Kilsyth Academy has been commended for its inclusive culture, strong attainment and supportive learning environment following a recent inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE).
Inspectors visited the school in March 2026 and awarded it “good” evaluations in both learning, teaching and assessment, and in raising attainment and achievement.
The report highlights the school’s warm and collaborative culture, the respectful relationships between staff and pupils, and the progress young people are making in literacy and numeracy.
Pupil Kate Flynn said the inspection gave the school a valuable opportunity to showcase its strengths. “As school captain, I am very proud of our whole school community following our recent HMIE inspection and the positive ratings we received,” she said.
“The inspection helped us to highlight the many positive things happening across our school every day.
“As one of the smallest semi-rural secondary schools in the country, our size helps create a strong sense of community where everyone supports one another and pupils are encouraged to reach their full potential.”
Inspectors also noted that pupils show a strong sense of pride in their school and work together with staff in positive and respectful ways, helping to create a calm and nurturing environment for learning.
Head Teacher Robbie Dempsey welcomed the findings and thanked pupils, staff, parents and partners for their contribution.
“We are pleased with this positive report, which reflects many of our school’s strengths,” he said. “Our young people’s successes are built on our values of fairness, ambition and respect, and it is encouraging to see this recognised by inspectors.
“They highlighted our inclusive and nurturing ethos, strong attainment in literacy and numeracy, and the respectful relationships across the school. Our young people are at the heart of everything we do, and we are delighted to see their pride in the school acknowledged.”
Councillor Michael McBride, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: “This report recognises the dedication and commitment of staff, pupils and the wider Kilsyth Academy community. Everyone connected with the school should be proud of the positive environment it continues to provide for its young people.”
HMIE confirmed that it is confident the school has the capacity to continue improving and that no further inspection visits are required at this stage.