‘Supportive’ care unit needs to beef up schooling

Published on 16/01/2013 00:59

A REPORT on a secure unit at the centre of a riot almost five years ago has highlighted three areas for improvement.

An inspection of St Mary’s Kenmure in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, found curriculum work at the school was weak and noted that teamwork could be better.

But inspectors are satisfied with the overall quality of provision at the school and praised its “supportive and caring atmosphere”.

St Mary’s underwent a £500,000 refurbishment following a major disturbance in March 2008. Ten youngsters went on the run from the unit, which provides secure residential care and education for youngsters up to the age of 18 who have significant social, emotional and behavioural needs.

Almost five years on from the incident, an inspection report has praised the positive relationships between staff and young people at the independent school.

The “happy and friendly young people who are willing to engage positively in the life of the school” is also highlighted as a key strength of the unit.

Inspectors further welcomed the residents’ success in gaining qualifications and the commitment of staff to the youngsters’ welfare.

The inspection report, newly-published by Education Scotland, marked various aspects of school life as satisfactory, but graded work on the curriculum as weak.

“The school has not yet implemented Curriculum for Excellence. While young people have opportunities to achieve qualifications in a range of subjects, the school now needs to extend the curriculum to give young people access to all eight areas of the curriculum,” the document said.

St Mary’s also needs to put in place more systematic and rigorous procedures for evaluating the quality of its work, “in order to improve young people’s experiences and achievements”, inspectors found.