Douglas Academy receives outstanding inspection report

Date: 
Friday, 17 February, 2023

Staff and pupils at Douglas Academy in Milngavie have started the new term on a high, following the publication of a glowing report from Education Scotland.five people stand in foreground with Douglas academy sign behind

A team of inspectors from Education Scotland visited the school in November last year and they have now published their findings.   

There were many highlights for pupils and staff in the report, including:

  • Young people are very motivated to achieve, highly articulate and demonstrate high levels of responsibility. Positive relationships across the school support a very purposeful learning environment and a climate of high expectations and aspirations.
  • Consistently outstanding levels of attainment from S1 to S3 and in National Qualifications. Young people are achieving much better across almost all national measures than learners with similar needs and backgrounds across Scotland.
  • Young people are highly successful, confident and exercise responsibility and contribute exceptionally well to the life of the school and wider community.
  • The headteacher’s empowering leadership creates a climate of high aspirations and expectations. As a result, young people’s attainment and achievements are sector leading.
  • The arrangements for monitoring and tracking attainment throughout the school is outstanding.

Convener of Education, Councillor Lynda Williamson, visited the school to congratulate staff and pupils. 

She said, “Douglas Academy’s vision is ‘Working Together, Respecting Others and Pursuing Excellence’ and this outstanding report shows that these goals are consistently achieved across the school.  This is a fantastic accomplishment and pupils, staff, the headteacher and the wider school community should be very proud.

“It was a pleasure to visit the school to share in the celebrations and I look forward to seeing Douglas Academy continue to thrive in the coming years.”

Headteacher, Barry Smedley, added, "Douglas Academy has a proud history and it is both an honour and privilege to lead the school at this time. Our school community is delighted to receive a report which recognises the very positive ethos, hard work and commitment of all staff and pupils who, supported by parents and carers, ensure that Douglas Academy lives up to its reputation as an excellent centre of learning."


The report contained the following evaluations:

Education Scotland Quality Indicators

Evaluation

 

Learning, teaching and assessment

Very Good

Raising attainment and achievement

Excellent