St Nicholas' Primary School

Overview

This Sustaining Improvement Inspection was conducted in January 2017 following a previous evaluation of “very good” overall effectiveness. The inspection focused on the school’s capacity for improvement, particularly in mathematics, but was significantly limited because teachers did not cooperate with inspectors due to industrial action. Consequently, the report states that ETI is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.”

Strengths

• The focus on mathematics is “underpinned effectively by scrutiny of a range of data,” supported by staff development and written guidance.
• Children are provided with an “increasing range of opportunities” to develop problem-solving skills and apply mathematical thinking to “real life contexts.”
• Year six pupils demonstrate the use of strategies to solve problems and understand how mathematics links to real life.
• Pupils use feedback from teachers to “make improvements to their work.”
• Safeguarding arrangements continue to “reflect the guidance issued by the relevant Departments.”

Areas to improve

• Baseline positions in action plans are “not clear.”
• Evaluations of measurable improvements in outcomes for children are “not rigorous enough.”

Safeguarding

The report confirms that the school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements continue to “reflect the guidance issued by the relevant Departments.”