McLaren address issues
Issues highlighted by inspectors during their latest visit to McLaren High are already being addressed, the head teacher said.
Marc Fleming was commenting after a 25page report underlined the school’s many strengths including pupils’ achievements and attainment.
Staff were found to be highly committed to the school ethos and generally displayed good leadership.
Inspectors were also impressed with the range of courses available and help given to children with additional support needs.
However, the report judged leadership of change to be merely “satisfactory”, while learning teaching and assessment, raising attainment and achievement and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion, were considered “good”.
Among recommendations was that evidence needed to be used better when making changes aimed at improving pupils’ achievements, with a stronger strategy and continued development of monitoring.
The inspectors said a review of the school curriculum was needed to provide “progressive pathways” which meet the needs of all young people more effectively, adding “too often” underachievement was being identified too late to support young people to maximise their potential.”
The inspectors added, however: “In almost all curriculum areas, learning contexts are relevant and meaningful. As as result, young people enjoy their learning and respond attentively during lessons.”
Mr Fleming congratulated staff and pupils on the largely positive report and added: “The school is now working towards achieving ‘very good’ across three of the quality indicators, which means important strengths have been identified that have a significant positive impact on our pupils.
“It is pleasing to note our strong academic performance in the national qualifications was recognised as well as our innovative approaches to ... promoting science, technologies, engineering and mathematics.
“The management team have already begun the process of working on areas requiring improvement, the majority of which were identified before the inspection and feature in our current improvement plan for this academic session.
“I’m also pleased that the chief inspector is confident the school has the capacity to continue to improve and as such they will make no more visits in connection with our inspection.”