Scotland’s only Jewish school and its nursery have been praised following recent inspections.
Calderwood Lodge Primary and Calderwood Lodge Family Centre were visited by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate, with the positive ethos of both the school and nursery shining through.
The inspection of the school by Education Scotland scrutinised four areas of work, with the quality of ‘leadership of change’, ‘learning, teaching and assessment’, ‘ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion’, and ‘raising attainment and achievement’ all rated as ‘very good’.
It was noted that the school has children who are articulate, motivated, kind and compassionate, with positive relationships across the school. The Head Teacher, with excellent support from her senior team, was praised for leading with integrity, sensitivity and a clear rationale for improvement.
The report highlighted that staff work very effectively with parents and partners to embed the Jewish faith in the life and work of the school. Strong partnerships with the school Rabbi and the Scottish Jewish Youth Alliance are in place, as well as ensuring that all Jewish festivals and significant days are celebrated alongside a strong emphasis on interfaith learning across the year. This inclusive approach is helping children develop respect, empathy, and a deeper appreciation of different cultures and beliefs.
The inspection of the Family Centre also scrutinised four areas of work, with ‘staff skills, knowledge, values and deployment’, ‘learning, teaching and assessment’, and ‘children’s progress’ rated as ‘very good’ and ‘nurturing, care and support’ gaining a ‘good’ rating.
The respectful and nurturing relationships between staff, children and families were highlighted as a strength, with staff also demonstrating the values of play, respect, honesty, nurture and kindness. Children were happy, safe and secure, as a result of well-planned transitions across the day, with the exciting environment ensuring children engage well in their learning and make very good progress.
Calderwood Lodge Head Teacher Jacqueline Dunn (pictured) said: “I am privileged to lead our fantastic team at Calderwood Lodge School and Family Centre. The inspection reports have reinforced and recognised the fantastic work which goes on every day. We have such strong connections between all the staff, partners and our wider school community. It is particularly pleasing that our values and strong focus on faith have shone through in the report. By creating a vibrant community, it will ensure that our young people thrive and achieve their very best every day.”
Councillor Andrew Anderson, Convener for Education, added: “Well done to everyone at Calderwood Lodge for these two fantastic inspection reports. I’m delighted that the high-quality learning experiences delivered to children across both the school and family centre have been recognised, as I know that our staff regularly go above and beyond to ensure they are delivering for our young people.”
