Balmoral Primary School
The review programme comprised three areas:
- Self-evaluation
- Pupils’ learning experiences
- Leadership – the authority focus
The review process
A quality improvement officer (QIO) from Quality Services and a peer reviewer reviewed Balmoral Primary School in November 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 given below.
In order to make their evaluations, the team consulted a number of school documents, including the school improvement plan, interviewed sample groups of pupils, staff and parents, and observed learning and teaching In total, eighteen lessons were observed.
Key strengths of the school
Of the areas reviewed, the school demonstrated particular strengths in the following areas:
- the very positive climate of respect throughout the school
- positive and supportive relationships amongst staff
- enthusiastic pupils who are proud of their school and their teachers
Main action points for the school
Immediate action should be taken to ensure improvement in:
- self-evaluation and quality assurance procedures, including monitoring and tracking pupils’ achievement, in order to raise attainment and to identify and address more effectively pupils’ needs and next steps in learning.
- the pace of learning through units of work and in lessons by:
- planning programmes to meet pupils’ needs
- providing differentiated support
- challenging pupils more consistently
- developing collaborative, interactive group teaching and learning
- the strategic leadership and direction of the school to ensure full involvement of all stakeholders and consistently high levels of support, provision and expectation for every pupil.
What happens now?
The headteacher, in consultation with the review co-ordinator and the school quality improvement officer, will produce an action plan in response to the action points identified in the review. This action plan will be incorporated into the school improvement plan for the 2007-08 session.
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