Abercorn Primary School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted in May 2017, following a 2014 evaluation of the school’s overall effectiveness as “outstanding”. Due to industrial action involving “action short of strike”, teachers did not cooperate with inspectors, significantly limiting the scope of the evaluation. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children”.

Strengths

• The report notes “evidence of appropriate, ongoing improvement work” informed by “robust analysis of data and high quality self-evaluation”.
• A small group of Year 7 children displayed a “high level of interest in, and enjoyment of, literacy”.
• These pupils were described as “enthusiastic and very competent readers” who read with “fluency and understanding”.
• Children discussed books “confidently” and reported that they “feel safe in the school”.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no specific areas for improvement, as the ETI was “unable to evaluate... the quality of learning and teaching within the classrooms” or the line of inquiry fully due to non-cooperation.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements are “satisfactory” and reflect departmental guidance, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the industrial action.