A school in North Lanarkshire is having a "very good" first week back after the spring break, thanks to the publication of a glowing inspection report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIe).

 

Pupils, staff and parents at Eastfield Primary in Cumbernauld are all delighted with the inspection report – effectively the school's own report card – which awards the school a 'very good' rating for all but one of the 16 quality indicators.

 

Eastfield is the latest North Lanarkshire school to be reported on and was inspected in January of this year. Key aspects of the work of schools are inspected during HMIe visits including children's achievements, effectiveness of the school, the environment for learning, the school's processes for self-evaluation and innovation, and its capacity for improvement.

 

As part of the visit to Eastfield Primary, inspectors examined pupils' work and spoke to pupils, staff and parents to get their views on the school. And the inspectors were so impressed with Eastfield Primary that an incredible 15 of the 16 indicators of quality within the school were assessed as 'very good', which indicates that the school displays major strengths in these particular areas.

 

Inspectors identified a number of key strengths within the school including high levels of attainment and pupils' participation in a wide range of activities; the behaviour and commitment of pupils; the commitment of the staff; and the quality of the terrific new extension, which was recently completed to enhance the accommodation and facilities on offer.

 

And the inspectors were not the only ones to praise the school – parents expressed high levels of satisfaction with the school and held it in high esteem as an important part of the local community. Pupils also told the inspectors about how much they enjoyed going to school at Eastfield Primary.

 

"We are extremely proud to receive such a positive report from HMIe", said Head Teacher, John Telford, "and I am delighted that the inspectors recognise the very many strengths we have here within Eastfield Primary, which is testament to the input of everyone within the school community – pupils, staff and parents alike.

 

"The report comments on all aspects of the school's work – from our fantastic attainment levels to our "dynamic" music curriculum, our health promoting schools award (silver!) to our buddy system for younger pupils, and our role as an enterprising school to our achievement of an ECO school award – and we have been praised in all of these areas, which is just great.

"There are so many terrific comments that I could pull out from the report, but I would say that there are two comments that sum up for me just how good a job we are doing here in Eastfield. The first is that we enjoy a climate of "mutual trust, respect and confidence", which benefits everyone from the youngest pupil to the oldest staff member. And the second is that we provide an "attractive and stimulating environment for learning", which is what it is all about and sets our pupils up for life.

"Our main point for action within the report is to keep doing more of the same. Obviously we always strive to do things bigger and better than before, but this validates the approach that we have taken to deliver the best education we can for our pupils, who are after all, the citizens of tomorrow. And this report really does give everyone in the school top marks."

 

Christine Pollock, Executive Director of North Lanarkshire Council's Learning & Leisure Services, added: "HMIe inspections are an important part of the quality assurance process and this report clearly confirms that Eastfield Primary is delivering a high quality education for pupils and children and leading the way in many areas.

 

"My congratulations go to everyone in the school who are working to put service and people first."

 

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