Western Isles Council urged to improve education standards

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has again called on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to improve the quality of teaching at Castlebay Community School after it received another poor report from Government inspectors.

“writing and mathematics have fallen”

Her comments came after the Parent Council of Castlebay Community School said it was “extremely disappointed” to note that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) has for the third time identified issues with the quality of learning at the school.

In their latest report the inspectors state that pupils “still experience too much variability”.  An identified strength of the school is the “achievements beyond the classroom” but within the classroom “standards of reading, writing and mathematics” have fallen.

There have been staffing issues in the English department that have remained unresolved for the last year, and the inspectors say that “the needs of those studying English … are not being effectively met”.

“Issues still not been resolved”

Since the inspection, the Art department also has a staffing issue.  The support for learning base, which had been a strength is now “not appropriate for all supported learning activities”.  Due to the continuing issues, the HMIE will conduct a third follow-through visit within a year.

Mrs Grant said: “I have called on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to make improvements at the school before and I would reiterate my plea to the local authority for it not only to urgently provide a better quality of teaching at the school but to consult more with parents.

“These issues were first highlighted by the inspectors two years ago and they have still not been resolved. Any delay in making improvements will hold the education of pupils back even more.”

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