St Matthew's Primary School

Overview

This report details a Sustaining Improvement Inspection conducted in May 2017, which was significantly impacted by industrial action involving "action short of strike." Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was unable to evaluate the quality of learning, teaching, or the school’s capacity for improvement. The report concludes that the ETI is "unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education and safeguarding being provided for the children."

Strengths

• The report notes that a previous inspection in October 2013 evaluated the school’s overall effectiveness as "good."
• A follow-up visit in September 2017 confirmed that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance issued by the Department of Education."
• The school was developing the policy for relationships and sexuality education, including "appropriate consultation with staff and parents."

Areas to improve

• The school must address urgent safeguarding issues, including ensuring governors receive "relevant training in relation to child protection and safeguarding."
• The school needs to implement an online safety policy and complete work on the relationships and sexuality education policy.
• Arrangements for risk assessments require further development.

Safeguarding

The initial inspection found no evidence of satisfactory safeguarding arrangements, but a subsequent visit confirmed that policies broadly reflect Department of Education guidance, although the ETI remained unable to fully evaluate their implementation due to ongoing industrial action.