Derrygonnelly Primary School

Overview

This report details a Sustaining Improvement Inspection conducted in December 2017, noting that the previous 2014 inspection evaluated the school as outstanding. Due to industrial action involving non-cooperation by staff, the inspection was severely limited in scope. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The report notes that the school’s previous overall effectiveness was evaluated as “outstanding” in October 2014.
• A small group of Year 6 children reported that they “feel happy and safe in school.”
• Pupils stated they “know what to do and who to talk to if they are concerned about their safety or well-being.”
• The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”

Areas to improve

• The behaviour management policy “does not comply fully with the guidance from the Department of Education” and needs prompt review to include practices relating to suspensions and expulsions.
• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for issues related to the “sustainability of the school provision and school budget” to address current and future needs.

Safeguarding

The report states that while arrangements broadly reflect Department of Education guidance and pupils feel safe, the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school” due to the industrial action.