Crathes School

Overview

Education Scotland inspectors visited Crathes School in April 2025, finding a school where children are “confident, creative and articulate” and engage well across the curriculum. The report highlights strong staff collaboration and nurturing relationships that support wellbeing, alongside effective use of the local environment to enhance learning. Inspectors evaluated the school’s work as “good” in both learning, teaching and assessment, and raising attainment and achievement.

Strengths

• Children demonstrate important skills as learners and caring citizens, showing a “deep understanding of wildlife, the natural world around them and sustainability.”
• The headteacher and staff “work very well together,” building “nurturing, trusting relationships” and engaging in professional learning that positively impacts teaching.
• Teachers make “highly skilled use of the environment and local context” to enhance learning, with children enjoying outdoor activities and connecting with nature.
• Strong partnerships and collaborative projects “extend children’s thinking and promote joy in learning,” supporting them to achieve and experience success.

Areas to improve

• Continue to develop high-quality teaching and learning approaches to provide the “most effective support and challenge for all children.”
• Continue to develop planning and assessment for children’s skills across the curriculum to help them discuss and apply these skills.
• Continue to develop a shared understanding of children’s progress through Curriculum for Excellence levels to accelerate progress and attainment.

Safeguarding

The report states that staff build “nurturing, trusting relationships which support children’s wellbeing and confidence.”