A Wishaw primary school welcomed the Chief Inspector of Scotland’s schools after receiving a very good HMIe report.
St Ignatius Primary School welcomed Janie McManus following the publication of the report which praised staff and the school for developing “a positive culture of ambition”.
Ms McManus said: The staff there have taken a comprehensive approach to improvement, rigorously using self-evaluation and data. Their thoughtful use of data helps them make informed decisions that directly support their learners.
“They carefully assess whether their methods are truly benefiting children’s learning and progress.
“While the learning environment is crucial, staff also recognise that there are factors beyond the classroom—such as socio-economic conditions or family circumstances.
“At St Ignatius Primary, staff are successfully taking account of these challenges by working together, reflecting on what they know, and adapting their approaches to meet the needs of every learner.
“A real highlight was speaking with children. Their joy in learning, their friendships, and their enthusiasm for school were infectious. It’s clear they feel supported and engaged in their education.
“Hearing from the staff about their journey to improvement was another highlight.
“They’ve worked collectively to identify what truly makes an impact, engaging not just their colleagues but also the wider community and families in this process.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all journey for learners. But what the staff at St Ignatius have shown is that by reflecting, collaborating, and adapting, schools can help children succeed on their individual paths.”
St Ignatius’ Primary was rated as ‘Very Good’ for learning, teaching and assessment and raising attainment and achievement.
The caring learning environment created at the school and nursery class has been praised by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate, highlighting that “staff are successfully closing the poverty-related attainment gap”.
The inspection team visited St Ignatius’ in January this year and worked closely with the teaching staff, parents, caregivers, and children during their visit, noting that “across the school, children benefit from the positive culture of ambition and ‘can do’ approach that is promoted and nurtured by senior leaders and all staff.”
St Ignatius’ head teacher Anne Marie Pearson, expressed her joy at the positive report.
She said: “We are extremely proud of the outstanding feedback received from the inspection team.
“I am delighted that it recognises the dedication, enthusiasm, care, and hard work of our whole staff team and highlights the support we receive from of our wider school community and parish who come together to provide the best possible outcomes for our children and their families.
“We’d like to thank the inspection team for their feedback. As a team, we will build upon this feedback and continue to improve St Ignatius’ Primary School for all of our pupils.”
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