Details of school inspections from January 2021: FOI release

Information requested

Can you provide the dates and details of all school inspections from 1 January 2021 to date.

Response

From 1 January 2021 to 25 November 2021 there has been one school inspection. This was a special inspection of Spark of Genius Harbour Point School requested by Scottish Ministers. It took place in May 2021.

As announced on 16 September 2021 HM Inspectors of Education are taking forward a phased approach to scrutiny activity this year. This is in recognition of the ongoing challenges faced by local authorities, schools, learners and communities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially HM Inspectors are visiting schools awaiting a further inspection following an inspection before the pandemic. These visits are taking place currently. HM Inspectors of Education are also visiting schools as part of national thematic inspections. Full details can be found in Education Scotland’s Annual Programme of Scrutiny 2021-22.

Background
It was announced in March 2020 that early learning and childcare and school inspections would be temporarily suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this time HM Inspectors of Education continued to deliver other aspects of the scrutiny programme alongside a focus on supporting recovery, capacity building and quality and improvement across the education system.

This included publishing a series of 12 National Overview of Practice reports to learn what was working well in the education system; surface the challenges; and identify what further assistance was required.

Additionally HM Inspectors of Education conducted a national review of local authority approaches to quality assurance as part of the alternative certification model.

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.