Kirkcaldy High School: inspectors’ report’s praise for school, staff and pupils
Kirkcaldy High School has pledged to be “relentless” in its approach to improvement after a visit from inspectors.
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMEI) gave the school a positive report following a recent inspection - praising its leadership, and the strong relationships forged in class.
The school, which has 1450 pupils, was noted for its inclusive ethos, strong relationships, and the commitment of senior and middle leaders to continuous improvement.
Inspectors also praised headteacher Chris McKay, who was appointed in 2022.
The report said: “The headteacher leads the school well and has established a strong culture of collaboration across the school community. Clear systems and processes create an inclusive and safe learning environment. He shares a clear vision for the school’s future success with staff and young people. Working closely with his leadership team and the wider community, he promotes positive behaviour, attitudes to learning and achievement for all.” Mr McKay said he welcomed the report, adding: “We are pleased with many aspects of the report and feel this represents the hard work and commitment of our staff, learners, families and community.
“We are pleased that inspectors have validated our improvement over recent years and agreed with our next steps on this journey. We will continue to be relentless in our approach to improvement, ensuring that all learners achieve the highest possible outcomes in line with our vision - Dream Big, Work Hard, Be Kind.'
Areas identified for development or improvement are already in hand.
Sarah Else, education manager for the school, said, “This is a positive report. The inspectors have noted many key strengths at Kirkcaldy High School, particularly the effective leadership which has placed the school in a strong position to take identified improvements forward. These areas had already been identified by the school and are key features of the School Improvement Plan for this session and beyond.”
The report noted that exclusions and attendance at KHS are in line with the national average, and relationships between staff and pupils are “very positive.”
It noted: “A and a calm learning environment exists across the school. In almost all classes, young people behave responsibly and arrive ready to learn. In a few classes, a few young people become disengaged. In almost all cases of dysregulated behaviour, staff respond sensitively and calmly to reinforce expectations and support re-engagement.
“Most young people are motivated to learn and maintain focus during the majority of lessons. Young people engage well in group and paired activities. Their engagement is better when they take responsibility for leading aspects of their learning, such as presentations or collaborative roles.
“In a majority of lessons, the pace of learning matches young people’s ability levels, and tasks are appropriately challenging. In a significant minority of classes, both pace and challenge are insufficiently demanding. All staff should ensure that tasks and activities are appropriately aligned to young people’s ability levels.”
Staff have collaborated on the School’s Improvement Plan (SIP) which “clearly outlines priorities for driving improvement.”
These include a rights-based approach to support young people, improving attainment and increasing the engagement, participation and leadership of all young people. The priorities were shaped by “robust self-evaluation across all departments “.
The report noted: “Almost all departmental improvement plans align well with the SIP, and senior and middle leaders monitor progress regularly. Improving teaching and learning remains a key focus. Staff agreed on a learning standard that almost all young people understand. This is leading to greater consistency in classroom practice.”
The inspectors also highlighted the school’s “welcoming and caring ethos” and added: “Almost all young people are proud of their school and feel a strong sense of belonging to the Kirkcaldy High School community. Almost all young people feel safe, included, and respected, and they value the range of spaces and clubs available. Almost all report having at least one trusted adult they can approach with any worries or concerns.”