Cairney School

Overview

Inspectors visited Cairney School in March 2023 and found that children are “proud of their school” and “keen to learn.” The report highlights a “warm, inclusive learning environment” where staff successfully support children’s wellbeing and rights. Education Scotland states it is “confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve” and will make no further visits.

Strengths

• Children “engage well with the wide range of planned learning activities” and are described as “kind, caring and look after each other well.”
• Staff have created an environment where “all children and staff demonstrate respect for each other” and work together to develop understanding of rights.
• There is a “strong focus on children’s wellbeing,” helping them to be “happy and confident in school and ready to learn.”
• Teachers provide a “broad curriculum which is relevant to the unique context of the school” and involve children in planning their learning.

Areas to improve

• Continue to develop approaches to evaluating the school’s work, involving staff and children and using national guidance.
• Develop whole-school approaches to monitoring children’s progress across the curriculum to clearly identify progression through Curriculum for Excellence levels.
• Improve planning for children requiring additional support by fully including children, parents, and professional partners in reviewing progress.

Safeguarding

The report states that staff have a “strong focus on children’s wellbeing” and help children to “reflect on, and develop, their own wellbeing regularly,” contributing to a safe and supportive environment.