St Francis Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly constrained by industrial action, as teachers refused to co-operate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate the quality of learning, teaching, or the school’s capacity for improvement. The report concludes that the ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils reported that they “enjoy the wide variety of learning activities” and value opportunities for growing vegetables and studying wildlife.
• Children spoke positively about their involvement in leadership roles, including the School and Eco-Councils.
• Pupils highlighted their work in encouraging the use of re-usable water bottles and maintaining the school’s woodland area and vegetable plots.
• The principal, vice-principal, and designated teacher for child protection co-operated with the inspection regarding safeguarding responsibilities.

Areas to improve

• The ETI was unable to evaluate the quality of learning and teaching within classrooms due to staff non-co-operation.
• The inspection could not assess the extent to which the school demonstrates its capacity for improvement through self-evaluation and effective school planning.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” although the ETI was unable to fully evaluate their outworking due to the industrial action.