Ballycarry Primary School

Overview

The inspection was significantly limited by industrial action, as teaching staff did not cooperate with the process. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.” The school is designated a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• The report notes that “the children report that they feel safe in the school.”
• Pupils are “aware what to do if they have any concerns about their safety or welfare.”
• Safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”

Areas to improve

• The employing authority, governors, and staff must “plan for, and manage, issues related to the sustainability of the school provision and school budget.”
• The school must “ensure that the designated governor for child protection receives the appropriate training.”
• Policies require updating to “reflect the Department of Education’s guidance,” and a training log must be maintained.
• A “suitable fence” must be erected around the pond to prevent unsupervised access.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” though full evaluation was impossible due to staff non-cooperation.