St Joseph's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly limited because teaching staff did not cooperate with inspectors due to industrial action. Consequently, the ETI could not fully evaluate classroom teaching or safeguarding arrangements, stating it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality education provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The report praises the “highly strategic senior leadership” for having a “clear vision” and a “robust school development planning process.”
• Leadership uses “rigorous analysis” of data to identify priorities, focusing on “high quality learning and teaching” and developing “thinking skills.”
• Children spoke “enthusiastically and knowledgeably” about their experiences in the World Around Us programme, highlighting improved science skills and collaborative work.
• Pupils expressed appreciation for the “very good variety of extra-curricular activities” and educational visits that enhance their learning.

Areas to improve

• The report states it will be important for the employing authority, governors, and staff to “plan for, and manage, issues related to the sustainability of the school provision and school budget.”

Safeguarding

The report notes that while arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education” and children reported feeling safe, the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding” due to the industrial action.