St Mary's Primary School

Overview

This report details a Sustaining Improvement Inspection conducted in November 2018, which was significantly limited because staff engaged in industrial action and refused to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education and safeguarding being provided for the children.” The school is designated as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Year 6 pupils spoke “very positively about their learning experiences,” including support from staff and extracurricular activities.
• Children reported they “appreciate the work of the school council,” which has led to “tangible improvements in aspects of school life.”
• Pupils stated they feel “very happy and safe in school” and are aware of procedures for reporting safety concerns.

Areas to improve

• The ETI was unable to evaluate the quality of learning and teaching or the school’s capacity for self-evaluation due to non-cooperation.
• The school must provide evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect, or reflect broadly, the guidance from the Department of Education.”
• The school requires a follow-up inspection within six weeks specifically to evaluate safeguarding arrangements.

Safeguarding

The report states that the school “did not provide evidence that the arrangements for safeguarding children reflect, or reflect broadly, the guidance from the Department of Education,” although pupils reported feeling safe and aware of reporting procedures.