St Colman's Primary School

Overview

This report details a Sustaining Improvement Inspection conducted in November 2017, which was significantly limited by industrial action. Because teachers refused to cooperate with inspectors, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) could not fully evaluate the school’s educational quality or improvement plans. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The report notes that previous evaluations had rated the school as “good” and demonstrating the capacity for improvement.
• Evidence provided showed that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance issued by the Department of Education.”
• Children met by inspectors reported that they “feel safe in the school” and are aware of procedures for raising safety concerns.

Areas to improve

• The ETI was unable to evaluate the quality of learning and teaching within classrooms due to non-cooperation.
• The inspection could not assess the school’s capacity to effect improvement through self-evaluation and development planning.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice” due to the lack of assurance regarding educational quality.

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.