Poor performance by pupils at Hermitage Academy is because of an ‘inflexible approach’, an inspector from Education Scotland has said.
Her report says the Helensburgh school needs additional support to improve its performance – and it was released on the same day as new figures (right) showing Hermitage had the poorest Higher results in Argyll and Bute.
Education Scotland was brought in following huge controversy over the academy’s highly unusual curriculum model, which sees no pupils taking exams in fourth year.
Its report highlights a lack of high quality assessment, and says pupils’ attainment by S5 is ‘significantly below’ other schools across Scotland.
Argyll and Bute Council launched a review into the problem after complaints by parents and teachers’ unions, as well as questions from MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.
Today (Friday) the council said it had completed the review, and would bring in ‘greater flexibility in curricular pathways’, as well as ‘improving the monitoring of individual pupil progress’.
Kevin Middleton, chair of the school’s parent council, gave a cautious welcome to the news.
“I welcome the findings of the report, however hold judgement until the action plans are published and understood,” he said.
“Greater flexibility is what parents want for their children and we can only wait and see if the changes alluded to meet the parents wishes.
“I hope and wish that both the school and parents can move forward and develop a strong partnership for the benefit of the pupils now.”
Letters from the council and from Education Scotland are being sent to all parents today, and individual family appointments are being offered to all families with pupils in the senior phase to discuss their own progress, options and choices – PDF copies of these letters are at the end of this story.
The council issued a statement today saying that it thanked parents, pupils, staff and Education Scotland for ‘their valuable contributions’.
Policy lead for education, Rory Colville, said: “We want to work in partnership with parents, staff and pupils to ensure that our young people are supported to succeed and reach their full potential.
“The findings recognised many positive aspects to the current model but also identified a range of improvements that will be implemented.
“Amongst a wide range of improvements the school will look to apply greater flexibility in the delivery of the current curricular pathways; improve tracking and monitoring of individual pupil progress to inform early and appropriate interventions and improve engagement with parents and pupils to develop a shared understanding of assessment and presentation policies.”
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