A COATBRIDGE school has been praised for its “deep understanding of the local community” after building strong ties with groups in the town.
Inspectors also praised staff at St Mary’s Primary who “know children and their families very well and have established warm, caring and supportive relationships” and added: “The inclusive and positive culture helps children to feel safe, cared for and valued.”
Following a recent visit, the Education Scotland team added: “Children across the school and nursery…are polite and keen to learn.
“They show respect and kindness in their interactions with adults and each other. Children are proud of their school and nursery.”
The report said pupils at St Mary’s “enjoy participating in positive learning and play activities. This supports their wellbeing and helps them to develop confidence and resilience.”
The school is now being given some support to work on areas of improvement ahead of a follow-up inspection in a year’s time.
Inspectors advised the school and nursery should improve the leadership of change, quality of planning, understanding of national standards, and assessment and tracking approaches.
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Headteacher Karen McLelland said: "St Mary's valued the opportunity to engage with Education Scotland during our March 2024 inspection, especially as it had been 16 years since our last one.
“I am incredibly proud of the strengths highlighted in the report.”
She added: “I am pleased to see the positive relationships and children's wellbeing, which are central to everything we do, recognised.
“Our children and staff take great pride in our school, which is deeply rooted in faith. The report also acknowledges how our children embody our shared school and gospel values in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment.
"We have a strong connection with our children, families and the wider community, and we collaborate with various partners to enhance our children's learning. Our strong ties with Active Schools and the Gaelic Football community have been instrumental.
"This year, we have increased our focus on neurodiversity and supporting learners with communication difficulties while also upholding The Promise for our care-experienced learners.”
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Ms McLelland added: “We are fortunate to have a supportive parent forum and proactive parent council who work closely with the school.
“The inspection report outlines an improvement agenda that our staff, supported by North Lanarkshire Council and in partnership with our children and families, are committed to delivering.
“Our team has a clear plan to address the findings, and we will ensure that the improvement work progresses swiftly."
The full report is available on the Education Scotland website.
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