High praise for Hermitage Primary

Jul 10 2009 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

SCHOOLS across Scotland could learn from the example of a Helensburgh primary.

Government inspectors say Hermitage’s religious and moral education and effective transition arrangements could benefit other schools.

All aspects of the school received an ‘excellent ’or ‘very good’ rating in a recent HMIE report.

The 358-pupil school – the largest primary in Argyll and Bute – was praised for the headteacher’s outstanding leadership, the children’s enthusiasm for learning, their confidence and high expectations and the skilled staff. The attainment and achievements of children, strong partnerships with families and the community and the use of self-evaluation were also highlighted.

The council’s education spokeswoman, Councillor Isobel Strong, said the report was a glowing tribute to the work being carried out at Hermitage.

She said: “Hermitage is the largest of our 79 primaries by some distance, so obviously faces different challenges to many of our other, much smaller schools. Those challenges, as this report so clearly spells out, are being comprehensively met in every aspect of learning and teaching at the school.

“Through the commitment and dedication of head teacher Lorna Jackson and her staff, the pupils at Hermitage Primary are getting the best possible start in life and are being given every chance to fulfil their potential in all aspects of their development.”

Inspectors identified another major strength as being the support which children receive in moving from nursery to primary and from primary to Hermitage Academy.

And they were impressed by the innovative work in the curriculum in terms of developing numeracy, literacy and ICT skills.

Ms Jackson said: “I am very grateful to all members of the community for their hard work and commitment during the last four years which has contributed enormously to the success of this report.

“We are very proud of our high standards at Hermitage, and will continue to provide the very best education possible for our young people.”