St Joseph'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 the quality of learning and teaching or the school’s capacity to sustain improvement. 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 inspection in December 2013 evaluated the school’s overall effectiveness as "good."
• Children reported that they "feel safe in the school" and are aware of procedures if they have safety concerns.
• The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance issued by the relevant Departments."

Areas to improve

• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for and manage issues related to the "sustainability of the school provision and school budget."
• Specific safeguarding actions require completion, including updated training for the designated governor and the ratification of relationship and sexuality education and online safety policies.
• Anti-bullying and behaviour policies need to be reviewed to reflect recent Department of Education guidance.

Safeguarding

The report states that while arrangements broadly reflect guidance and children feel safe, the ETI was "unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school" due to the industrial action.