Top marks in school inspection
A Carse of Gowrie primary school and nursery has received top grades following an inspection by a national watchdog.
The findings report comes after a team from Education Scotland visited Invergowrie Primary School and Nursery Class in March.
During the visit, inspectors talked to parents, carers and children and worked closely with the headteacher and staff.
The inspection team found a number of strengths in the school’s work while also making a handful of recommendations for improvement.
The nursery service was rated as ‘very good’ in all categories, which includes: Leadership of change; Learning, teaching and assessment; Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion; and Securing children’s progress.
The primary class service was rated slightly lower with Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion; and Raising attainment and achievement rated as ‘good’ and Leadership of change and Learning, teaching and assessment as ‘satisfactory’.
The report stated: “The headteacher is well-respected and valued across the school and nursery community.
“She has made a very positive start to leading the school with a focus on how the school can improve.
“As a result, the staff team and community are invested in improving the work of the school.
“Practitioners in the nursery work well together to improve how they support children.
“They undertake research and share with each other effective approaches that have a positive impact on outcomes for children.”
The report goes on: “Children in the school are polite, friendly and enthusiastic to learn.
“They are proud of their achievements and engage well with their learning.
“This is leading to children maintaining good levels of attainment.
“Staff across the school and nursery provide a caring and nurturing environment for children to learn in.
“They ensure the values of ‘ready, respectful, and safe’ are embedded within the life of the school.
“As a result, relationships across the school community are positive. This is supporting children to improve their wellbeing.”
The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Perth and Kinross Council.
The report stated: “Teachers should develop further their use of assessment to inform planning and provide increased levels of challenge with learning.
“This should support all children make appropriate progress with their learning.
“Staff should ensure that all children have opportunities to increase their participation in activities and the work of the school.
“This will increase children’s opportunities to develop further their skills for learning, life and work.”
The watchdog report concluded the school has the “capacity to continue to improve” and no more visits will be planned.
Perth and Kinross Council will inform parents/carers about the school’s progress.
Commending the findings, Councillor Angus Forbes, who represents the Carse of Gowrie ward, said: “I was delighted to learn of the very positive report by Education Scotland. This is further endorsement of the good work being done by the entire teaching staff and the pupils.
“Invergowrie Primary School is a very popular school with parents from well outwith the catchment wanting to send their children here and this positive report will emphasise what a wonderful school it is.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser was aslo “particularly pleased” with the report findings.