Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted during a period of industrial action, with almost all teachers refusing to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate the quality of learning and teaching or 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

• The principal and designated teacher cooperated with the inspection regarding their leadership and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Evidence provided indicated that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”
• Children reported that they “feel safe, happy and cared for in school” and know who to speak to if they have concerns.

Areas to improve

• The report does not identify specific areas for improvement because the ETI was “unable to evaluate” the lines of inquiry or classroom teaching due to staff non-cooperation.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice” to reassess the quality of education.

Safeguarding

The report states that while arrangements broadly reflect Department of Education guidance and children feel safe, the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school” owing to the industrial action.