St Malachy's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted in June 2017 following a previous evaluation of the school as “good”. Due to industrial action involving “action short of strike”, the school informed the ETI that teachers would not cooperate with inspectors, significantly limiting the scope of the evaluation. Consequently, the inspection could not fully assess the quality of education or the school’s capacity for improvement.

Strengths

• The report notes that “satisfactory arrangements for safeguarding reflect broadly the guidance issued by the relevant Departments”.
• Children reported that they “feel safe in school” and know “what to do and who to talk to if they are concerned about their safety or well-being”.
• Recent work has been undertaken on “securing the school”, although some aspects remain incomplete.

Areas to improve

• The report states that “additional gated access and fencing is required to further secure the side of the school building”.
• The ETI was unable to evaluate “the lines of inquiry” or “the quality of learning and teaching within the classrooms” due to non-cooperation.
• The school was unable to demonstrate its capacity to effect improvement through “self-evaluation and effective school planning”.

Safeguarding

The report confirms that safeguarding arrangements are satisfactory and children feel safe, but notes the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school” owing to the industrial action.