Agenda and minutes

(Copy reports attached.)

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, which included members of the Sub Committee and those watching via the Live Stream, and outlined how the meeting would be conducted.

In Attendance:- Mr Bruce Robertson (Headteacher), Christian Robertson (Quality Improvement Officer) and Councillor Moffat.

3.0       The Chairman welcomed the representatives from Berwickshire High School.

3.1       HMIe report

          With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of 3 March 2022, there had been circulated copies of a report on His Majesty’s Inspector of Education (HMIE) Reports for Berwickshire High School and the continuous scrutiny and support provided by the Quality Improvement Team within Scottish Borders Council.  The report explained that Initial inspection of Berwickshire High School by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in March 2019 noted significant concerns in a number of areas, including leadership, safeguarding, learning and teaching, wellbeing and attainment with areas noted for immediate action.  A Follow-up visit by HMIE in November 2021 reported significant improvement under the leadership and direction of the new Headteacher and confirmed that HMIE would not undertake a further visit, but would ask the Local Authority to review and Report on continued progress.  After a period of monitoring and support by the Quality Improvement Team, a review took place in November 2022 to validate progress made and to report back to HMIE and Education Scotland.  The Team recognised significant additional progress and improvement made by the Headteacher and staff over the previous 12 months, whilst monitored the progress of Berwickshire High School following the visit by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMI) in November 2021. This had included regular visits to the school by members of the Quality Improvement team, an in-depth Attainment Analysis meeting following the publication of 2022 attainment data, and a formal Review Visit in November 2022. During that visit, the team talked to children and young people, members of the middle and senior leadership teams, teaching and support staff, parents and observed children and young people in their learning.

3.2         Mr Robertson explained that in terms of leadership,  there had been a continued focus over the past 12 months, to develop leadership at all levels. This had included establishing a new mission statement of the school – ‘Aim for Best’ – in consultation with key stakeholders and this was helping to create a       shared sense of community, purpose and ambition.  There was a coherent approach to school improvement with a clear improvement cycle to evaluate progress. A strategic focus on leadership capacity development, with a particular focus on the middle leadership team, was having a very positive impact across the school. For example, middle leaders were now leading programmes of professional learning workshops for teachers, and were playing an enhanced role in the planning of a newly introduced Supported Self-Evaluation Programme,    with follow-up coaching. There was clear alignment between the school and faculty     improvement plans.  Communication at all levels had improved significantly, with a regular pattern of leadership team meetings, and systems to share key messages with staff, which was having a positive impact on staff, who felt valued and supported to participate in collaborative improvement.  As well as meeting on a weekly one-to-one basis with middle  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

(Copy reports to follow.)

HAWICK HGH SCHOOL

In Attendance:- Ms Lisa Scott (Acting Headteacher), Catherine Thomson (Quality Improvement Officer) and Councillors Ramage and Richards.

WELCOME

3.1       The Chairman welcomed the representatives from Hawick High School.  

3.2       HMIe Report

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of the Education Performance Sub- Committee held on 3 March 2022, there had been circulated copies of a report which explained that Hawick High School had initially been inspected in January 2020, a follow up support visit in January 2022 to report on the progress made had resulted in sign off to the local authority in 2022.  The visit by HMIe to Hawick High school noted significant improvements in all areas, with the second Report being published on 8 February 2022.  Scottish Borders Council had monitored progress and a formal review visit was held in January 2023.  A team of Officers from Scottish Borders Council visited the school to validate the improvements made and to quality assure the progress made over the past 12 months.   The team met with staff, business partners and young people, observed lessons and reviewed all aspects of the schools progress with the initial recommendations of the HMIE Report in 2020.  In February 2023, the Chief Officer, the Quality Improvement Manager and the Headteacher met with the Head of Scrutiny for HMIE to give their report.  Following a lengthy professional discussion, HMIE endorsed the Local Authority’s report and agreed to a final sign off from HMIE.  The areas of improvement had been identified  as  a) A clear strategic overview was now needed of the range of work taking forward improvements. Staff should continue to work collaboratively to progress a more joined-up approach with clear timescales for activities and an appropriate pace of change; b) Building on existing effective practice and enthusiasm of staff to continue to improve the quality of learning, teaching and assessment across the school; c) All staff need to recognise their role in providing support for all young people. Staff should continue to develop approaches to supporting all young people, including those who are facing significant challenges in their lives, to attain and achieve. This should lead to all young people feeling welcome, valued and included in the life of the school and d) Further work is needed to improve the curriculum so that young people can make better progress in their learning; e)Improve the attainment of young people. Work is needed to ensure that more young people leave Hawick High School with appropriate qualifications.

3.3     Miss Scott explained that over the past 12 months there had been a continued focus on the development of leadership at all levels and a coherent approach to school improvement.  There was a clear measurable planning cycle, alignment of the SIP/FIP and the work of Improvement Teams.  Middle Leaders were more strategic in their approach to school improvement and pupil voice was at the heart of the school improvement and the Student Forum beginning to play an important role. Extended leadership opportunities to promote  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2a

(Copy reports attached.)

GLENDINNING TERRACE PRIMARY SCHOOL 

            In Attendance:- Ms Nicki McCall (Headteacher), Gillian McKenzie (Quality Improvement Officer), and Councillors Jardine and MacKinnon

WELCOME

4.1       The Chairman welcomed the representatives from Glendinning Terrace Primary School.  

4.2       HMIe Report

            There had been circulated copies of a report which explained that Glendinning Terrace Primary School and Nursey was inspected in October 2022, using a ‘short’ inspection model, which meant that only two quality indicators were inspected in both the Early Learning and Childcare setting and the Primary School over a three day period.  The HMIE Report evaluated the Early Years setting and the Primary provision as satisfactory across all quality indicators.  The evaluation gradings ranged from unsatisfactory to excellent, so a grading of satisfactory indicated a basic level of provision.  As a result, the school had been asked to prepare a focussed plan for improvement with a particular emphasis on addressing areas highlighted for improvement. The inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work: a) Relationships between nursery practitioners, school staff, children, and those in the school community; b) Children’s broader achievements and successes in various events, which enables them to develop various skills and become responsible and caring individuals who make a significant contribution in their community; c) The approaches Teachers and staff are taking to improve children’s attainment in reading, which are making a difference to children’s progress at the primary stages and d) The Headteacher’s and Early Years Officer’s impact on leadership of and direction of school and nursery improvement.

4.3       The following areas for improvement were identified a) continue to build on current approaches for improving how children’s progress was assessed, planned and tracked in the nursery to help ensure they achieve; b) ensure that all children’s needs were met through experiences and activities which provide appropriate pace and challenge and further their learning; c) improve further children’s attainment, particularly in numeracy and mathematics and d) Take forward plans to involve children more in making decisions about school life and involve parents more in their children’s learning.

4.4       The Headteacher explained that the short inspection had been in expected for sometime as they had initially been notified in in 2020.  The inspection had been a very positive process and had validated where the School thought they were and identified next steps for improvement.  The School had been very pleased that the relationships between nursery practitioners, school staff, children, and those in the school community had been acknowledged as well as the children’s broader achievements and successes celebrated at various events.  The School had been particularly pleased to receive recognition of the approaches Teachers and staff were taking to improve children’s attainment in reading, which were making a difference to children’s progress at the primary stages as this had been on the development plan for 2 years and had been identified as a COVID gap and the Headteacher’s and Early Years Officer’s impact on leadership of and direction of school and nursery improvement.  The Headteacher went onto to explain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2b

MEMBERS

Councillors Greenwell and Hamilton and Ms N York left the meeting prior to consideration of the following item.

(Copy reports attached.)

5.0     FOUNTAINHALL PRIMARY SCHOOL

            In Attendance:- Ms S. Anderson (Headteacher), Kathleen Lofthouse (Parent Council Representative), Gillian McKenzie (Quality Improvement Officer) and Councillor N. MacKinnon.

5.1     The Chairman welcomed the representatives from Fountainhall Primary School. 

5.2       HMIe Report

            There had been circulated copies of a report which explained that Fountainhall Primary School was inspected in November 2022 using a ‘full’ inspection model, which meant that 4 key quality indicators were inspected in both the Early Learning and Childcare setting and the Primary School over a 5 day period.  The HMIE Report evaluated the Early Years setting and the Primary provision as good across almost all quality indicators, with evaluations of very good in the Nursery for ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion and very good in the Primary stages for learning, teaching and assessment.  The evaluation gradings range given by HMIE on school inspections can range from unsatisfactory to excellent, so a grading of very good indicated there were major strengths in this aspect of the school’s work.  The inspection team had found the following strengths in the school’s work - a) The leadership of the Headteacher and Principal Teacher in ensuring that the wellbeing of children was central to the work of all and as a result of their shared vision for the nursery class and school, all staff had a clear focus on supporting all children to achieve their full potential and the strong sense of teamwork resulted in an inclusive, family ethos; b) the very successful approaches to meeting the learning needs of all children in the multi-stage composite class. The skilled Senior Leaders, Teachers and support staff worked together closely to provide a nurturing and highly motivating learning environment for children; c) Happy, articulate and confident children who were very proud of their nursery class and school and had increasing ownership of their learning and showed respect, empathy and kindness to each other; d) High standards in the teaching of literacy across the Nursery Class and School and Children at all stages were making very good progress in this area of learning.

5.3       The following areas for improvement had been identified and discussed with the Headteacher and representative from Scottish Borders Council a) continue to take forward plans to refresh the unique curriculum offer for learners at Fountainhall, with a focus on developing children’s skills for learning, life and work; b) continue to raise attainment in numeracy and mathematics, ensuring that all children were supported and challenged to make the best possible progress and c) the inspection team were confident that the school had capacity to continue to improve and that no further visits in connection with this inspection were required.  The Quality Improvement Team and Early Years Team would continue to work alongside the Headteacher to ensure continued progress towards excellence. 

5.4       The Headteacher explained that there had been three Inspectors over 5 days and was based 

            on the scoping document sent to the Inspectors prior to the visit and acknowledged the support from the Quality  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a