Florencecourt Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly limited by industrial action, as teachers refused to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI could not evaluate the quality of learning, teaching, or the school’s capacity for self-evaluation. The report concludes that the inspectorate is unable to assure stakeholders of the quality of education provided.

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils spoke positively about their learning experiences, including "classroom activities they enjoy" and participation in "extra-curricular sport".
• Children reported good opportunities to develop leadership capabilities through roles in the "School- and Eco-Councils".
• Pupils highlighted their opportunities to "learn alongside children from other schools as part of the shared education project".
• Safeguarding policies have been reviewed and amended to "reflect more accurately the relevant DE guidance" since the arrival of the new principal.

Areas to improve

• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for and manage issues related to the "sustainability of the school provision and school budget".
• The school needs to address "current and future needs of the children and the staff" amidst the ongoing industrial dispute.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education" and that pupils feel "happy and safe," though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the outworking of these arrangements due to the industrial action.