St Mary's Primary School

Overview

This monitoring inspection evaluated how leadership uses self-evaluation to drive improvement, specifically regarding literacy and guided reading. However, because all teachers participated in industrial action and refused to cooperate with inspectors, the ETI could not fully assess the quality of education or safeguarding. Consequently, the report concludes that the inspectorate is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education and safeguarding being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The provision for literacy is “very well planned and monitored closely” through strategies including classroom observations and tracking individual progress.
• Assessments are “analysed skilfully and used very effectively” to identify underachievement and inform teacher planning.
• Detailed action plans guide staff development in reading, with “very comprehensive monitoring and analysis” of children’s progress.
• Evidence demonstrates that “all of the children are making good progress in developing their reading skills.”

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement; instead, it states that the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the impact of revised practices on learning, teaching, and outcomes due to non-cooperation.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements are “satisfactory” and reflect departmental guidance, with children reporting they feel safe, but the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully, the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school” due to the industrial action.