Portgordon Primary inspection report points to ‘more progress needed’
A local primary school has been urged to keep improving literacy and numeracy by Education Scotland inspectors.
Following a visit to Portgordon Primary in September 2023 inspectors outlined several areas of improvement. Recently, a short follow-up inspection was completed to check how well the school has implemented these improvements.
A letter has now been released outlining 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, the inspectors feel 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 have been told 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.”
Local councillor Ben Williams said: “While it’s clear from the report that there are still challenges ahead, it’s good to see that the hard work of teachers, support staff, and indeed pupils has resulted in some genuine improvements being made.
“I’m hopeful that such improvements will continue."
Fellow ward member Councillor Shona Morrison commented: "I am heartened to hear of the progress that is being made and whilst I appreciate that there is still a degree of work to be done, I don't doubt that this will be achieved.
“I was kindly invited along to meet with the parent council and leadership team before the holidays and it was very clear to see that everyone's focus was on providing the very best educational experience for pupils by working tirelessly to achieve this.”
The full letter can be found on Education Scotland's website.
