Top Marks for Mearns Castle

Published 15 Jun 2011 09:30 0 Comments

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Mearns Castle High School has received an outstanding inspection report from Her Majesty's Inspector of Education.

The report gave the school three "excellents" and two "very goods" Head teacher Dean Smith was delighted and congratulated staff, pupils, parents and all the partner organisations involved in contributing to the day-to-day running of the school.

East Renfrewshire's education convener, Councillor Alan Lafferty praised the school on its success and said: "I am thrilled that Mearns Castle has achieved 'excellents' for improvements in performance, learners' experiences and improvement through self-evaluation."

Among the strengths of the school, the inspectors highlighted that the young people are highly motivated learners with high aspirations and work together very well on tasks which require them to think creatively.

Their effective use of information and communications technology (ICT), including digital cameras and electronic voting systems, demonstrates their learning. In S1 and S2, young people use literacy skills well to support their learning across the curriculum. The school performs exceptionally well in national examinations for S4, S5 and S6. Young people's attainment at these stages is consistently above national averages and achieve very well at Advanced Higher level in a wide range of subjects. Almost all school leavers successfully enter further or higher education or employment.

The school works effectively with a range of partners, including Active Schools staff, counsellors and health specialists.

The campus police officer brings a strong contribution to the school through involvement in personal and social education and interdisciplinary learning. Community youth workers support vulnerable young people well to achieve success through programmes such as Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network and the excellent links with local businesses that provide vital opportunities for practical work experience.

Almost all parents are very happy with the work of the school and that their views are taken into account takes account, in developing school improvement plans.

Through the pupil council and focus groups to discuss teaching and learning, young people have a great deal of influence on school improvement. Staff value young people's views on teaching and learning and increasingly make changes to their own practice as a result.

All staff contribute to decisions about school improvement and pupils benefit greatly from staff's strong commitment to continual reflection on the quality of teaching and learning across the school and whilst promoting a positive ethos based on high standards of behaviour and commitment to learning.

This article appeared in Eastwood Mercury 15 Jun 11