Inspection praise for St Patrick’s

Published: Tuesday 14 July 2026

St Patrick’s Primary School Acting Head Teacher Laura Layden and pupils holding up balloons

A primary school in Strathaven has been praised for its warm, welcoming and nurturing culture following an inspection by HMIE Scotland.

The report also highlighted that children at St Patrick’s Primary School and nursery class are motivated and confident, and they show kindness, respect and responsibility in their daily interactions.

Children’s wellbeing was praised for being at the heart of the school and nursery’s work, and it was noted the acting headteacher provides very effective collaborative leadership at all levels, with the principal teacher, nursery team leader, staff and pupil groups all contributing meaningfully to improvement.

Acting Head Teacher of St Patrick’s, Laura Layden, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the findings of our recent HMIe inspection, which recognises the hard work, commitment and dedication of our entire school community.

“We are particularly proud that inspectors recognised the strong relationships between staff, pupils and families, our commitment to children's wellbeing, and the positive impact of our work in promoting inclusion, outdoor learning and pupil leadership.

“It is especially pleasing that inspectors recognised our nurturing culture, rights-based approach and the strong sense of community that is central to life at St Patrick’s.

“This success reflects the collective efforts of our pupils, staff, parents, parish and wider community. We are grateful for their continued support and commitment to ensuring that every child is encouraged to flourish and succeed.

“While we celebrate these achievements, we remain committed to continuous improvement and will build upon the strengths identified in the report to ensure the very best outcomes for all children at St Patrick’s Primary School and Nursery Class.”

St Patrick’s Primary School pupils reading

Lyndsay McRoberts, the council’s Executive Director of Education, said: “Congratulations to acting head teacher Laura Layden, her staff, children and all the school community for their hard work to attain such a glowing report.

“I am delighted that all this hard work and dedication has been recognised throughout this report and have no doubt they will continue to build on their achievements to ensure the school goes from strength to strength.”