Portgordon Primary School inspection report released
Education Scotland inspectors have advised Portgordon Primary School to keep improving literacy and numeracy to help all pupils make the best progress possible.
Following an inspection in September 2023, the school and Moray Council agreed on several areas of improvement. Recently, a short follow-up inspection was completed to check how well the school has implemented these improvements.
A letter released today (Tuesday 10 September) outlines the progress made.
The report commends the staff for making good progress in improving literacy and numeracy, with most pupils at early and senior stages meeting national expectations.
The letter points out that although more progress is needed to improve the school’s strategic leadership, senior leaders have introduced a calendar for planned assessments, which has helped track students’ progress in literacy. Teachers are now using this information more effectively to evaluate student achievement.
They have also developed a consistent way of linking different learning activities, making it easier for pupils to see connections across subjects.
Support from the local authority has also encouraged curiosity and creativity among pupils and teachers have improved their understanding of national standards by working with local schools, particularly in writing.
Although, teachers are generally meeting the needs of most pupils, they need to do better in planning and safeguarding to support all learners, including those with additional needs.
Overall, the inspectors found that the school has made insufficient progress since the original inspection and there are still areas that need improvement. The pace of learning needs to be quicker, and there should be a more thorough approach to checking the quality of teaching.
The inspectors encouraged the school to keep working with other schools and expand this collaboration to other subjects to better support and challenge pupils.
Senior leaders and the council need to address these issues to ensure all pupils are getting the education they deserve.
Education Scotland will liaise with Moray Council on these improvements and a further inspection will be carried out within the year.
Portgordon Primary School’s Headteacher, Carene Hay, commented: “Since taking over leadership, I’ve been working closely with staff to build on our strengths and address the areas of improvement highlighted by Education Scotland. We’ve new ideas and approaches in place, and we’re already making progress on the next steps to ensure every pupil receives the support and challenge they need to thrive.”
Moray Council’s Chief Education Officer, Vivienne Cross, said: “While there’s still work to be done, we’re encouraged by the steps the school has taken so far. We’ve already started working closely with the new headteacher to address the remaining areas of improvement and provide the best possible education possible.”
The full letter can be found on Education Scotland's website.