ARGYLL and Bute Council has said “a number of changes” have already taken place at Hermitage Academy following the publication of a critical report by watchdogs.

Education Scotland said the leadership of change at the Helensburgh school was ‘weak’, while three other quality indicators were found to be only satisfactory.

The report, published this week, follows an inspection visit to the school in February.

And while the inspectors highlight the school’s welcoming ethos, positive relationships between teachers, pupils and parents, and “exemplary” behaviour of most young people, their report picks out several areas for improvement.

In a letter to parents, inspector Patricia Watson says the school needs to “improve strategic leadership at all levels to drive change”, and says there has to be “increased collaboration across the school community”.

Ms Watson also says the school needs to adopt an integrated approach to learning, teaching, assessment and moderation.

In addition to judging the ‘leadership of change’ as weak, the report says the quality of learning, teaching and assessment, raising attainment and achievement, and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion are only satisfactory.

It also points out the “significant curriculum change” in the school in the last three years and says there is “a need to ensure improvement targets are based on a robust and coherent cycle of ongoing self-evaluation”, which it says is currently “inconsistent across the school”.

The inspection report was published just a few weeks before the school’s head teacher, Geoff Urie, retires after 11 years at the helm – and follows a highly-critical report of Argyll and Bute Council’s own functions as the local education authority, published just a few weeks ago by Education Scotland.

Helensburgh’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, said: “It is disappointing that despite the best efforts of our local teachers, Hermitage Academy has been handed a weak report following the visit from Education Scotland inspectors.

“It was not so long ago that Hermitage Academy was widely regarded as one of the top performing state schools in Scotland and ‘satisfactory’ is simply not good enough for young people and parents in Helensburgh and Lomond.

“Hermitage Academy remains a good school with hardworking teachers who do their best but it needs more resources and support from Argyll and Bute Council.

“The appointment of a new head teacher in the new term will offer a fresh start for the whole school community.

“In the meantime I will continue to work alongside local parents to ensure that improving the learning experience at Hermitage Academy is a top priority for the incoming administration at Argyll and Bute Council.”

Lomond North councillor George Freeman, who served on Argyll and Bute’s community services committee – which oversees education – until last week’s council election, said: ““This report highlights a totally unacceptable standard of education within our largest secondary school and confirms that the council is failing the children and parents within the Helensburgh and Lomond area and across Argyll and Bute.”

Stella Kinloch, the chair of Hermitage Academy’s parent council, said: “The report evidences a number of concerns parents have voices over the past 18 months and hope this is now the opportunity for the school to focus and place reviews in these areas linking with parents and pupils.

“We note the improvements in overall attainment and recognition of the hard work from the teaching staff to deliver this positive outcome.  

“The Parent Council would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teaching and support staff at Hermitage Academy for their dedication and commitment which has delivered the improvements to date.  The pupil teacher relations are strong and as parents are delighted that this is the case.

“We look forward to working with the new Head Teacher in supporting the school in its delivery of the improvement priorities, where appropriate.

An Argyll and Bute Council spokeswoman said the agreed areas for improvement already formed part of the school’s own improvement plan, and pointed out that “a number of changes have already taken place”, including developing partnerships with businesses, colleges and training providers, providing more subject options to senior pupils, and giving more support to pupils through monitoring and tracking of their learning needs.

She added: “We want the same success for our young people as parents do. We have hard working staff, and pupils to be proud of, who together are achieving often award winning success.

“Together we will work to make our vision happen – ambition, excellence and equality for all.”

Education Scotland will ask Argyll and Bute Council to provide a progress report in one year’s time, and will return to carry out a further inspection of the school within two years.