Friend's School

Overview

The inspection was significantly constrained by industrial action, meaning teachers did not cooperate with the process. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate states it is "unable to assure... of the quality of education being provided for the children."

Strengths

• Children are described as "courteous, confident and very articulate," engaging with adults "enthusiastically and with ease."
• Pupils report high levels of enjoyment in reading and mathematics, finding the work "suitably challenging."
• Year 6 children spoke highly of the "care and support provided by the staff" and the "wide range of extra-curricular activities."
• Governors are "very well-informed" and use their professional skills to "support and challenge" the school’s work.
• Senior leadership has a "clear vision" focused on improving learning experiences and outcomes.

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement; instead, it states the ETI was "unable to evaluate fully" outcomes, provision, and leadership due to the lack of teacher cooperation.

Safeguarding

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