Pass marks to Beaconhurst
Improvements praised by school inspectors
Inspectors have praised improvements at Beaconhurst School in Bridge of Allan.
The independent school was visited by Education Scotland as part of its bid to maintain knowledge of schools in the independent sector.
During the visit, inspectors talked to staff and young people and worked with the headteacher and senior staff on planned developments for continued improvement.
In their report, they said: “The recently appointed headteacher has a clear vision for improving the school. She is starting to make some important changes which are already having a positive impact for children and young people. She is ably supported by her senior leadership team.
“As a result of their leadership we evidenced sound practice in such areas as the nursery, junior stages and in pastoral care.
“Staff at the nursery and junior stages have been taking forward selfevaluation particularly well. At the senior stages, there is scope to build on strengths to ensure more rigour while setting clearer expectations.
“There are many positive features to children’s and young people’s learning and achievement. Across stages, children and young people demonstrate very well the school’s values of empathy, respect, ambition, integrity and resilience. They benefit from the school’s ‘family feel’.
“At the senior stages, for most of the time, young people work in pairs and small groups to discuss, debate and explore further their learning. This practice needs to be shared further where lessons remain teacher- directed for too long so that all children and young people are benefitting from consistent, high-quality learning. To assist in achieving this, the school needs to ensure that all staff receive regular advice on how to improve their practice, with their successes in so doing monitored.”
The inspection report highlighted that the board of governors, staff, parents and partners had identified that they would like to increase the range of opportunities for personal achievements and in the process of improving this had made a “strong impact” and developed good partnerships locally and further afield.
“Children and young people now have a significantly increased number of clubs in which to develop their interests,” added the inspectors, who cited overseas trips, concert performances, debating competitions and sporting events as areas of particular interest.
“The school recognises children’s and young people’s successes in a range of appropriate ways. This includes by publishing them in a high quality magazine which also details the achievements of staff. We have asked staff to continue to have regular conversations with children and young people that focus on their achievements. These should, in particular, emphasise how well they are developing skills for learning, life and work from participating in opportunities for achievements.”
In the nursery and junior stages there was said to be strong emphasis on developing skills in literacy, numeracy and other areas.
“Children in the nursery are confidently applying these skills in real-life situations.
“Across all stages, a planned approach embeds outdoor learning which is contributing to children’s and young people’s health and wellbeing.
“From the junior stages to S2, teachers are using a range of approaches to assess progress in learning. However, we have asked all staff to make more use of this assessment information to check in a detailed way that all children and young people are progressing as well as they can.
“At the senior stages, staff are increasingly analysing how well young people achieve in national qualifications. They are now intervening more quickly if young people need extra help to raise attainment. Young people are very appreciative of their teachers’ additional support. In the last two years, most or almost all young people in S4 to S6 have achieved appropriate qualifications at A to C- grade passes. The school offers a wide range of subjects up to Advanced Higher. Staff need to continue to ensure the curriculum is raising attainment and has sufficient vocational courses to meet the needs of all their young people.”
The inspectors were confident that “with some support” the school can improve its arrangements and procedures for ensuring continued improvement in the quality of education provided.