28 INSPECTION Concerns in report

Sandford in the spotlight

Concerns were raised by councillors when a report by Education Scotland on an inspection of Sandford Primary went before a meeting of the East Kilbride area committee.

While the school’s head teacher and staff were praised, elected members recognised there was work to do but questioned the fairness of a standardised approach by inspectors when it came to smaller rural schools.

The school was inspected in October 2017 with the News reporting in January how it received “satisfactory” marks.

Particular strengths were identified as the friendly and motivated children who are proud of their school and eager to contribute to improvement and the hard-working, committed head teacher and staff who are ready to embrace change leading to improvement.

But there were a number of areas earmarked for improvement such as developing further approaches to self-evaluation and school improvement which involves all stakeholders alongside the further development of the school curriculum.

Inspectors also want staff to continue the development of their expertise in planning tasks and activities to further improve learning and teaching, ensuring an appropriate level of pace.

Avondale and Stonehouse councillor Margaret Cooper said there were distinct challenges for Sandford as a rural school with a shared head teacher but she was “confident the school had the resources and the wherewithal” to make the progress required.

But fellow ward member Graeme Campbell was aghast at the inspectors’ findings.

He said: “I was taken aback with this report as for a long time Sandford has been one of the best schools in the area.

“It has a superb head teacher and staff and an excellent parent council – one of the best in the area.

“To be honest I am not sure I believe this report – we are looking at a snapshot in time.

“The head teacher absolutely has our support and that of the community.”

East Kilbride East councillor Graham Scott added that the standardised approach by inspectors was “unfair to schools like Sandford” when compared to larger schools in urban areas.