St Michael's Primary School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was significantly constrained by industrial action, as teachers refused to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) could not evaluate the quality of learning and 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 being provided” and designates the school as a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• The school has achieved recognition in several fields, including its first Eco-Flag, a Digital Schools Award, and an NSPCC 1 Health Action Award.
• Students have won first place in local competitions for the junior choir and camogie team.
• Year 6 pupils spoke “enthusiastically” about opportunities to develop leadership capabilities through roles in School and Eco-Councils.
• Children reported enjoying a “wide range of after-school activities” and participating in shared education collaborations with another school.

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement because the ETI was “unable to evaluate” the lines of inquiry or classroom teaching due to staff non-cooperation.

Safeguarding

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