G84:Helensburgh and Lomond

An Argyll and Bute primary school and nursery class has received an outstanding report from HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE).

Arrochar Primary was praised for every aspect of provision for its 67 pupils, which includes 15 children in the nursery class.

All areas of education at the school were evaluated as being either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. None were classed as ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’, ‘weak’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.

Among the particular strengths highlighted by HMIE were:

• Children’s enthusiastic and motivated attitude to their learning and their achievements across a wide range of activities.
• The breadth of children’s learning experiences.
• The headteacher’s leadership of improvement and the way she involves everyone in developing new learning experiences.
• The quality of staff teamwork and relationships between staff and children.
• The wide range of partnerships with the community which enhance children’s learning.

The Inspectorate also singled out for particular praise that “the quality of children’s learning experiences is outstanding”, “children benefit significantly from the school’s very close partnerships with parents and the wider community”, “(they) behave very well in and around the school and when .. out in the community”, “the school .. successfully develops well-rounded children, with skills and knowledge which will help them throughout life” and “the head teacher gives inspiring leadership to children and staff and involves everyone in school improvement”.

The report also highlighted that “the education authority’s significant improvements to school accommodation have had a very positive impact on the quality of the environment for learning.”

Argyll and Bute Council’s Education and Lifelong Learning spokesperson, Councillor Isobel Strong, was full of praise for everyone at Arrochar Primary School and Nursery Class.

“This is a fantastic report, and I warmly congratulate all those who have worked so hard to make the school what it is – pupils, staff, parents and the wider community,” she said.

“My ambition is for every school in Argyll and Bute to be achieving excellence, and I am delighted that the inspectors have agreed that Arrochar is already doing so.

“There is a wonderful community spirit around the school, with everyone working together to ensure that all children develop as successful learners and confident individuals.

“The tremendous work being done by head teacher Alison Palmer and her team in ensuring that Arrochar youngsters have the best possible start in their education will, I am sure, have a major impact when it comes to fulfilling their potential in secondary school and beyond.”

Arrochar head teacher Alison Palmer said the report was the result of an outstanding team effort.

“We are obviously delighted. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the hard work carried out on a daily basis by the staff and pupils at Arrochar,” she added.

“It also recognises the tremendous support given to the school by the parents and the wider local community, without which we would not be able to do half the things we do.

“Our aim is to provide education of the highest quality and enable all pupils to reach their potential. The challenge for us now is to maintain and further improve on the standards we have set, and everyone involved in the Arrochar school community will continue to strive towards that goal.”