McKinney Primary School Dundrod

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly constrained by industrial action, as teachers refused to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI could not fully evaluate the quality of education or the school’s capacity for improvement, stating it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided.” The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils report having “good opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities” through roles such as ‘House-Team Leaders’ and ‘playground buddies’.
• The principal cooperated with the inspection team specifically regarding safeguarding responsibilities.
• Evidence provided indicated that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure that “all new governors receive child protection and safeguarding training.”
• Policies currently in draft form need to be “finalised and ratified by the board of governors.”

Safeguarding

The report states that while provided evidence suggests arrangements reflect Departmental guidance, the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school” due to the industrial action.