“Clear” improvement at Bannockburn High

Jun 6 2012 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

INSPECTORS have found “clear signs of improvement” at Bannockburn High School.

A follow up inspection last month checked on progress from an original visit and report in March 2010.

And the inspectors found the school “now performs better overall”.

They added: “Improvements in performance are now at a satisfactory level or better.

“Young people at Bannockburn High School continue to be keen to learn. They work and behave well. They enjoy offering their opinions and sharing ideas during class discussions.

“They are benefiting from departmental supported study classes which extend their learning. More young people are confident in taking on roles of responsibility within group activities. There is scope for staff to enable all young people to take further responsibility for their own learning.

“Teachers should build on the good practice in this aspect of learning which is already developing in some parts of the school.

“Young people are gaining confidence and skills for life through a range of opportunities to achieve in different contexts. They are developing skills in leadership very well and recently a few young people were successful in interviewing leading politicians.

“Young people are growing in personal skills and in their awareness of citizenship through their roles as house prefects and global student leaders for example. Some are developing those skills through leading charity work and from participation in the amnesty group.

“At S4 to S6, tighter procedures for monitoring and tracking the progress of individual learners are having a positive impact on young people’s attainment and achievements.

“At S1/S2 the school does not yet monitor young people’s progress systematically across all subjects. However, the school is working with the authority to put systems in place which will give the school a clearer pictures of young people’s progress at these stages.

“Attendance rates have begun to improve. The school should continue to monitor young people’s attendance rigorously.

“Across the school, young people continue to enjoy good relationships with staff who are now providing more varied activities to help young people learn better.

“In a few classes, learners are not able to work at the pace appropriate to their needs because lessons are too teacher led. The school has continued to improve its approaches to identifying the needs of young people who may required more support in their learning. Specialist staff are working more closely with staff across the school to maintain more effective support for these young people. This work needs closer monitoring to decide how it should develop next in order to continue meeting learning needs better.

“The school should continue to expand its partnership with the Parent Council, which is keen to work more closely with staff on aspects of learners’ experiences in school. Young people and staff are working together more to improve their school and this has led to a greater sense of pride in the school community.

“We are confident the staff at Bannockburn High School are committed to improving the quality of their work. The new headteacher shows strong determination to take the school forward. He is doing this in partnership with the senior management team which supports fully the level of change required to continue to improve the school. Faculty leaders and many unpromoted staff across the school are leading change and improvement.

“The headteacher promotes on ‘open door’ policy actively and this has led to a better sense of teamwork. Young people and their parents are benefiting from this approach. Staff share good practice and new ideas with enthusiasm through teacher-led groups.

“We will make no further visits in connection with the inspection report of March 2010. However, our district inspector will remain in contact with the school and education authority to monitor improvements in outcomes for all learners.”