Sacred Heart Primary School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted in May 2019, following a 2015 evaluation that identified a “high level of capacity for sustained improvement.” However, the inspection’s scope was severely restricted because the school informed the ETI that “none of the teachers would be co-operating with the inspectors” due to industrial action. Consequently, the report states the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The acting principal and acting vice-principal “co-operated with the inspection team in relation to safeguarding responsibilities.”
• Evidence provided showed that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education (DE).”
• Year 6 pupils reported that they are “happy and safe at school” and know what to do if they have concerns.
• The school is actively “reviewing and updating its pastoral policies in line with current DE guidance.”

Areas to improve

• The report states the ETI was “unable to evaluate” the quality of learning and teaching or the school’s capacity for improvement due to non-cooperation.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Safeguarding

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