Statistics relating to school inspections: FOI release

Information requested

1. How many schools are currently rated within each grade of the six point scale (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Satisfactory, Weak and Unsatisfactory). Please provide this information for each Quality Indicator.

2. How many schools have not been inspected for 5 years, how many have not been inspected for 7 years, and how many have not been inspected for 10 years?

3. For how many years have schools rated either weak or unsatisfactory for any given Quality Indicator been rated either weak or unsatisfactory for this Quality Indicator?

4. What support is provided to schools rated either weak or unsatisfactory for any Quality Indicator in order to help them improve?

5. Please provide any data held regarding the geographical spread across Scotland of schools rated weak or unsatisfactory for any Quality Indicator, including how this geographical spread relates to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (if this information is held).

Response

1. You have requested how many schools are currently rated within each grade of the six point scale and details on how many schools are currently rated within each grade of the six-point scale. Following clarification you have confirmed that data for the year 2019-20 would suffice for this request.

The most recent annual programme of scrutiny providing the most current information was for the academic year 2019/20. In total there were 169 school inspections. Annex A provides a breakdown of the number of schools that achieved each grading against the quality indicators that were evaluated. It is worth noting that in academic year 2019/20, Education Scotland had committed to carrying out at least 250 school inspections. This was on track to be achieved, however inspections were paused on 16 March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic which meant that the programme for this academic year could not be completed.

2. The number of schools not inspected for the number of years you have specified is set out below:

Years since last inspection	Number of schools
Five to seven years	423
Eight to ten years	558
Ten years and more	704

*The figures in the categories are mutually exclusive

These figures include local authority and grant aided primary, secondary, all through and special schools that are open and eligible for inspection sampling and is taken from the Scottish Government school contact details dated October 2020 School contact details - gov.scot(www.gov.scot).

The time since last inspection is calculated based on the original inspection and does not include any subsequent further inspections which took place as a result of the outcome of the original inspection.

These figures also include schools that have not been inspected since opening.

3. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Education Scotland does not have the information, as schools that have received a weak or unsatisfactory grading for any quality indicator would be subject to a further inspection. In a further inspection HM Inspectors do not grade quality indicators. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Education Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

When a quality indicator is graded weak or unsatisfactory HM Inspectors carry out a further inspection. They will also set out the areas where improvements are required.

Following an inspection HM Inspectors grade for specific quality indicators and set out areas for improvement in the published report. The areas for improvement are related to the quality indicators or other aspects of the school’s work which require improvement. If a quality indicator is graded weak or unsatisfactory HM Inspectors will return to the establishment within a specified period of time to carry out a further inspection. HM Inspectors evaluate the progress the school has made against the areas requiring improvement from the original inspection report. HM Inspectors do not provide an updated grade for the quality indicators. If sufficient progress has been made HM Inspectors will not make any further visits to the school. If there is insufficient
progress HM Inspectors will continue to engage with the school and carry out further inspection activity.

4. In Scotland local authorities have statutory duties in relation to school improvement under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000. This means that the quality of education and securing continuous improvement sits principally with the local authority. Should a school receive a weak or unsatisfactory grading for any particular quality indicator HM Inspectors will discuss with the local authority what improvements are required and how these will be achieved.

Where appropriate, HM Inspectors or other teams within Education Scotland may provide specific support for individual schools. This support will be dependent on the particular needs of the school.

5. Since submitting this FOI you have further clarified that you are referring to any information held regarding how geography correlates with inspection results.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Education Scotland does not hold an analysis that shows schools in certain geographical areas of Scotland tend to receive lower ratings than in other geographical areas. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Education Scotland does not have the information you have requested. You may find information published by Scottish Government helpful, this can be found at School education statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI202100140164 - Annex A

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