‘Satisfactory’ report for Kear Campus

Areas for improvement identified

Blantyre’s Kear Campus school has been deemed as ‘satisfactory’in an Education Scotland inspection.

In June 2017 a team of inspectors visited the campus and talked to parents/carers, children and young people and worked closely with the head teacher and staff.

Inspectors gathered evidence to evaluate the quality of leadership and management, learning provision and children’s successes and achievements.

Recently the inspectors wrote to parents/carers with their findings which deemed the campus ‘satisfactory’ in the following four aspects – leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; raising attainment and achievement; and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion.

They also identified the following strengths in the school’s work: Senior leaders and staff provide a welcoming school environment in which children and young people feel cared for and valued; children and young people see purpose in learning and achieving; children and young people’s progress in literacy and English language; and positive relationships with staff help a number of children and young people to successfully re-engage with their learning.

The following areas for improvement were identified, however, and discussed with the head teacher and a representative from South Lanarkshire Council: As an immediate priority, the school, with ongoing support from the local authority, needs to work with partners, notably mainstream schools, local colleges and community learning and development, to reduce part-time timetables in the area bases to help ensure young people receive their full entitlements; develop more rigorous and robust approaches to self-evaluation activities in order to improve outcomes for children and young people; and continue to raise attainment and wider achievement for all children and young people.

In their report inspectors stated: “We will ask for a report on progress within one year of the inspection. This report will inform any decision made by Education Scotland regarding further engagement.”

Kear Campus School provides education for secondary-aged children with social, emotional and behavioural needs, on full- and parttime placements.