St Brigid's Primary School

Overview

This report details a Sustaining Improvement Inspection conducted in January 2018, following a previous evaluation of "very good" overall effectiveness. Due to industrial action involving non-cooperation by teaching staff, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate classroom teaching or assure stakeholders of the quality of education provided. The inspection focused on the school’s capacity for improvement through self-evaluation and development planning in numeracy and reading.

Strengths

• The school used data effectively to identify development areas in numeracy, with new resources placing a "greater focus on mathematical thinking and problem-solving."
• Children reported that mathematics learning was "more active and engaging," supported by "very good" quality assistance from classroom assistants.
• Significant investment in reading resources and a refurbished library created a "very attractive environment for reading."
• Internal data showed that "almost all of the children... are achieving as expected, or above, in both English and mathematics."
• Children reported they "feel happy and safe within the school" and know how to raise safety concerns.

Areas to improve

• The increasing volume of cars on a narrow road near the school "could potentially compromise the safety of the children" and needs urgent resolution.
• An "unreliable heating system" is impacting negatively on children, staff, and the work of the school and requires addressing.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education" and that children feel safe and know what to do if they have concerns.