St Mary's Primary School

Overview

The report details a sustaining improvement inspection conducted in May 2018, noting that the school’s previous overall effectiveness was evaluated as “outstanding.” However, because staff participated in industrial action and refused to cooperate with inspectors, the ETI was unable to fully evaluate the quality of education or the school’s capacity for improvement. Consequently, the inspectorate states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• Children spoke positively about their roles in school councils and skills developed through a shared education programme.
• Pupils were described as “very respectful of each other” and reported feeling safe in school.
• Children demonstrated knowledge of what to do if they had safety concerns and were well informed about bullying.
• Governors and senior leaders had carried out a risk assessment of the school premises.

Areas to improve

• The report states the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the quality of learning and teaching within classrooms.
• The inspectorate could not assess the school’s capacity to effect improvement through self-evaluation and effective school planning.
• The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements reflect Department of Education guidance, and children reported feeling safe, though the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully, the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school” due to the industrial action.