Hilton of Cadboll Primary School’s learning, teaching and assessment evaluated as ‘weak’ after inspection

AN Easter Ross primary school has been evaluated as “weak” in certain areas after a visit from inspectors, with a “need for prompt action” highlighted.

In November 2025, a team of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE) visited Hilton of Cadboll Primary School and Nursery, on the Seaboard peninsula.

Results of the inspection have now been shared, with the primary school’s leadership of change and the learning, teaching and assessment both being evaluated as ‘weak’.

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Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion was marked as ‘good’, while raising attainment and achievement was evaluated as ‘satisfactory’.

The nursery was evaluated as ‘satisfactory/adequate’ in all areas, such as: learning, teaching and assessment; nurturing, care and support; staff skills, knowledge, values and deployment; and children’s progress.

With a roll of 12 children and capacity for up to 40, the Hilton of Cadboll Primary School Nursery were given four Areas for Improvement by HMIE.

The nursery’s Areas for Improvement are that staff should access training appropriate to their role and apply the training to their practice; that the provider should review their protocols for staff wellbeing; that the provider should further develop personal planning approaches, to support the children’s overall wellbeing; and to undertake a full review of the environment, layout and daily routines to ensure the physical and emotional wellbeing of children.

It was also noted by inspectors that “unclean areas did not reflect a high standard of care and had the potential to impact the wellbeing of children. The leadership team agreed to undertake a full review of the environment, layout and daily routines. As part of this, they promptly organised a deep clean of the service.”

The report also praised strengths of the nursery, stating: “Staff create a calm, positive and nurturing ethos where children feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

“The leadership team demonstrated commitment to making improvements to the nursery.”

Hilton of Cadboll Primary School has a pupil roll of 97 children, which has declined over the past five years.

The HMIE report highlighted the need for “prompt, structured and planned action” to tackle weaknesses.

It said: “Staff need to make significant improvements to the learning environment to ensure it provides children with engaging and motivating spaces in which to learn.

“There are important weaknesses…that significantly diminish children’s experiences.

“Most children learn in classrooms that are calm. However, in a few classes, low-level disruptive behaviour is frequently disturbing learning.

“Overall, expectations of what children can achieve should be increased.”

The report also noted that the school’s attendance has fallen consistently below the national average over the past five years.

It also stated: “The library provision across the school, including classroom libraries is poor. This severely restricts children’s ability to benefit from this important resource. The condition, range and storage of books is not conductive to promoting a love of reading.”

Some of the strengths highlighted include: “A strong nurturing ethos is evident across the school, with positive and supportive relationships between staff, children and families.

“Children are polite, kind and respectful of each other. [Another strength is] partnerships working with members of the wider community — children’s learning and experiences are enhanced through these partnerships.”

Concluding the report, HMIE stated that they think the “school needs additional support and more time to make necessary improvements”, with inspectors set to return to Hilton of Cadboll Primary School and Nursery within one year of January 20.

The Highland Council has been contacted for comment.

To read the full report, visit: educationinspectorate.gov.scot/find-an-inspection-report

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