Poyntzpass Primary School

Overview

The inspection occurred during industrial action, with most teachers refusing to cooperate. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure... of the quality of education being provided” and could not evaluate key areas such as literacy outcomes or teaching quality. Despite these limitations, the report highlights positive feedback from parents and children regarding the school’s ethos.

Strengths

• Questionnaire responses were “wholly positive” from children and “mostly positive” from parents, affirming the “caring, inclusive ethos” and “high regard for the school within the local community.”
• Children reported enjoying reading and demonstrated strategies to decode unfamiliar words.
• The school has introduced a child-led health and well-being initiative to help children become “confident, positive, resilient and caring individuals.”
• Clear systems exist to identify and support children requiring additional help, with interventions for literacy and sensory needs.
• Governors are described as “committed to the school” and supportive of the shared education partnership.

Areas to improve

• The school development plan evaluations are “not sufficiently robust to inform detailed baseline positions,” requiring a review of roles for more equitable monitoring.
• Anti-bullying and intimate care policies must be reviewed to align with Department of Education guidance.
• Risk assessments, particularly regarding school traffic flow and parking, require “urgent review” to ensure safe access and exit.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate their outworking due to the industrial action.