Ballymena Primary School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted in March 2018 following a previous evaluation of "very good" effectiveness. Due to industrial action involving "action short of strike," most teachers did not cooperate with inspectors, preventing an evaluation of classroom teaching quality. Consequently, the ETI states it is "unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children."

Strengths

• The school demonstrates a "systematic culture of self-evaluation" using data and stakeholder consultation to inform improvement programmes.
• The senior leadership team and coordinators "monitor and evaluate effectively all aspects of the provision" and the impact on learning.
• Teachers have undertaken relevant staff development to "increase staff capacity and to improve progression and challenge in the children’s learning."
• Children reported feeling "safe, happy and cared for" and spoke positively about opportunities to express their views.

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement, as the inspection was limited by non-cooperation.
• The ETI notes that the inability to evaluate education quality "will be reflected in future inspection activity."

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education," and children reported feeling safe, though the ETI was "unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements" due to the industrial action.