Gibson Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly constrained by industrial action, as teachers refused to cooperate with the inspection team. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate classroom teaching or fully assess the school’s capacity for improvement. The report concludes that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• Senior leadership possesses a “strategic vision” and a “comprehensive school development plan” informed by stakeholder consultation.
• Authentic self-evaluation processes are in place, using data to “evaluate the impact of the school’s work on the children’s learning and progress.”
• The board of governors offers “effective challenge and support” and is well-informed about the school’s life and work.
• Year 7 pupils spoke positively about their learning experiences, valuing extra-curricular activities and practical approaches in subjects like mathematics and World Around Us.

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement; instead, it states that the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the quality of learning and teaching due to staff non-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” due to the industrial action.