Caledonia Primary School earns praise from inspectors

High levels of care for pupils and strong leadership have been highlighted in an inspection report for a North Ayrshire primary school.

Inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in Scotland visited Caledonia Primary School and early years class, in Saltcoats, last month and spoke with parents, carers and pupils.

The team, which worked closely with school staff, found strengths, including that:

• staff foster positive and mutually-respectful relationships with children and demonstrate high levels of care and compassion. They also ensure children get the support they need to thrive in their learning and well-being
• headteacher Lorna Moran provides strong and effective leadership in learning, teaching and assessment. This, in turn, leads to shared expectations of high-quality learning and teaching. Colleagues take part in helpful professional learning and work with staff from other schools to improve their practice and
• staff demonstrate a sustained and purposeful focus on ensuring all children are supported to achieve and attain successfully. They measure the progress of children effectively and use this information to plan additional support when required. These approaches result in high levels of attainment by children over time.

Headteacher Lorna Moran said: “Our school vision is that Caledonia Primary offers a nurturing and inclusive environment, where myself and the staff strive to meet the needs of all learners as individuals and celebrate their achievements.

“Respect, inclusion, community and honesty are values we are proud to uphold, so it was particularly pleasing that the inspectors noted that our children get the right support they need to thrive in their well-being as well as in their learning.

“Our success wouldn’t be possible without the support I get from my leadership team and the wider school staff - as well as the great effort from our pupils. And I would like to thank each of them for their ongoing hard work.”

Two minor areas for improvement that were identified and discussed with Lorna and a Council representative following the inspection are:

• teachers should continue to ensure children experience high-quality learning, teaching and assessment consistently across the school. Building on positive work, they should further develop an increase in pace and challenge to learning experienced by all children and
• senior leaders and staff in the early years class should further develop their approaches to measuring the progress of children in learning over time.

Four quality indicators were used by inspectors across the primary school and early years setting as they gathered evidence to help judge what is working well and what needs to be improved.

The primary school scored “very good” in raising attainment and achievement and “good” in learning, teaching and assessment while the nursery class was evaluated as “good” in both learning, teaching and assessment and children’s progress.

Inspectors say they are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve, meaning no further visits are required and the Council will inform parents and carers about future progress.

Published: 27 October 2026