Positive inspection report for Urafirth Primary School
URAFIRTH Primary School has been given a positive report from inspectors.
Education Scotland inspectors visited the school in October.
During their visit, inspectors talked to parents/carers and children and worked closely with the headteacher and staff.
Shetland Islands Council (SIC) said the inspection team found the following strengths in the school’s work:
- In the school and nursery, children are respectful, kind and welcoming. They are articulate, motivated to learn and enjoy talking about their learning.
- Across the school and nursery, the headteacher demonstrates effective leadership. She is supported well by the staff team. Together, they provide an inclusive, nurturing and inviting learning environment which is helping all children to achieve success in learning.
- Staff in the school and nursery engage in ongoing high-quality professional learning. This is helping them to reflect on and develop their practice, leading to improvements in children’s experiences and outcomes.
The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from the SIC:
- In the school, staff should continue to develop high-quality approaches to learning and teaching to ensure all children make the best possible progress. This should include giving children more opportunities to lead their own learning.
- In the school, staff should support children to understand, record and share the skills they are developing through learning experiences and achievements.
- In the nursery, staff should provide children with further challenge to extend and sustain children’s interests in learning.
Education Scotland’s quality indicators for the primary school and nursery came back as ‘good’ in every category.
For the school these were learning, teaching and assessment, and raising attainment and achievement.
For the nursery class the categories were learning, teaching and assessment, and securing children’s progress.
Education Scotland inspectors are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and will make no further visits in connection with this inspection.
Help keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Good local journalism takes time, care and people on the ground. Membership helps us keep reporting the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read. Members get a weekly newsletter created especially for them, local ads only, and can bookmark stories and join the conversation in the comments.
Already a member? Sign in.
Chairman of the SIC’s education and families committee Davie Sandison said: “I’m pleased to see this positive report for Urafirth Primary School that reflects the work of the pupils, staff and wider school community.
“My congratulations to everyone connected with the school.”
Meanwhile people who have a connection to the Urafirth school recently celebrated the 30 years which have passed since the current building opened.
Keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Your membership helps us report the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read.