Millbank Primary inspection report published

MILLBANK Primary in Buckie was inspected by Education Scotland last year, and their report has been released.

The inspection, which took place in the week before the October 2018 break, has highlighted some areas for improvement. Education staff have been working with the school to work on an action plan to address these.

The report said that children are happy and polite and at all stages show a willingness to learn, while staff benefit from an annual review meeting which enables them to progress their own professional development. This further benefits pupils.

A Moray Council spokesman said that many of the areas inspectors were concerned about had already been identified as part of the school’s improvement process.

“The school has reviewed and streamlined its improvement plan in line with National Guidance and it now has a manageable range of improvement priorities. There is now a need to provide staff with clearer strategic leadership and direction to ensure improved outcomes for pupils,” he said.

“The school recognises that there is a need to improve attainment levels across all year groups, and is well on track to improve the issues raised in the report.

“The school has very supportive parents, 94% of whom said they were satisfied with the overall quality of the school. More than 80% of pupils said they were happy at the school and with the quality of teaching, so we have confidence that the staff are working hard to deliver for their community.”

Education Scotland will make a return visit by in a year, when education staff expect to demonstrate significant progress.

Of the four areas of performance evaluated by the inspectors, two were ranked as ‘satisfactory’ and two as ‘weak’.

Millbank Primary has very recently undergone a successful £3.8million refurbishment.

The improved facilities at the school for pupils and staff are still bedding in but have created an excellent environment for learning which, coupled with the new breakfast club, should lead to better outcomes for pupils.

The school and Moray Council as education authority have been asked to adopt a more strategic direction and focus on four areas before the inspectors make a follow-up visit. These are:

• Improve learning and teaching so that pupils can lead their own learning,
• Raise attainment for all children by more effective tracking and monitoring,
• Review approaches to health and wellbeing and inclusion to better support children’s wellbeing and progress,
• Develop the curriculum to enable children to acquire appropriate knowledge and skills. , along with greater strategic direction.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live. Nestling between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, Moray stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Brodie Castle in the west.