St. Michael's Primary School, Killean

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, with teachers refusing to cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure” the quality of education provided. The report notes that evaluations of outcomes, provision, and leadership were largely incomplete due to this lack of cooperation.

Strengths

• Questionnaire responses from staff and children were “highly positive,” with children describing the school as “friendly” and highlighting extra-curricular opportunities.
• Parents described the school as “welcoming, inclusive and conducive to learning.”
• Year 7 children displayed a “positive attitude towards books,” reading “fluently and with understanding.”
• Children spoke positively about opportunities to develop “leadership and interpersonal skills” through the pastoral care team and Eco-Council.
• The school band has had “regular and recent success in the local Feis.”

Areas to improve

• The report states the ETI is “unable to assure” the quality of education, which “will be reflected in future inspection activity.”
• Appendix A notes that traffic volume and speed near the playing field “could potentially compromise the safety of all,” requiring “further traffic calming measures.”

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education” and children feel safe, but the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully the outworking of the arrangements” due to the industrial action.