Orritor Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted during industrial action where teachers declared non-cooperation with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.” The evaluation relies solely on evidence made available by senior leadership and pupil feedback, as classroom teaching could not be observed.

Strengths

• Numeracy action plans emphasise “open-ended, investigative activities” to develop children’s thinking and mathematical language.
• Year six pupils reported enjoying shared education numeracy activities with friends from the partner school.
• The nursery unit features an outdoor ‘mathematics centre’ using natural materials, where children “engaged well with a wide range of resources.”
• Year seven pupils discussed their ‘Titanic Investigation’ confidently, reflecting on planning, teamwork, and applying mathematical learning.
• Children spoke positively about extra-curricular activities and their roles in supporting peers and the Eco-Council.

Areas to improve

• The ETI was unable to evaluate the quality of learning and teaching within classrooms due to teacher non-cooperation.
• The outworking of safeguarding arrangements could not be fully evaluated owing to the industrial action.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” and while pupils reported feeling safe, the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the practical implementation of these measures.