Scottish deaf school told to improve leadership

Donaldson's School in Linlithgow, which provides education, therapy and care for pupils who are deaf or who have communication difficulties, has been ordered to make further improvements to school leadership.

The order follows a government improvement notice served to the school in 2014 after concerns over the safety of pupils.

According to a report from Herald Scotland, Education Scotland said good progress had been made by the school in developing staff skills and putting systems in place to make sure children were kept safe, but added that ‘insufficient progress’ had been made in relation to the leadership team and the management of the school.

The Education Scotland report stated: “Recent complaints against the school had highlighted concerns about leadership, management of challenging behaviour of children and young people, staffing skills… and quality of learning experiences.

“Children… are now more focused and attentive during their lessons. The majority show more interest in what they are learning and are much more settled.

“The majority of children continue to be more actively engaged in their learning and there is much less low-level disruption as a result.”

Laura Battles, the school’s chief executive, has said the school will continue to implement the recommendations from Education Scotland.