Blythefield Primary School

Overview

The inspection was severely limited because staff, senior leadership, and governors refused to cooperate due to industrial action. Consequently, the ETI could not evaluate the school’s capacity for improvement or the quality of education provided. The report concludes that the inspectorate is unable to assure parents of the quality of education or safeguarding arrangements.

Strengths

• The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Areas to improve

• The school must address the lack of cooperation that prevented the evaluation of self-evaluation and school planning.
• The school must provide evidence that safeguarding arrangements fully reflect Department of Education guidance, as initial evidence was lacking.
• The school is designated as a high priority for future inspection with no further notice.

Safeguarding

A follow-up evaluation in May 2020 concluded that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance issued by the Department of Education," although the ETI remained unable to fully evaluate their practical implementation due to the industrial action and subsequent school closure.