St Mary's Primary School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted during industrial action involving "action short of strike," which significantly limited the scope of evaluation. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to fully assess the quality of learning, teaching, or the school’s capacity for self-evaluation. The report concludes that the ETI is "unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children."

Strengths

• A group of Year 6 pupils reported that their views are sought and they contribute to school life, including through the Eco-council.
• Pupils described a "very caring and supportive learning environment" and stated they feel "safe and secure in the school."
• Children demonstrated an understanding of who to contact if they have concerns about their safety or well-being.
• The previous 2015 inspection had evaluated the school’s overall effectiveness as "outstanding."

Areas to improve

• The mobile classroom is in an "extremely poor state of repair" with extensive damage exposing an internal wall, requiring urgent replacement.
• The school must address the limitations caused by non-cooperation, as the ETI could not evaluate the line of inquiry or classroom teaching quality.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education," though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate their outworking due to the industrial action.