4 March 2014
Dear Parent/Carer
Cleveden Secondary School
Glasgow City Council
Recently, as you may know, my colleagues and I inspected your child’s school. During
our visit, we talked to parents and young people and worked closely with the
headteacher and staff. We wanted to find out how well young people are learning and
achieving and how well the school supports young people to do their best. The
headteacher shared with us the school’s successes and priorities for improvement.
We looked at some particular aspects of the school’s recent work, including how it was
promoting a culture of equality and achievement. We also looked at how well the
school helps staff and young people to develop leadership skills. As a result, we were
able to find out how good the school is at improving young people’s education.
How well do young people learn and achieve?
Young people enjoy learning and are proud of their school. They are able to identify
ways in which it is improving. Almost all young people feel that they are strongly
encouraged by staff to do the best they can. They value the many out-of-hours
opportunities for revision and study which teachers provide for them. As a result,
young people are developing confidence in themselves as learners and are making
positive progress in their learning. Almost all young people are motivated to learn and
engage well in lessons. They benefit from good relationships with staff and feel safe
and well looked after. They know that their views are taken into account. In most
lessons, young people have a clear understanding of the aims for learning, and work
well independently and in groups. They use information and communications
technology (ICT) effectively, for example, in research and for displaying their findings.
In some classes, young people would benefit from more frequent opportunities to be
more independent in their learning.
Across the school, young people achieve very well. They are developing confidence
and skills in a very wide range of activities. Many young people take on leadership
roles by serving, for example, as house and sports captains or by helping younger
learners in class and around the school. Commendably, a group of young people at
S5/S6 have set up an in-school cinema, The Majestic, and are developing the
organisational skills needed for creating an authentic cinema experience for pupils.
Young people are developing a good understanding of the importance of healthy and
active lifestyles. High numbers of young people participate in a very wide range of
sporting activities. Recently, young people at S3 identified the need for raising greater
awareness of cyber-bullying and prepared materials for sharing with younger learners.
Education Scotland
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Transforming lives through learning
Across the school, young people make a strong contribution to the school and wider
community. For example, groups of young people at S3/S4 have arranged donations
to a local food bank. Almost all young people from S1 to S3 are making suitable
progress in their subjects. At S4, young people’s attainment in national examinations
is much better than in schools which serve pupils with similar needs and backgrounds.
There are some very promising recent signs of improvement in the attainment of
young people at S5. Almost all young people studying English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) at Higher achieve success. Across the school, young people’s
attainment in mathematics is very strong. In particular, the proportion of young people
achieving success at Advanced Higher is commendable. The number of young people
who leave school and move on to a positive destination has improved considerably
over recent years.
How well does the school support young people to develop and learn?
Across the school, almost all staff set tasks and activities which are varied and
interesting. Most lessons meet the needs of young people effectively. In a few
lessons, especially at S1/S2, staff should continue to develop approaches to providing
all learners with suitably challenging work. Staff work very well together to provide
young people with a highly supportive and caring learning environment. Over recent
years, the number of young people excluded from school has fallen significantly.
Young people who require additional support with their learning are identified early and
staff provide them with very effective support. Support for learning staff provide
teachers across the school with helpful advice and strategies for supporting individual
learners. The pupil support team works well with a wide range of partners, including
the English as an Additional Language (EAL) Service and Glasgow Life to support
young people.
Staff have developed the curriculum taking suitable account of Curriculum for
Excellence and the school’s core values. They have developed the curriculum well
over recent years through discussion and consultation with parents, staff, young
people and some of the school’s many partners. At S1/S2, young people experience a
broad curriculum with good opportunities to link their learning across different subject
areas. Electives, including an introduction to psychology and games design, provide
young people with breadth and choice in their learning. Staff are developing the
curriculum at S3 to ensure that all young people receive a broad general education.
Partnership arrangements with a wide range of schools, colleges and Glasgow
Caledonian University allow young people from S3 to S6 to study a wide range of
subjects and courses. Pastoral care and support staff help young people make a
confident start in moving from P7 into S1. Some subject departments have very
positive links with primary schools which ensure that children can build well on their
learning when they enter S1. We have asked the school to extend this good practice
more widely across all subject areas.
How well does the school improve the quality of its work?
Staff have developed some very effective approaches for self-evaluation and have a
strong commitment to improving outcomes for young people. Almost all staff willingly
participate in working groups and take responsibility for aspects of school life. Many
run clubs and activities and work well with each other to share good practice.
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Across the school, staff regularly evaluate the quality of their work and plan carefully
for further improvement. The headteacher and his management team provide very
strong leadership. Together, and with support from staff across the school, they have
led some important improvements. Almost all parents are happy with the school, feel it
is well led and appreciate highly the support provided by staff. There is a very positive
ethos of fairness and inclusion in which all young people are valued and encouraged
to achieve highly. With continued support from Glasgow City Council, the school has a
very strong capacity for further improvement.
This inspection found the following key strengths.
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The confident young people who engage well in their learning, act responsibly and
contribute effectively to the school and its community.
The care and commitment of staff in supporting young people and in providing
extensive opportunities for their achievement.
The school’s positive ethos, promoting inclusion, equality and achievement.
Leadership across the school and the headteacher’s commitment to improvement.
We discussed with staff and Glasgow City Council how they might continue to improve
the school. This is what we agreed with them.
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Continue to improve the overall quality and consistency of young people’s learning
experiences.
Continue to develop the curriculum to meet the needs of all young people.
What happens at the end of the inspection?
We are satisfied with the overall quality of provision. We are confident that the
school’s self-evaluation processes are leading to improvements. As a result, we will
make no further visits in connection with this inspection. As part of its arrangements
for reporting to parents on the quality of education, Glasgow City Council will inform
parents about the school’s progress.
Alistair Brown
HM Inspector
Additional inspection evidence, such as details of the quality indicator evaluations, for
your school can be found on the Education Scotland website at
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/inspectionandreview/reports/school/primsec/Clev
edenSecondarySchoolGlasgowCity.asp
If you would like to receive this letter in a different format, for example, in a translation
please contact the administration team on the above telephone number.
If you want to give us feedback or make a complaint about our work, please contact us
by telephone on 0141 282 5000, or e-mail: complaints@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk
or write to us addressing your letter to the Complaints Manager, Denholm House,
Almondvale Business Park, Livingston EH54 6GA.
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