Dunnottar School

Overview

Education Scotland inspectors visited Dunnottar School and Nursery Class in December 2022, engaging with parents, children, and staff. The report highlights strong pastoral care and effective teamwork in the nursery, but identifies weaknesses in learning, teaching, and assessment across the primary school. Consequently, the school requires additional support and a follow-up inspection within twelve months.

Strengths

• The report praises "positive relationships between staff and children" and the "pastoral care provided by the whole staff team."
• Inspectors noted "effective teamwork of nurturing practitioners in the nursery" who "embrace professional learning and self-evaluation to support improvement."
• The nursery class evaluations for "learning, teaching and assessment" and "securing children’s progress" were both rated as "good."

Areas to improve

• Staff must "improve the planning of learning, teaching and assessment" to ensure all children experience high-quality learning across the school and nursery.
• The school needs to "establish a clear strategy to raise attainment and achievement for all children."
• Teachers should develop "a shared understanding of national expectations and standards about what children can achieve, across all areas of the curriculum."

Safeguarding

The report does not contain specific statements regarding safeguarding arrangements or outcomes.