St Malachy's Primary School

Overview

St Malachy’s Primary School continues to demonstrate a “high level of capacity for sustained improvement” in the interest of all learners. The inspection confirmed that the school maintains effective strategic leadership and a coherent development plan focused on enhancing children’s learning experiences and standards.

Strengths

• The senior leadership team provides “highly effective strategic leadership” underpinned by “high quality self-evaluation” and a “collegial approach” to improvement.
• There is a “consistent approach to marking for improvement,” with teachers providing “appropriate and positive feedback” that helps children reflect on and redraft their work.
• Lessons are “effective in progressing the children’s learning,” particularly through “well planned learning opportunities” that develop independent writing across the curriculum.
• Children are “enthusiastic writers” who engage confidently in tasks, with internal data showing nearly all pupils in English and all in mathematics make progress at the expected level or above.
• The school promotes “independent thinking and learning,” ensuring children increasingly take responsibility for their own development.

Areas to improve

The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect the guidance issued by the Department of Education” and that children feel safe and are aware of procedures for raising concerns.