St Matthew's Primary School

Overview

This report details a sustaining improvement inspection conducted in November 2018, which was significantly limited by industrial action involving ‘action short of strike’. Because teaching staff did not cooperate with inspectors, the ETI was ‘unable to evaluate fully’ the quality of learning and teaching 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

• Year 6 pupils spoke positively about their learning experiences, including enjoyment of subjects and participation in sports and extra-curricular activities.
• Children reported that classroom activities and online programmes are ‘increasing their interest and understanding of both reading and numeracy’.
• Pupils stated they feel ‘happy and safe in school’ and know who to talk to if concerned about their safety or well-being.

Areas to improve

• The school must urgently proceed with improvements to the security system at the main entrance to ensure visitors are screened before accessing the building.
• The school is designated as a ‘high priority for future inspection with no further notice’ due to the inability to fully evaluate educational quality.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements ‘reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education’, but owing to the industrial action, the ETI was ‘unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements for safeguarding in the school’.