School for deaf told to act over pupil safety

SCOTLAND’S school for deaf children has been told to take immediate action to ensure pupil safety.

Donaldson’s School, in Linlithgow, West Lothian, was served a government i mprovement notice last month.

A new convener appointed to its governing board will oversee changes as Police Scotland continue to review an allegation against a member of staff.

A joint Education Scotland and Care Inspectorate inspection report published yesterday said the school lacked effective leadership and cited tension between employees, senior managers and the governing board.

It said there were not enough opportunities for pupils to communicate their concerns and

‘Significantly deteriorated’

have their views taken into account.

‘The school must ensure that children and young people can talk to staff about their feelings and provide reassurance that what they say will be acted on,’ the report stated.

Inspectors went on: ‘Whilst the school has a range of policies related to safeguarding, these are not consistently implemented and staff are not sufficiently aware of their responsibilities in keeping children and young people safe from harm.’

Donaldson’s, which provides primary and secondary education for 42 pupils, was inspected at the end of last year and since then ‘some aspects of provision have significantly deteriorated’ instead of improving, it said.

Inspectors said the school must ensure the Care Inspectorate is informed of all incidents relating to child injury, protection and absconding.

John Anderson, new convener of the school’s board of governors, said: ‘The priority is the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in our care.’

Donaldson’s has appointed three new members to its board while three have stood down.