School is praised for helping close the gap between rich and poor

Children from some of the most deprived families are closing the attainment gap with kids from wealthier homes, a school inspection report has found.

Our Lady of Peace Primary School in Linwood has been recognised for reducing the attainment gaps between different groups of children in a report published by Education Scotland.

But inspectors, who visited the Erskinefauld Road school earlier this year, also found that two of the four areas reviewed - learning, teaching and assessment and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion could be graded only as satisfactory.

In the report published yesterday, inspectors graded the raising attainment and achievement and leadership categories as good.

It states: “Staff are committed to ensuring that no child misses out on learning experiences due to financial barriers.

“Initiatives such as ensuring all children have access to school uniform and raising awareness of the ‘cost of the school day’ with staff are leading to more children feeling included as part of the Our Lady of the Peace community.

“Staff should continue to keep under review the costs of any activity to ensure equity of opportunity.”

In September this year the school roll of the primary was 236, divided between 10 classes.

Thirty per cent of children who attend the school live at homes designated as amongst the poorest in Scotland.

Inspectors found staff were successful in supporting these children to reach their full potential using additional funding designed to raise the attainment gap.

“Pupil equity funding has been used to provide a nurture teacher and inclusion support assistants to support children who are experiencing low mood, self-esteem, social, emotional or behavioural needs,” the report states.

“Through these sessions children are taught social skills such as taking turns, sharing, cooperating and to recognise others feelings.

“There are plans in place to further develop strategies to support the development of positive mental health and to continue to provide targeted support in both literacy and numeracy. As a result of the schools approaches to raising attainment in literacy and numeracy the attainment gap is reducing between the least and most disadvantaged children.”

It adds: “We are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection. Renfrewshire Council will inform parents and carers about the school’s progress as part of its arrangements for reporting on the quality of its schools.”

The school has been asked to improve the way it evaluates its own work and approaches to learning as well as ensuring all children across the school experience the same depth of learning in all curriculum areas as they do in literacy and numeracy.

Staff have also been asked to ensure that teaching approaches are varied, engage children more effectively and are more responsive to the needs of all children.

A full copy of the inspection report has been published on the Education Scotland website.

Staff are committed to ensuring that no child misses out on learning experiences