Forth River Primary School

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, with staff and governors refusing to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was “unable to assure” parents of the quality of education provided. The school is designated a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• The school development plan “identifies appropriate areas for improvement,” including long-term planning and ICT use.
• Year 6 pupils spoke “positively about the caring and friendly working relationships” with peers and adults.
• Children reported that they “feel safe and are aware of what to do if they have any concerns about their safety or welfare.”
• Safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”

Areas to improve

• The school must “review and update the policy for relationships and sexuality education (RSE) to reflect more fully the guidance from the DE.”
• The school development plan highlights the need to develop “long-term planning,” the “integrated use of information and communication technology (ICT),” and “links and partnerships with parents.”

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements broadly reflect Department of Education guidance, though the RSE policy requires updating, and full evaluation of safeguarding practices was prevented by the industrial action.