Ballycraigy Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning teachers did not co-operate with the process. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to fully evaluate the quality of learning, teaching, or the school’s capacity for improvement. The report concludes that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils report they “enjoy the wide range of learning and extra-curricular activities,” including physical education and information and communication technology.
• Children spoke “enthusiastically” about joint activities within a “well-established shared education partnership” with a local Integrated Primary School.
• Pupils appreciate “very good opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities” through school and eco-councils.
• Students value the continued support they receive from the school’s nurture unit.

Areas to improve

• The report states the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the lines of inquiry and the quality of learning and teaching due to non-co-operation.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice” because the current inspection could not provide assurance on educational quality.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” and children report feeling safe and informed about online safety, although the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to the industrial action.