Christian school 'failing pupils'

The school said pupils were learning at their own pace

A privately-run Christian school in North Lanarkshire is the subject of a critical report by inspectors.

Living Waters, in Bellshill, is said to be allowing its pupils aged between five and 10 to underachieve.

Children work on their own in cubicles and the unpaid teaching staff do not have formal teaching qualifications.

But the head teacher, Rosemarie Cochran, rejected inspectors' criticism that the children were not encouraged to fulfil their potential.

Ms Cochran said: "It's an individual programme and the children work at their own pace so if they are capable of doing more work faster then they have the scope to do that."

'Improvement needed'

The report was carried out by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) in Scotland, who said the staff were "caring and committed".

But it also said: "The overall curriculum and the quality of learning and teaching needed to be improved.

"The school was shaping the character of each child but it was not enabling pupils to achieve their full academic potential."

It recommended developing the curriculum to provide pupils with a broad range of stimulating learning experiences and ensuring that the pace of learning and range of activities were appropriate to meet the needs of all pupils.

They are coming on so well with maths and reading and everything that I don't really see that there is any problem Christina Patterson Grandparent

It also said the school should introduce systems to monitor and evaluate the work of the school and the quality of learning and teaching.

Inspectors have referred the report to the Registrar of Independent Schools who will decide whether or not to fully register the school.

The school is part of a US organisation called Accelerated Christian Education which aims to influence children's characters by weaving the bible into every lesson.

Grandparent Christina Patterson said: "They are coming on so well with maths and reading and everything that I don't really see that there is any problem."

Judith Gillespie, of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said: "There's a very big difference between childcare, which can be loving and fantastic and education.

Secondary plans

"Really and truly it's a matter of professional judgement and that's where the HMIE come in."

New schools in Scotland above a certain size must pass basic checks to operate for a year, before being subjected to more rigorous inspection and there is no requirement for teachers to be qualified.

The school said it was confident it could stay open and pass further inspections and that it had plans to open a secondary school.

Earlier this month MSPs passed legislation giving ministers the power to intervene in failing schools and to stop small independent schools from opening.