Inspection of Invergordon Academy and the learning community surrounding the school.
Separate reports were issued yesterday (16 June) on the inspection by HMIe of the quality of education at Invergordon Academy and community learning and development in the surrounding area. These reports were issued as part of the inspectorate’s new joined-up strategy for evaluating all of the educational provision of local authorities.
In a very positive school report, HMIe highlight well behaved and high achieving pupils, a curriculum that meets the needs of young people, a highly committed and effective staff team and the very effective leadership of the head teacher and deputes as particular strengths.
In their visit inspectors found young people who are very keen to learn and who enjoy working with their teachers and each other in almost all classes. They report that almost all young people are happy and feel respected and included in all aspects of school life.
Pupils become more confident and develop self awareness by taking part in a range of debates, meetings and enterprising activities and, across the school, young people are adopting healthier lifestyles. Almost all young people participate in fundraising for local charities such as the Highland Hospice, helping them develop caring and responsible attitudes.
Across the curriculum, young people achieve well in their early years. They make very good progress in reading, writing and mathematics and, in particular, girls’ achievements in reading, writing and mathematics have notably improved. Academic achievement is stronger than in other schools which serve young people with similar needs and backgrounds and staff ensure young people have very good opportunities to achieve when they leave school.
Staff provide a good range of well-planned and personalised courses and activities for all young people. The school is piloting work with Careers Scotland to help more young people make a smooth transition from school to work or further study. All young people have the opportunity to gain valuable skills for work through college courses delivered in partnership with the North Highland College and Inverness College.
The school also delivers very good courses in partnership with Balnagown Estate and the Forestry Commission as well as offering access to Open University short courses and use of the Active Schools coordinator to help young people gain sports awards. All staff, particularly the support managers, know the young people in their care very well and maintain good links with parents with the Parent Council actively helping to take forward developments which promote better learning.
Inspectors found that young people have a wide range of very effective opportunities to have their say on how the school should be improved. Young people have regular discussions with the head teacher about the quality of teaching and learning. These discussions help the school to improve aspects of teaching and teachers use a good range of information to help them to decide where improvements to learning and teaching are needed. This active involvement of staff and pupils has helped to ensure improvements in young people’s achievements, behaviour and readiness for the world of work or further study.
The school is held in high regard by its community. Members of the community speak very highly of the pupils’ caring attitude and determination to succeed. The school has very high expectations of what all young people can achieve and imaginative ways to reward achievement of all kinds. Young people also feel very safe in school and know they can discuss any issues that are worrying them with a member of staff.
HMIe acknowledge that the highly skilled head teacher is very well regarded by young people, parents, staff and members of the local community. His commitment, and that of the depute head teachers, all staff pupils and parents ensures that the school continues to improve.
As in all reports, HMIe suggest ways in which the school might sustain its agenda for school improvement and agreed with the school and education authority that they should continue to work with local primary schools and community partners to further develop opportunities for young people to gain a range of learning skills.
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education Committee said “This is a very good inspection report for Invergordon Academy which rightly acknowledges the efforts of everyone involved, the school can be proud of what it has achieved.”
Jim Steven, Head Teacher of Invergordon Academy said “We are delighted with this very positive report which truly reflects the effective teamwork and positive partnerships which underpin the ethos, achievements and aspirations of Invergordon Academy. The new style HMIe process was a positive experience for the school community and has positioned us strongly to take the school to the next level.”
In the report evaluating the community learning and development activities, HMIe highlight particular strengths in the effective work on developing achievement through sports, the number of volunteers and community activists who are highly committed to improving the area, some strong and effective community organisations and the innovative music, culture and arts provision.
Inspectors report that young people living in the area have access to a good range of learning experiences including work with the Milton Woodlands Trust and the Active Sports programme through which some young people have had their achievements recognised and accredited. Music projects such as Nessmp3 and Invergordon Live have engaged young people in music activities and public performances that have helped those taking part to gain both confidence and skills. Inspectors also commented that young people need to be offered more chance to take on leadership roles in the community and better advice and information on health and other issues.
HMIe reported that Adult Learners involved in classes expressed a high degree of satisfaction and gained increased self-confidence as well as many other positive benefits for their family and working lives. Inspectors said that the Adult Learning provision they had seen was very good but that it was limited and would benefit from a more co-ordinated approach between the Local Authority, Colleges and Voluntary Sector organisations with providers needing to work together to more effectively set development priorities and address unmet need in the area.
The inspection found that Community Learning and Development (CLD) providers offered good support to help the community develop. A strong commitment from volunteers to improving the local community was noted and that organisations like the Kilmuir and Logie Easter Action and Development Group, ‘Off the Wall’, Invergordon Live and the recently formed Invergordon District Initiative have all helped to improve community spirit and delivered education, training and volunteering opportunities to local residents. Inspectors said that there was a need to strengthen arrangements for communication and networking amongst local organisations so that expertise and experience could be shared. It would also help to clarify who has the leading role in developing the community so that a shared vision and priorities can be developed.
All CLD providers need to develop better approaches to self-evaluate how effective they are and to plan improvements, currently work in this are is too limited, a more coherent approach is needed. Inspectors also felt that even though Local Voluntary Groups have a strong sense of purpose as individual organisations the learning community in Invergordon needed to develop a clearer shared sense of direction.
Nigel Brett Young, Highland Council’s Area Youth Development Officer said: "We are very pleased that so many voluntary sector providers were recognised for the commitment and influence they have in their communities. We will work hard with them, and others, to address the issues identified by the Inspectors around co-ordination and planning for improvements in more coherent ways."
As a result of the very good quality of education provided by the school no further visits will be made in connection with this inspection. CLD inspectors will return to further review provision in the Invergordon area within eighteen months of the publication of this report.