St Colman's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted while staff were participating in industrial action involving non-cooperation 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 self-evaluation. The report concludes that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education and safeguarding being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils reported “very good opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities” through roles in School and Eco-Councils.
• Children spoke positively about their learning, particularly valuing “mathematics and literacy learning journals” which help them remember key concepts.
• Pupils reported that they “feel safe in school and when on school outings.”

Areas to improve

• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for and manage issues related to the “sustainability of the school provision and school budget.”
• The school is designated a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice” due to the inability to assure quality.
• The ETI will return within six weeks to specifically evaluate and report on arrangements for safeguarding.

Safeguarding

The report states that the school “did not provide evidence that the arrangements for safeguarding children reflect or reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”