School's Inspection Report 2017

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. 

Download full report - nei_report_2017.pdf 

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