Kelso High School
Quality Services School Review Summary Report
The review programme comprised four areas:
1. Self-evaluation
2. Pupils’ learning experiences
3. Leadership – the authority focus
4. Pastoral Care and Personal and Social Development – the school’s choice
The review process
A team from Quality Services and a peer reviewer visited Kelso High School in October 2006. The review team used the level five illustrations from How Good is Our School (HGIOS) as its frame of reference and made their evaluation on the basis of evidence provided by the school and their own observations. The results of their findings are summarised below.
In order to make their evaluations, the team consulted a number of school documents, including the school improvement plan, interviewed samples of pupils, staff and parents, and observed learning and teaching. The review team also focused on the work of a sample of four departments in the school. These departments were Chemistry, Home Economics, Mathematics and Music. In total, 58 lessons were observed.
Key strengths of the school in the areas reviewed
The school demonstrated particular strengths in:
- The very positive climate of achievement and respect throughout the school.
- The high quality of pastoral care for pupils
- Pupils’ participation and achievements in a wide variety of school, extra curricular and out of school activities.
- The high profile of the headteacher and very good leadership offered by him in a number of key aspects of school life.
Main action points for the school
More rigorous procedures should be developed for
- departmental reviews
- observation, monitoring and evaluation at whole school and departmental level by senior managers and principal teachers.
- self-evaluation and quality assurance by all staff to improve further pupils’ learning experiences and to raise attainment.
Improve the quality of learning across the school to a consistently high standard. Identified key features of existing good practice should be shared and used by all staff.
What happens now ?
The headteacher, in consultation with the review coordinator and the school Quality Improvement Officer, will produce an action plan in response to the action points identified in the review report. This action plan will be incorporated into the school improvement plan for 2006-07.
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