MSP hits out at school inspections
Some schools in Ayrshire are waiting years before they are placed under the microscope by government inspectors.
In some parts of the region, it has been 15 years since they were last put in the spotlight.
The shock school inspection ‘gaps’ are revealed in a Freedom of Information request, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.
In South Ayrshire, the likes of Girvan Primary School hasn’t been inspected for 15 years while at Colmonell Primary, their last inspection was in 2008.
Alloway Primary was last inspected in 2009 while Coylton Primary was last scrutinised back in 2010.
In East Ayrshire, Dalmellington Primary’s last inspection was in 2011 and Muirkirk Primary back in 2009.
South Scotland Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey said the SNP are failing schools.
She added: “The latest data on school inspections shows us that the standard of Scottish education is the last thing on the SNP’s mind. How are we able to improve our young people’s education if a school hasn’t been inspected in over 13 years?”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said school inspections increased in 2018/19 and would have “increased further” had it not been for the pandemic.
The spokesperson added: “HM Inspectors of Education have continued to engage with schools in a range of ways to support the education sector during Covid recovery.
“Inspections are not the only method of scrutiny - schools and local authorities also have responsibility for evaluating performance.”
Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley c, said: “The SNP’s record on education speaks for itself.
“We are seeing high numbers of students going on to positive destinations in further or higher education, training or employment opportunities which given the challenging two years our students and teaching staff have faced, is a great achievement.
“And right across Ayrshire, the SNP continue to invest in state of the art education facilities with new schools for Cumnock, Netherthird and Bellsbank with more under construction in Maybole and Girvan.”
To view the full FOI, go to https://www.gov.scot/ publications/foi-202200286424/