St Joseph's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly limited because teaching staff engaged in industrial action and refused to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) could not 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” and designates the school as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils report “very good opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities” through roles in the School and Eco-Councils.
• Children demonstrate “pride in, their school” and actively contribute to policy reviews and the application for a Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award.
• Pupils acknowledge the “positive impact” of the Eco-garden on their well-being and enjoy shared education activities that have helped forge new friendships.
• The principal and pastoral team cooperated with the inspection team regarding safeguarding responsibilities.

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement because the ETI was “unable to evaluate” the lines of inquiry or the quality of learning and teaching due to non-cooperation.

Safeguarding

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