Dingwall Primary head thanks community for support and sets out ambitious plans for future attainment
THE head teacher of a Ross-shire primary has thanked the community for rallying round ahead of crunch inspections and set an ambitious vision to make it the best in the Highlands.
Inspectors say Dingwall Primary's children benefit from "very positive relationships and the caring approach of staff" and are satisfied with learning, teaching and assessment and efforts being made to raise attainment.
The endorsement for Ross-shire's largest primary comes on top of a glowing report earlier in the year from the Care Inspectorate for its nursery.
The senior leadership team has been tasked with continuing to raise attainment in literacy and numeracy and praised for introducing Gaelic to all pupils.
The 475-pupil school is led by Sara MacAskill, its first female head.
She has helped trailblaze a 'baby bank' and family centre as part of a vision to bring the school to the heart of the community.
She said: "I live in Dingwall and am passionate about Dingwall and every child having access to quality education. We want Dingwall to be sector leading and to be the top school in the Highlands. There is clear progress in literacy and numeracy for all pupils and we want to maintain that."
Reacting to the Education Scotland inspection report, she said: "I want to thank the whole community.
"The feeling that everybody wants to help is great. It feels like a new chapter for the school. If people know that someone's heart is in it it helps."
And in a sign of a long-term vision unfolding, she said: "This job is a dream come true. I don't want to be anywhere else. I never get out of bed feeling I don't want to go to work. There's nothing else I would rather do."
She said she would love to lead the school into new purpose-built premises down the line – it has marked over 50 years at its current edge-of-town location – but is meantime focussed on identifying and addressing needs within the school community.
A drive towards sustainability is evidenced in 'swap days' for everything from outgrown wellies to Halloween costumes. This reduces waste and keeps costs down for parents.
Acknowledging the impact of the cost of living crisis on many, she said Dingwall faces the same needs as inner city schools where she has previously worked. She said: "Happy parents leads to happy children and consequently attainment levels go up."
The school also now has a a dedicated PE teacher – "We want that love of sport from the nursery up to P7 as that also links to attainment" – and lunch clubs playing on the strengths of staff.
The response of the community was evidenced by a Beatles-inspired concert at the Town Hall earlier in the year. The kids packed out the place whereas the Fab Four managed only a handful on the cusp of fame.
Mrs MacAskill said: "I want to thank parents, carers, local councillors and staff for their support."
