St Mary's Primary School

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning teachers did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure” parents of the quality of education provided. The report notes that the school is a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Year 6 and 7 children spoke “confidently about their enjoyment of learning” across mathematics, arts, and physical education.
• Pupils reported that a shared education partnership helped them develop “problem-solving numeracy and social skills” through orienteering.
• Children described how leadership roles on the School Council support their understanding of “fairness, diversity and giving all a voice.”
• New arrivals reported they were “welcomed, settled and had quickly developed friendships.”
• Safeguarding arrangements were found to “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education.”

Areas to improve

• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for the “sustainability of the school provision and school budget” to address current and future needs.
• The perimeter fence in the rear playground is “too low... to secure fully the potential access to or from the school.”

Safeguarding

The report states that arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education” and children feel safe, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the industrial action.