Southborough NEI Inspectorate Report 2017
The National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report is an assessment of the standards attained by the students in our primary and secondary schools at key points during their education. It is the aim of the NEI to report on how well students perform or improve, as they progress through their schooling and learning life.
Executive Summary
Overall effectiveness of the school
The overall effectiveness of Southborough Primary School is exceptionally high
Overall, leadership and management is exceptionally high
The school is led and managed by a team of individuals with instructional outcomes as their
priority. Through frequent and rigorous self-evaluation processes, plans for improvement
have been on target and have resulted in improved outcomes over time. The Board is very
supportive and holds the leadership of the school to account for outcomes and management
of the school‟s resources. Well-established links are in place for support from the wider
school community and the parents are supportive of the school‟s programmes.
Overall, teaching in support of learning is good
Almost all teachers effectively deliver the subjects they teach to enable students to
understand and apply the concepts taught. They generally plan well, effectively manage the
time allotted, and utilize the available resources to strengthen learning. Procedures for
assessing students‟ learning are good. Almost all students display positive attitudes during
lessons and are able to apply skills and knowledge to new situations.
Overall, students’ performance in English and mathematics is good
The schools‟ performance in national examinations for English and mathematics met or
exceeded expectations in all years of the 2013 to 2015 period. There are slight differences in
performance when comparing genders, however, the boys outperform the girls only in
mathematics.
Overall, students’ progress in English and mathematics is exceptionally high
Students make good progress over time in English and mathematics examinations. Overall,
students enter the school performing above the national average and maintain this level of
performance throughout their time at the school. In lessons, almost all students make
excellent progress and demonstrate a sound understanding of the concepts taught.
Overall, students’ personal and social development is good
Almost all students are well-behaved, are punctual, and regular attendees to school. Most
are aware of Jamaica‟s culture and economic progress. They demonstrate appropriate levels
of spiritual understanding and are quite familiar with environmental issues and solutions.
Overall, the use of human and material resources is exceptionally high
The teaching staff is dedicated to meeting the learning needs of all students, and the support
staff is efficient and effective. Material resources are generally of high quality and are
creatively used to maximize students‟ outcomes.
Overall, provisions for the curriculum and enhancement programmes are exceptionally high
The school provides a rich, wide and well-balanced curriculum programme. Sufficient
coverage of the curriculum is provided while affording students opportunities to engage in
subject offerings such as library, physical education and the aesthetics at the requisite
grades. Enhancements such as pull-out reading programme, Drop Everything and Read
(DEAR) and Stop and Write (SAW), provides enrichment for the school‟s offerings. The
school also makes deliberate attempts to enhance learning through field trips, clubs, and
sporting activities.
Overall, the provisions for student safety, security, health and wellbeing are exceptionally high
Parents express confidence in the safety and security provisions of the school, due to the
well-developed and carefully implemented policies that are in place to ensure that all
students, staff and visitors are safe and secure. Provisions for health and wellbeing are
exceptionally high.
Inspectors identified the following key strengths in the work of the school:
- The shared vision for excellence by all stakeholders
- The excellent relationship between the Board, management team, staff, parents,and students
- Strong leadership and management team which has teaching and learning at its core
- Effective use of available resources
- High performance in national examinations
- Effective self-evaluation systems
- Wide and balanced curriculum and extra-curricular offerings
- A safe and secure learning environment