“ADDITIONAL support” is needed to make “necessary improvements” at Peebles High School, according to a team of inspectors.

The school was rated as ‘satisfactory’ by Education Scotland in a report published this week, based on a visit in October.

The write-up paints a mixed picture with both strengths and areas for improvement highlighted.

Education Scotland said it would work with Scottish Borders Council and return within the next year to check on progress.

HM inspector Patricia Cameron said: “As a result of our inspection findings, we think the school needs additional support and more time to make necessary improvements.

“We will liaise with Scottish Borders Council regarding the school’s capacity to improve.

“We will return to carry out a further inspection of the school within 12 months.”

The report noted that the school community continued to “show resilience in response to ongoing challenges”.

The existing site was extensively damaged due to a fire in November 2019 and is being demolished and replaced by a new community campus.

The report also highlighted that “strong relationships between almost all staff and young people” resulted in positive learning experiences.

Additionally, staff have maintained ‘high levels of attainment’ for the majority of young people in the senior phase.

However, the report found that senior leaders and staff needed to improve the ‘planning of learning, teaching and assessment in broad general education’.

It added that the strategic leadership of the school required improvement.

“Senior leaders should monitor and evaluate the work of the school more effectively to identify priorities for improvement,” the report said.

Peebles High School Parent Council’s chair, Ellie Johnstone, said: “The Parent Council is keen to play its part in addressing the key areas highlighted by the report. We continue to work closely with the school, to ensure that all young people have a positive experience and achieve the best possible outcomes.”

Outgoing headteacher Campbell Wilson, who recently took up a new position in Dumfries and Galloway, was given a rousing send off on Friday (January 19).

On the report, interim headteacher Kevin Ryalls said: “I am looking forward to working with the school community so that, together, we can build on our strengths and deliver the improvement priorities identified by Education Scotland to further improve the outcomes for our young people.”