Miller Primary recieve better report from HMIE

Feb 10 2010 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

MILLER Primary is on course to be top of the class after receiving a ‘doing much better’ report.

Two weeks ago the Reformer reported that the Castlemilk school had been given a good report following its follow-up visit from Her Majesty’s schools inspectors.

However, some of the information in our story came from the original report on Miller Primary School in January, 2009, and not the follow-up in October last year.

The current head teacher Linda Sommerville has been in the post since last August, with Miller Primary having had a number of changes in leadership since the report of January, 2009.

The follow-up report praised the school’s friendly and welcoming ethos, as well as well-behaved children who are growing in confidence and proud of their achievements.

Positive steps were being taken by staff to support pupils.

The follow-up report said: “Children are well-behaved and enjoy school. They now have more opportunities to talk about their learning, to work with partners and to take responsibility for their learning.

“As a result, most children are more confident. They talk with appropriate pride about what they can do well in class and in other activities outside of school.

“Staff have improved the way they identify children who may need extra help with their learning. Children with additional learning needs are receiving better support from school and visiting staff and their learning experiences are more effective.

“There has been no significant improvement in children’s attainment in reading, writing or mathematics. The school has improved the range of activities which children can access within and beyond the school day. These activities are helping to broaden children’s achievements into areas such as sport and culture.”

The report continued: “Staff are getting better at involving parents in supporting their children’s learning. Parents have been involved in reviewing the school aims and values and the homework policy. They also helped to reorganise the school library.

“Parents of children starting P1 used the school’s helpful transition programme to find out about what their children learn.

“The school continues to work well with health and social work professionals. The head teacher is improving links with other schools, including those where children have a joint placement.”

The report also said staff and children were having more of an input into the school.

It said: “Staff and children are more involved in improving the school.

“Staff now have a better understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement. They now recognise that they need to do more to raise attainment and improve children’s learning experiences. They work more effectively as a team.

“Teachers benefit from support from education authority staff and a few visit other schools to observe good practice. Almost all teachers are improving their teaching approaches.

“The head teacher meets with teachers to talk about children’s progress and visits classes to observe learning and teaching.

“Children are enjoying their involvement in school improvement. The newly-formed pupil council used new picnic benches to improve the outdoor area. The eco committee is successfully promoting a litter- free playground. Children now feel safer in school. They feel staff listen to them and respond to any concerns they raise.”

Also commented on was whether the school had high expectations of all children.

The report said: “Staff have raised their expectations of children’s behaviour. Almost all children now come to school on time.

“Staff celebrate children’s achievements more effectively using good behaviour awards and certificates at school assemblies. These arrangements have impacted positively on children’s behaviour and learning.

“Children are much more enthusiastic about their learning. Staff have recently improved the way they check the progress of individual children.

“Staff now need to continue to raise their expectations of children’s attainment. Children are not yet involved in setting their own learning targets.”

The report also praised Linda Sommerville for giving Miller Primary a sense of direction.

It said: “The head teacher is successfully improving staff morale. The depute head teacher and principal teachers continue to provide valued support to staff and children. Pupil support assistants are now more effectively deployed.

“Visiting staff, including the network support teacher, provide helpful support to children and their families. Education authority staff have worked closely with teachers, leading and supporting improvements.

“Staff now have a better understanding of what needs to be done to improve.

“Children’s attainment is not yet high enough and more needs to be done to improve children’s learning and the curriculum. As a result, the school will require the continued support from the education authority.”

The report concluded: “The school has improved aspects of its work since the original inspection. There has not yet been enough improvement in the curriculum, attainment and learning.

“As a result, we will continue to engage with the school and the education authority in monitoring progress.

“We will carry out a further follow-through visit to the school within one year of the publication of this report, and will report to parents on the extent of the improvement that has been achieved.”

Linda Sommerville said: “I am very pleased that it reflects the really hard work that has been carried out over the last few years to get the school on the right road - and the positive steps that have been taken which the inspectors recognised when they were here.”