North Lanarkshire Council

It's not just Cathedral Primary School's award winning choir that's on song. Inspectors are singing the praises of Motherwell's Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School.

The school is a proud achiever of one of the best HMIE reports in Scotland. And the best ever for any primary in North Lanarkshire, with inspectors saying that 'the school provides high quality education led by a head teacher who is an outstanding leader.

It received three 'excellent' evaluations – 'outstanding, sector leading, major strengths' and two 'very good' evaluations – meaning 'major strengths'.

The excellent scores, the highest level that can be awarded, are for improvements in performance, learners' experiences and meeting learning needs. And the two very good awards are for the curriculum and improvement through self evaluation.

Some examples highlighted in the report include the Eco committee members developing children's awareness of recycling through their popular 'Swappin' Shoppin' Boutique'. The award-winning school choir of nearly ninety children performing at various events, including with the adult choir at Motherwell Cathedral. Highly effective teaching assessment and tracking systems helping staff to ensure that all children make suitable progress.

Areas of good practice include support for children with English as an additional language (EAL) - the school has Polish and Congolese students. Come Clubbing @ Cathedral - a range of clubs offered to pupils including sport, dance, writing for the school newspaper and children's experience of enterprise.

Maria Shields, Head Teacher is delighted for everyone involved. She said, "Our pupils are our strongest resource and as always, show themselves as great ambassadors for the school. 

"Our entire team of staff work tirelessly to ensure they meet the needs of all children and our excellence in improvement in performance, learners' experiences and meeting learning needs is testimony to their commitment. They are dedicated to realising the potential of every individual child.

"The active involvement of our parents in our school day and beyond benefits every child. We are very grateful to our parent forum for their continuous support and look forward to another successful term."

To see Cathedral Primary choir in action then click on the Evening Times video link on the right.