REPORT NO 1111/04 ANGUS COUNCIL

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

30 SEPTEMBER 2004

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND CELEBRATING SUCCESS

REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

This report is the latest in a series, drawing the Committee’s attention to a range of performance information, and to individual successes.

1 RECOMMENDATION

1.1 It is recommended that the Education Committee should note the contents of this report.

2 BACKGROUND

2.1 Reference is made to meetings of the Education Committee during school session 2002-3 when Performance Information has been previously discussed, and more recently at the Committee meetings on 2 October 2003 (Article 8 of the minute of the meeting refers), 19 February 2004 (Article 8 of the minute of the meeting refers) and 30 April 2004 (Article 10 of the minute of the meeting refers). This report continues to focus on different areas of attainment and success achieved by Angus schools, staff and pupils. It contains information on:

• 5-14 Attainment Levels in Angus primary and secondary schools

• pre-appeal results of SQA Standard Grade and examinations

• visits to Maisondieu Primary School and by HM Inspectors of Education

• follow-through reports on Pitkennedy, Airlie and Chapelpark primary schools by HM Inspectors of Education

• schools, pupils and young people who have achieved noteworthy success

3 5-14 ATTAINMENT LEVELS IN ANGUS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

3.1 Table 1 below contains information on 5 -14 Attainment Levels achieved by Angus primary schools in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Although attainment in Reading has fallen marginally, the figure for Writing matches the high level achieved in 2003. Performance in shows a steady upward trend over the four year period, and the 2004 figure has risen well above the 2003 level.

TABLE 1: PERCENTAGE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS ATTAINING APPROPRIATE 5-14 LEVELS

2001 2002 2003 2004 Reading (Angus) 78 79 83 82

Reading () 80 81 81 figure not yet available Writing (Angus) 66 70 74 74

Writing (Scotland) 70 73 74 figure not yet available Mathematics (Angus) 75 79 81 84

Mathematics (Scotland) 79 80 80 figure not yet available

2

3.2 Table 2 below contains information on 5 -14 Attainment Levels achieved by Angus secondary schools in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The figure for Reading had risen steadily over the four year period. Although attainment in Writing has dropped back to the 2002 level, attainment in Mathematics has recovered after a slight drop in 2003.

3.3 TABLE 2: % OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS ATTAINING LEVEL E BY THE END OF S2

2001 2002 2003 2004 Reading (Angus) 58 62 63 66

Reading (Scotland) 56 59 61 figure not yet available Writing (Angus) 50 55 58 55

Writing (Scotland) 46 50 51 figure not yet available Mathematics (Angus) 51 58 57 58

Mathematics (Scotland) 51 54 54 figure not yet available

3.4 Information on 5-14 Levels attained by individual primary and secondary schools will be the subject of future reports. When further information on 5-14 Attainment Levels becomes available, Angus figures will be compared with figures for Scotland and for the comparator group of the six local authorities whose socio-economic profile is closest to that of Angus.

4 PRE- APPEAL RESULTS OF SQA STANDARD GRADE AND HIGHER EXAMINATIONS

4.1 Table 3 below shows that levels of attainment at Standard Grade and Higher are broadly similar over the four year period 2001 to 2004. Although figures for 5+ level 5 (Standard Grade Credit) have fallen back after a sharp rise in 2003, passes at 1+ level 6 (Higher) and 3+ level 6 (Higher) in 2004 show a marked improvement on 2003 figures.

TABLE 3: ANGUS FIGURES

2001 2002 2003 2004 post-appeal post-appeal post-appeal pre-appeal

5+ level 3 (Foundation) 89 91 91 91 at end S4 5+ level 4 (General) 76 80 78 78 at end S4 5+ level 5 (Credit) 35 36 39 36 at end S4 1+ level 6 (Higher) 44 41 41 43 at end S5 3+ level 6 (Higher) 26 26 24 26 at end S5 5+ level 6 (Higher) 10 10 10 10 at end S5

4.2 Information on individual schools and comparisons with figures for Scotland and for the comparator group of the six local authorities whose socio-economic profile is closest to that of Angus will be the subject of future reports when post-appeal data becomes available.

3

5 VISIT TO MAISONDIEU PRIMARY SCHOOL AND MONTROSE ACADEMY BY HM INSPECTORS OF EDUCATION

5.1 Table 4 below shows the performance of Maisondieu Primary School and Montrose Academy, reported on in May 2004, in relation to the quality indicators used by HM Inspectors of Education.

TABLE 4

Total number of Quality Quality Quality Quality quality indicators indicators indicators indicators indicators reported on judged to be judged to be judged to be judged to be very good good fair unsatisfactory Maisondieu Primary School 3 9 2 1 (15)

Montrose Academy 2 18 1 0 (21)

6 FOLLOW-THROUGH REPORTS ARISING FROM HMIE INSPECTIONS OF PITKENNEDY, AIRLIE AND CHAPELPARK PRIMARY SCHOOLS

6.1 Table 5 below compares the number of main action points arising from HM Inspections of Pitkennedy, Airlie and Chapelpark primary schools and those which were found to have been addressed satisfactorily by HM Inspectors during the follow-through visits reported on in May and June 2004.

TABLE 5

Date of publication Number of points School of Inspection Number of main addressed Report points for action satisfactorily

Pitkennedy Primary January 2002 4 4 School

Airlie Primary School June 2002 6 6

Chapelpark Primary September 2002 4 4 School

6.2 Both Pitkennedy and Chapelpark Primary Schools had addressed one of the recommendations very well and had made good progress in addressing the three others. Airlie Primary School had made very good progress in meeting three of the six main points for action, and good progress in three.

6.3 In view of the progress made in all three schools, HM Inspectors will make no further visits in connection with the inspection reports of January, June and September 2002.

7 SUCCESS STORIES LATE FEBRUARY 2004 – LATE AUGUST 2004

7.1 The final section of this report records some of the recent successes of Angus schools, staff and individual pupils:

• Courtney Morgan of Colliston Primary School has become Scotland’s youngest ju jitsu black belt at the age of 10. She has been studying the discipline for four and a half years at Arbroath High School Sport Centre. 4 • A group of Classroom Assistants and Support for Learning Assistants based in Angus schools received qualification certificates at a ceremony in Angus College in March. • Choirs from St Thomas, Carlogie, Monikie, Seaview and St Margaret’s primary schools were placed first in their class at the Arbroath Music Festival. • Montrose Academy S2 pupil, Lisa Aitken, added the Welsh Junior Open Squash title to her Scottish National Under 15s title. Lisa is ranked No 3 in Europe. • Over 100 primary 6 and 7 pupils took part in a March into Week. They experienced an exciting and stimulating variety of science related activities, workshops and dramas aimed at expanding pupil knowledge of the world of science and the part it plays in everyday life. • Arbroath High School S1 basketball team was named Team of the Year at the Angus Sports Award Ceremony. • Nicola Robb from Inverbrothock Primary School came second in the “Show Racism the Red Card” arts competition organised by the Educational Institute for Scotland. Winners were invited to a ceremony at Hampden Park, and Nicola’s prize-winning poem will be included in a book to be published by the National Organization Against Racism. • Constance and Madeleine Grieve from Webster’s High School took the runners-up prize of £250 at the Law Society of Scotland’s annual Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament. • P6 and P7 pupils at Panbride Primary School have won a trophy and a cheque for £2000 in the Scottish Executive Schools Enterprise Competition for which they organized a tea dance for local pensioners. • James Lee and Fiona Falconer of Forfar Academy have been honoured in the Royal Bank of Scotland Art Award event organised by the Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy. James was awarded a certificate of merit and Fiona’s work was highly commended. • Pupils from three Angus schools took top honours in the Angus College Secondary School Art Competition. First prize went to Nicola Boon of Arbroath High School and the runner-up was Laura Tinley of Monifieth High School. Third prize was won by Joanne McCallum of Montrose Academy and the overall school winner was Monifieth High School. • Erin Ritchie, Ashley Bibby and Katie Potts of Arbroath High School joined talented basketball players from the rest of Scotland to compete in the Annual Royal Bank of Scotland Under-15 Inter-Area Basketball Tournament. • Lochside Primary School won top honours at the Zone 4 final of the Rotary Club’s Annual Primary Schools’ General Knowledge Quiz held in Dundee. • Angus schools achieved success at the Scottish Schools’ Athletic Association Primary Schools’ Cross Country Championships. P7 boys from Langlands were awarded silver medals and the P7 boys’ team from Inverbrothock were presented with a trophy and gold medals by former Scottish rugby internationalist, Scott Hastings. • Just before his thirteenth birthday, Forfar Academy pupil Glen Ross was crowned Under-15 Champion at the Strathmore Open Junior Piping Competition. • Shortly after winning the title of Quality Meat Scotland Cook of the Year, Lynne Howe, the relief cook working at Tannadice Primary School, claimed title of Angus school chef of the year. • Pupils from 29 Primary Schools across Tayside completed the Tayside Police Wildlife Crimes Project. Winning Angus schools were Arbirlot, Carlogie, Carmyllie, Chapelpark, Eassie, Ferryden, Langlands, Lochside and Tarfside. • At the Royal Bank of Scotland Young Enterprise Presentation event, Forfar Academy won the Best Company Report. Monifieth High School won the Best Business Plan Award and Webster’s High the Best Presentation Award. • Carnoustie High School won a place in the Inclusive Education Category of the finals of the “Determined to Succeed” National Enterprise in Education Awards 2004. • No less than 28 children from primaries 4-7 of Colliston Primary School achieved certificates of merit or distinction at Tayside Schools’ “Once Upon A Rhyme” competition for budding poets. • Rosemount Primary School was the first school in Angus to receive a bronze award for Eco Schools. • Ten schools achieved success in the Angus Heath Promoting Awards Scheme. Gold awards were presented to St Thomas’ and Arbirlot primary schools and Webster’s High School. Recipients of silver awards were: Ferryden, Andover and Monikie primary schools. Southesk and Maisondieu primary schools and Brechin High and Montrose Academy gained bronze awards. • Arbroath High School pupil Diane Pedgrift has been selected to play for the Scottish women’s cricket team. • A team of girls from Timmergreens Primary School represented Angus at the Scottish Schools Athletic Championships in June. • Angus College primary art competition winners were Megan Gerrie (Glamis), Alister Cumming, (Maisondieu) and Serena Archer (Glenisla). • Children from Panbride Primary School were presented with the Daily Record Enterprise in Industry Award in Glasgow and treated to lunch with famous footballers, MPs and TV presenters. 5 • Andrew Smith of Carnoustie High School broke the Scottish record when he won the 80 metre hurdles race at the Amateur Athletics Association Championships in Birmingham. • Craig Young (Ferryden Primary School) and Frasier Beckles (Warddykes Primary School) have been accepted for the Scottish Ballet School. • Forfar Academy pupil, Claire Duncan, was part of the Scottish equestrian team which won the pre- novice title at the British Vaulting Championships in Wales.

8 HUMAN RIGHTS

8.1 There are no Human Rights implications arising directly from this report.

9 CONSULTATION

9.1 In accordance with the Standing Orders of the Council, this report has been the subject of consultation with the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance and the Director of Law & Administration.

JIM ANDERSON DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Note: No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than any containing confidential or exempt information), were relied on to any material extent in preparing the above report.