Head out after school inspection

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The head teacher of a Moray primary school has been replaced following a damning report by a school inspector.

Tomintoul Primary School was criticised on all aspects of teaching and learning.

Out of 14 categories of assessment, the school, which has 60 pupils, was judged weak or unsatisfactory in all but one.

Moray Council said it was already taking action to improve the school. The authority said the acting head and her team had its full confidence.

Her Majesty's Inspectors of Education (HMIE) carried out an inspection of Tomintoul in June.

Major weaknesses

The inspector identified major weaknesses in meeting the needs of the pupils.

Many parents were said to be dissatisfied with the school, where most of the current staff had less than three years teaching experience.

The then headteacher had returned to the school in 2005 after a secondment and had been on long-term sick leave shortly before the inspection.

The inspector questioned the school's capacity to improve without substantial support from the education authority.

Moray Council said it had drawn up an action plan to address the report's concerns.

Tomintoul Primary School has been through a very difficult time over the past year and a half Donald DuncanDirector of educational services

Donald Duncan, director of educational services, said: "This is a very disappointing report - but not unexpected.

"Tomintoul Primary School has been through a very difficult time over the past year and a half but was being supported by the authority, and was on the road to improvement.

"Clearly, during the week of the inspection, that improvement was not obvious to HMIE."

Local councillor Bob Wilson said: "I attend almost all the Tomintoul school board meetings and I haven't received complaints from parents or the board relating to the quality of learning and teaching."