Brechin High School has been given a good report card, five years after a highly critical assessment by education inspectors.
The Angus secondary has been told that there will be no further follow-up visits in connection with the 2012 inspection which highlighted shortcomings in the school’s teaching and learning, leadership and attainment.
A newly-published Education Scotland report has now praised the 489-pupil high school – part of the Brechin community campus – for the “unrelenting focus” on improvement by head teacher Archie Bathgate and his senior leadership team.
But inspector Mary Byrne has said there is still “work to be done” in raising attainment among fourth and sixth-year youngsters.
Following the damning 2012 report, the school was the subject of a 2014 follow-up inspection which highlighted improvement plans, but said the pace of change was not swift enough. Another visit took place last year.
“The quality of learning and teaching has improved across the school,” said Ms Byrne in the new report.
“Staff have worked well together to agree shared standards and expectations of young people’s learning, behaviour and effort.
“While this is having a positive impact on young people’s experiences, the school recognises that there is more to be done to embed this fully.”
The report continued: “At S4 to S6, the school has improved attainment in a number of measures.
“However, there is still work to be done to improve the percentage of young people achieving qualifications at National 5 and Higher.
“The attainment of young people in S4 to S6 remains below that of other young people with similar needs and backgrounds from across the country. Staff at all levels are carefully tracking the attainment of young people.”
“The school has made good progress in developing leadership at all levels. The revised vision, values and aims for the school provide a clear, shared focus for the work of the school.
“The head teacher and senior leaders provide strong direction through an unrelenting focus on the key priorities for improvement.
“Overall, the school has put in place clear plans with identified outcomes for young people.
“The school has made good progress since the original inspection.
“We are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection.”
