St Joseph’s College was assessed in August this year by officials from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of education (HMIe).
A positive report card followed, with the headteacher praised for providing “caring and supportive leadership”, and positive developments noted around classroom learning.
Pupil equity funding was allocated to St Joseph’s from the Scottish Government, with the aim of closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
HMIe inspectors who visited the school have since reported that the money has been well spent and the investment in attainment is bearing fruit. A report, due to be tabled at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Nithsdale Area Committee next week, shares details of the positive feedback from inspectors.
They stated: “The calm ethos across the school sets a positive tone as a purposeful learning environment. Relationships between staff and young people are positive and productive.
“The headteacher has been in post for several years and provides caring and supportive leadership to staff. Senior leaders empower middle leaders to lead their curriculum areas, based on helpful systems to evaluate their work and identify priorities.
“As a result, the majority of middle leaders are managing change effectively. This is leading to improvements in learning and teaching, course development and improved experiences for young people.
“Young people experience learning with important, strong features which encourage most to participate well in lessons.
“Senior leaders and teachers plan learning pathways to allow increasing personalisation and choice within the broad general education, with progression into and through the senior phase.
“Senior leaders and staff have developed useful partnerships to widen the curriculum available to young people. Senior leaders have used Pupil Equity Funding to enhance teaching resources targeted towards improving literacy and numeracy.
“This is showing signs of having a positive impact on young people’s attainment. There are features of strong attainment from S4 to S6 at St Joseph’s College.”
