A PRIMARY school had its ‘report card’ upgraded after council bosses challenged the results of an Education Scotland inspection.

Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School in Musselburgh received an impressive report from inspectors when it was released in June.

It was graded ‘good’ in all areas but one – which was ‘very good’ – and praised for strong relationships between staff and children across its school and nursery.

However, it has been revealed that behind the scenes the final grades were at the centre of negotiations after the inspectors’ initial findings were disputed by education officials.

East Lothian Council’s education team challenged a finding of ‘satisfactory’ for one of the quality markings – raising attainment – used in the inspection.

And after presenting evidence to show that the school’s performance was better than reported, they saw the mark upgraded to ‘good’.

A meeting of East Lothian Council’s education committee was told: “There was a delay in publication [of the report] that was as a result of the education department engaging extensively with Education Scotland’s findings of the inspection.

“As a result of that, one of the indicators was increased from satisfactory to good.”

Local authorities are given first look at inspection reports from Education Scotland before they are made public and have the opportunity to challenge the findings.

A council source said: “It happens from time to time and in this case everyone thought the school deserved better.

“They were determined to make the case for the staff and pupils and fought their corner.”

Pinkie St Peter’s Primary received  ‘good’ ratings for: leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; and raising attainment and achievement.

The school achieved ‘very good’ for ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion.

The nursery received a ‘good’ quality indicator across the board for: leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; securing children’s progress; and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion.

Councillor Katie Mackie, ward member for Musselburgh, said she was delighted by the positive final inspection report.

She said: “I regularly attend parent council meetings at Pinkie St Peter’s and am always impressed by the relationships between parents and teachers. There is a real camaraderie.”

A council spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Education Scotland took account of the additional evidence that we presented and our representations on behalf of Pinkie St Peter’s.

“We believe that a ‘good’ evaluation more accurately reflects the work that is going on in the school and its commitment to improving outcomes for children.”