Ballinderry Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection confirms that Ballinderry Primary School continues to demonstrate a “high level of capacity for sustained improvement.” The school maintains a “well-embedded whole-school culture of self-evaluation” which effectively drives progress, particularly in literacy.

Strengths

• The senior leadership team and staff use data “rigorously” to monitor progress and provide “appropriate and timely interventions.”
• There is “high quality planning, learning, teaching and assessment in literacy” from nursery through to key stage 2.
• Children respond well to “stimulating and engaging learning opportunities” and work confidently both independently and collaboratively.
• Pupils use strategies such as “phonological awareness” to read and write independently, with some demonstrating “very good fluency and comprehension.”
• The school has developed a “shared education partnership” with a local maintained primary school.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect the guidance from the Department of Education” and that children feel “happy and safe” and know who to talk to if they have concerns.