital skills; and hospitality lessons as well as academic subjects.
The report from watchdogs praises: “The leadership of the highly effective headteacher in providing a vision and direction for school improvement.
“There is a clear focus is on improving young people’s transition into the world of adulthood.
“The quality and range of learning experiences within and beyond the classroom leading to young people who are confident, polite and engaged well in their learning.”
Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning, said: “This is a wonderful endorsement for the whole school community and an inspection report that they should all be extremely proud of.
“Inspectors have highlighted a number of key strengths of the school and staff and particularly how well the young people are prepared for their future careers.”