St Joachim's in Glasgow to get extra support after HMIE inspection

A team from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in Scotland found a number of strengths at St Joachim’s Primary in Carmyle, but said the whole school community needed to “work together” to improve behaviour and relationships.

They also advised that senior leaders, staff and parents “need to work together to help improve attainment” and “must support children to engage fully in their learning.”

The inspectors praised pupils at the school, describing them as “articulate and confident children”.

They added: “Children are keen to talk to visitors to their school. They share their views, experiences and ideas with each other in class and in groups and respond well to a range of questions.”

The report also praised the “supportive and knowledgeable staff team” and added: “All staff know children and families very well and have a sound understanding of the local context.

“They work together well and share willingly their skills and expertise for the benefit of the school.”

Another key strength identified in the report, which is available in full on the HMIE in Scotland website, was the “impact of high-quality professional learning.”

The inspectors said: “All staff make effective use of professional learning to take forward improvements in their practice. This has a positive impact on aspects of children’s learning.”

Since the inspection in April, Glasgow City Council and the school have taken forward areas for improvement in safeguarding which required urgent action.

The report said: “HM Inspectors have reviewed information relating to these areas for improvement. HM Inspectors are satisfied with the response taken by the education authority and do not require any further information.”

Inspectors identified a need for senior leaders to provide “more robust and regular opportunities for staff, children and parents to offer their views on the work of the school” and advised that senior leaders and teachers “need to improve approaches to planning improvement.”

The report added: “The headteacher needs to improve approaches to managing children’s absence from school. She must follow consistently the local authority’s attendance procedures. This should help to improve the school’s overall attendance and the attendance of individual children who currently have a high absence rate.”

 The inspectors advised that senior leaders, staff, children and parents “must develop together, and implement consistently, a policy that reflects children’s rights and the school’s values.

“This should help the school community to build and sustain respectful, trusting and kind relationships.” 

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "It is encouraging that inspectors found the pupils to be articulate and confident children and highlighted the school's supportive and knowledgeable staff team.

"Head office staff will now work with the school's senior management on a journey of improvement and support."