St Colman's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted during industrial action involving "action short of strike," resulting in non-cooperation from teaching staff. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate key aspects of the school’s performance, including learning, teaching, and self-evaluation. The report concludes that the ETI is "unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children."

Strengths

• The previous 2014 inspection had evaluated the school’s overall effectiveness as "very good."
• The school provided evidence 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 concerns.

Areas to improve

• The report states the school is a "high priority for future inspection with no further notice" due to the inability to assure quality.
• The ETI was unable to evaluate the "quality of learning and teaching within the classrooms."
• The inspection could not assess the school’s "capacity to effect improvement through self-evaluation and effective school development planning."

Safeguarding

While evidence suggested arrangements broadly reflected Departmental guidance and children felt safe, the ETI was "unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school" due to the industrial action.