Downpatrick Primary School

Overview

Downpatrick Primary School provides a "safe and nurturing environment" where "inclusion and integration are fundamental to the school’s ethos." The inspection highlights a strong commitment to equality, with staff demonstrating a "shared understanding" of the school vision and delivering "consistently effective" teaching. The report notes that every child is "valued, respected, and supported to achieve their full potential."

Strengths

• "Sector leading" provision for information and communication technology, with children becoming "confident and discerning digital learners."
• "Highly effective" leadership and support for children with special educational needs, including high-quality personal learning plans.
• A "strategically planned approach to integration and inclusion" that fosters a culture of respect and belonging.
• "Consistently effective" learning and teaching, featuring well-paced lessons and a focus on developing oracy and critical thinking.
• Strong community partnerships and active parent involvement, including a successful Parent Teacher Association.

Areas to improve

• Re-establish the practice of "gathering first-hand evidence to share the best practice that exists within the school."
• Ensure a small number of school development plan priorities are "more strategically focused and paced."
• Strengthen further the "children’s voice in curriculum development."

Safeguarding

The report states that "arrangements for child protection align to the current statutory guidance" and that "comprehensive safeguarding policies... ensure that there are robust processes in place to keep the children safe."