Parents accuse council of failing primary school

Parents have accused Highland Council of failing their primary school after inspectors raised significant concerns about how it was run.

Education Scotland said there were "major weaknesses" in the leadership of Newtonmore Primary.

It also found recruitment issues meant a council official was in the role of acting headteacher and there were no other senior leaders.

The school's parent council said it was "deeply saddened" by the report, and said it had been raising concerns with Highland Council for the past two years.

Since the inspection in March the local authority said the school had received additional support from senior education officers.

Newtonmore Primary School, which has 107 pupils, provides English and Gaelic medium education (GME).

Education Scotland said the school had experienced several changes at senior level after the headteacher and principal teacher left the school in June last year.

Inspectors described learning, teaching and assessment as "weak".

They said lessons did not take into account the needs of individual children, and the pace of learning was too slow.

The school's work around wellbeing, equality and inclusion, and its ability to raise attainment, were described as "unsatisfactory".

Inspectors said it had experienced challenges staffing GME classes, and this had a negative impact on older children's fluency in speaking the language.

Newtonmore Primary School Parent Council said the inspection showed Highland Council's polices and resources to deliver quality education in the community had been ineffective.

A spokesperson said: "The inspection results are shocking, and we are angered by the extent to which the children of Newtonmore have been failed.

"The areas identified for improvement validate concerns that parents have repeatedly raised, both individually and collectively, with the Highland Council and local representatives over the past two years.

"The educational attainment of our children is being jeopardised, and on the current trajectory, many risk failing to reach their full potential."

Highland Council has been asked for a response to the parents' criticism.

Commenting on the inspection report, the local authority said: "Highland Council is committed to providing quality learning environments, experiences and interactions for our pupils.

"The authority and the school are aware of the needs of all their children and take their health, safety and welfare extremely seriously.

"Improvements at the school in line with the Education Scotland timeframes will continue to be implemented, with improvements already underway."

The local authority said challenges around recruiting Gaelic staff were being addressed.