HM Inspectorate of Education
1st Floor, Endeavour House, 1 Greenmarket, Dundee DD1 4QB
t 01382 576700
f 01382 576701
e hmi.dundee@hmie.gsi.gov.uk
w www.hmie.gov.uk
13 September 2011
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Dear Parent/Carer
St Roch’s Secondary School
Glasgow City Council
As you will be aware, HM Inspectors of Education recently visited and inspected St Roch’s
Secondary School. The inspection was concerned with how well young people learn and
achieve; how well they are supported by the school; and how well the school improves the
quality of its work. In addition, we agreed with the school that we would look closely at a
number of areas as priorities for attention. These included partnership working, ethos and
expectations, leadership across the school and use of information and communications
technology (ICT) across learning. Throughout the inspection we talked to parents, a large
number of young people and worked closely with the headteacher and staff.
How well do young people learn and achieve?
Almost all young people learn and achieve well. In almost all classes observed young people
experienced a positive ethos for learning. They feel safe, secure, treated with respect and
speak positively about the support they receive from staff. In most classes, young people use
ICT well to develop research skills. At S5/S6 we saw young people take on leadership roles
and develop aspects of health and wellbeing through planned events. When given the
opportunity, young people collaborate well in pairs and in small groups. They benefit from
increasing numbers of active learning experiences. In the best examples they receive
high-quality feedback and take responsibility for their learning. There is scope to develop this
more consistently across all departments.
We were impressed by the way young people are gaining confidence and skills for life
through a very good range of achievements provided. They are developing as sports leaders
and through participation in a variety of arts events. Young people gain personal and life
skills through their roles as prefects and as eco group members. They achieved a European
languages award recently through a joint project between modern languages and business
education. At S1, most young people are progressing well within their broad general
education and their performance in class work is steadily improving. Staff are making good
progress developing literacy and numeracy skills within all subject courses. This was
particularly noticeable in the sciences. In examinations, for most levels the school performs
better than or much better than schools serving young people with similar needs and
backgrounds. When they leave school, almost all young people progress into further
education, higher education or work.
How well does the school support young people to develop and learn?
Across the school, young people are supported effectively to develop and learn. The
curriculum helps to ensure that almost all young people enjoy coming to school. There is a
commendably wide range of partnerships and out-of-class activities available which allow
young people to broaden their achievements. The school should continue to review the
curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of all learners. Staff across the school know
young people very well and most use this knowledge to give focused, targeted support during
learning. Young people for whom English is an additional language have their needs very
well met in class and through support by specialist staff. Young people who have support
plans are making good progress towards achieving their targets. Tasks and activities in a few
classes need to be more varied to ensure that able young people are appropriately
challenged. In a few subjects, pace of learning is too slow and learners are too passive.
The Parent Council and parents provide valued support including holding very helpful
fundraising activities. Staff promote the school well as a community of faith. They have
recently opened a new oratory to provide an area for reflection. Regular assemblies take
place and the local parish priests work well with staff to provide opportunities for worship.
Young people are taught actively to understand other religions and cultures. In line with the
school’s motto, there is a strong faith culture in the school of caring for others. Young people
and staff are very proud of their school and work very hard to keep it a positive environment
for learning.
How well does the school improve the quality of its work?
We are confident the school will continue to improve the quality of its work. The headteacher
is a very effective leader who is very supportive of his staff and committed to providing the
highest standards of learning to improve the life chances of all St Roch’s learners. He is
supported by a very committed senior management team whose enthusiasm and keenness to
deliver high standards of education are helping to take the school forward. Young people
influence improvement through the junior and senior pupil council meetings, the work of the
health summit, whole-school consultations and from annual questionnaires. This helps show
areas where the school is doing well and areas that require improvement. Teachers improve
the school through their active involvement in a large number of effective working groups.
Our inspection of your school found the following key strengths:
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Friendly, well-behaved young people, who enjoy their learning in a supportive and caring
environment.
Inspiring, high-quality leadership provided by the headteacher, senior management and
many other members of staff across the school.
Effective efforts by staff and young people to raising aspirations, support and celebrate
achievement and improve the school.
The benefit for all young people from the high quality of the care and welfare shown by all
staff.
The positive impact of partnerships on young people and the school community.
We discussed with staff and the education authority how they might continue to improve the
school. This is what we agreed with them.
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Improve consistency in the quality of young people’s learning experiences.
Continue to develop the curriculum for all young people, taking full account of the
principles and entitlements of Curriculum for Excellence.
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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. Our District Inspector along with the
local authority will discuss the most appropriate support in order to build further capacity for
improvement and will maintain contact to support further improvement. The local authority
will inform parents about the school’s progress as part of the authority’s arrangements for
reporting to parents on the quality of its schools.
Aileen Monaghan
HM Inspector
13 September 2011
Additional inspection evidence, such as details of the quality indicator evaluations, for
St Roch’s Secondary School can be found on the HMIE website at
http://www.hmie.gov.uk/ViewEstablishment.aspx?id=6682&type=3 .
You can find our complaints procedure on our website www.hmie.gov.uk. Alternatively you
can contact our Complaints Manager at HM Inspectorate of Education, Denholm House,
Almondvale Business Park, Almondvale Way, Livingston, EH54 6GA or by
telephoning 01506 600259.
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