St Sylvester’s Primary School inspection report released
St Sylvester’s RC Primary School in Elgin has received glowing feedback from Education Scotland for its strong leadership, welcoming atmosphere, and enthusiastic, well-behaved pupils.
The inspection report highlights the strengths that are helping children learn happily and confidently. Leadership at the school was particularly praised for driving improvement and supporting pupils in achieving better outcomes.
Inspectors also recognised staff for creating a warm, inclusive and friendly environment, both in the classroom and outdoors. Pupils are described as polite, enthusiastic and eager to learn, with a clear love for their school and learning.
Younger children were seen benefitting from play-based learning in fun, engaging spaces. Inspectors noted how well staff work together and with other partners to support children’s learning and wellbeing across different environments.
While the report was largely positive, it also outlined areas for development. These include making sure lessons are consistently high-quality and provide the right level of challenge. Inspectors encouraged the school to give pupils more opportunities to take an active role in their learning and to use digital tools more effectively in the classroom.
They also advised involving pupils, parents and staff more in shaping the future of the school. It should also be clearer how planned changes are helping pupils make progress.
Overall, the school received a ‘satisfactory’ rating in four key areas: leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; support for children’s wellbeing; and raising achievement.
St Sylvester’s RC Primary’s Head Teacher, Clare Ducrocq, said: “We’re pleased that the inspectors saw the positive spirit of our school and the hard work of our staff and pupils. We’re committed to using this feedback to strengthen our teaching, raise attainment, and give every child the best chance to thrive. We’ve already begun working on our next steps and look forward to continuing our improvement journey together with our families and wider community.”
Moray Council’s Chief Education Officer, Vivienne Cross, added: “This is a positive report that reflects the dedication of the school leadership, staff, and pupils at St Sylvester’s. It’s encouraging to see the school recognised for its nurturing approach and strong sense of community. We’re confident that the school will make the necessary improvements to further raise standards.”