St Mary's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly limited because staff engaged in industrial action and refused to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate classroom teaching or assure stakeholders of the quality of education provided. The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Older pupils were described as “articulate and confident,” speaking enthusiastically about their roles in decision-making and leadership.
• Children reported enjoying “wide-ranging learning opportunities,” including Mandarin lessons, sports tournaments, and STEM activities.
• Pupils expressed pride in achievements such as the RDS Science trophy, Eco-School Green Flag, and ‘Heartstart’ life saving skills certificates.
• The school maintains a shared education partnership and has successfully secured an RSA grant for STEM activities.

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.
• Senior leadership and governors need to consult the Department of Education regarding the security of an electricity transformer on school grounds.
• Three internal doors require the installation of visibility panels to meet health and safety standards.

Safeguarding

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