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‘Significant’ staff turnover at Aberdeenshire school becomes barrier to children’s learning

Pupils education at Slains Primary School has suffered following a high turnover of staff. Image: Richard Frew/DC Thomson
Pupils education at Slains Primary School has suffered following a high turnover of staff. Image: Richard Frew/DC Thomson

An Aberdeenshire primary school’s high rate of staff turnover has negatively affected pupil’s education, a watchdog has reported.

There has been “significant changes” in staffing at Slains Primary School at Collieston, near Ellon, over the last few years which has caused pupils’ education to suffer.

Children at the school have experienced a range of supply and temporary teachers over the past few years.

Over a year ago, there was a change in headteacher and the two class teachers who now remain in place and “work well together”.

However, none of these staff members were working at the school during the Covid pandemic when the children experienced remote learning.

A recent inspection carried out in September has said more needs to be done to meet the children’s learning needs with some teaching approaches being described as “haphazard and inconsistent”.

More needed to help children ‘reach their full potential’

Around 24 pupils are enrolled at Slains Primary School. Image: Chris Sumner/DC Thomson

While the team who are now in place have built “warm and caring relationships with the children”, the inspection carried out by Education Scotland identified a number of important weaknesses.

It was said in a majority of lessons observed that children’s individual learning needs are not being met.

Pupils were said to need more of a challenge in their learning and should be given more opportunities to develop confidence and leadership skills.

It was also reported children with additional support needs (ASN) are not fully included in learning and are given tasks that do not match their ability. This is causing a barrier to their learning.

The report encouraged staff to further develop their approaches in helping “all children reach their full potential”. This included directing improvements in children’s progress and attainment, particularly in reading and writing.

Despite the listed improvements, is was said teachers had created a calm and supportive atmosphere in the classroom and had built good relationships with their families.

‘Current approaches are haphazard and inconsistent’

As a result of the inspection, the watchdog encouraged the council to take prompt action in supporting the school.

They stated in the report: “Supported by the local authority, the school needs to give immediate attention to assessment, planning, tracking and monitoring. Current approaches are haphazard and inconsistent.

“As a result, there is no clear record of children’s progress, attainment and achievement across the curriculum. Staff need to work together to develop a cohesive approach that supports high quality learning, teaching and assessment across the school.

“They need to ensure individual learners make progress and that their needs are identified, recorded and met.”

Aberdeenshire Council said they were supporting the whole staff team to address key priorities and in making improvements.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “While the inspection team found strengths in the school’s work, including the schools care and focus on numeracy, they also found areas for improvement.

“Work began immediately to address the issues raised in the report with an intensive package of support.

“Progress has already been made towards meeting the requirements and areas for improvement set out in the report.

“Everyone involved is committed to making positive changes so that they can demonstrate on Education Scotland’s return, that they are meeting the needs of every child and supporting them to achieve their best outcomes.”

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