St Joseph's Primary School

Overview

This report details a Sustaining Improvement Inspection conducted in November 2018, which was significantly limited by teachers’ participation in industrial action involving “action short of strike.” Because staff did not cooperate with inspectors, the ETI could not evaluate classroom teaching or the school’s self-evaluation processes. Consequently, the inspectorate states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils report “very good opportunities to develop their leadership and communication skills through the School Council.”
• Children stated they “enjoy participating in various sporting, cultural and creative extra-curricular activities which extend their learning further.”
• The principal cooperated with the inspection team specifically regarding the school’s safeguarding responsibilities.

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement, as the ETI was “unable to evaluate” the quality of learning, teaching, or development plan priorities due to the industrial action.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice” to address the lack of assurance regarding educational quality.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” and pupils reported feeling safe, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the strike action.