3 days ago
'Excellent' Glasgow schools applauded after inspection praise
At a meeting of Glasgow City Council's education committee, Sufyan, Yvie and Naomi from Hyndland Secondary, and Zainab, Duha and Summer from Cleeves Primary, joined politicians and officials to share their success.
The committee was considering a report on the city's performance in Education Scotland inspections over the 2024/25 session.
Since August, 10 primary schools, three secondaries and one Assisted Support for Learning (ASL) schools have been inspected, with more scheduled before the end of June.
Pupils at Hyndland Secondary (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Head of service (Education North) Jean Miller said the results represented a 'particularly strong' and 'extremely positive picture' across the city schools.
Schools are inspected on four key areas: leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion; and raising attainment and achievement.
The percentage breakdown of the grades, considered from good and above, increased from 82% to 100% in leadership of change; from 85% to 93% in learning, teaching and assessment; from 88% to 100% in wellbeing, equality and inclusion; and from 79% to 93% in raising attainment and achievement, compared to session 2023/24.
Pupils at Cleeves Primary and headteacher Hazel Sim (Image: Cleeves Primary)
The Glasgow Times reported in February how Cleeves Primary on the Southside was the city's only school to achieve the top rating of 'excellent' in the wellbeing, equality and inclusion category.
Hazel Sim, headteacher at Cleeves Primary, said she was delighted to speak to the committee about the inspection report, and added: 'I'm really proud our wee school in Pollok has achieved so much.'
Primary seven pupils Zainab and Duha told the committee how initiatives like their Equalities Ambassadors and regular assemblies made their school a better place, and primary six pupil Summer said a playground scheme where older children buddied with younger pupils helped everyone 'learn how to play nicely together.'
Hyndland Secondary hit the headlines in February when it become the first in Scotland in almost a decade to achieve an 'excellent' rating for learning, teaching and assessment.
It was also graded 'excellent' in raising attainment and achievement.
Fifth year pupil Yvie said: 'We're so grateful to our teachers for all the effort and time they put in to give us so many different opportunities, to make our high school experience enjoyable.'
Fellow S5 pupil Naomi said she treasured the 'unique bond' between staff and pupils, and classmate Sufyan agreed.
'I appreciate the warm welcome we receive at Hyndland Secondary,' he said. 'Students are genuinely listened to – for example, my friend really enjoys ultimate frisbee and he told the teachers this, so now we have a team which competes in tournaments.'
Headteacher Louise Edgerton told the committee it had been a 'whole team effort' and added: 'We know excellent doesn't mean perfect and we continue to work hard for our whole Hyndland community.'
