St Patrick's Primary School

Overview

St Patrick’s Primary School continues to demonstrate a "high level of capacity for sustained improvement" in the interest of all learners. The inspection confirms that leadership is "highly strategic and reflective," underpinned by an effective culture of self-evaluation and rigorous assessment of classroom practice.

Strengths

• Leadership and staff use internal data effectively to identify potential low and high achievers, ensuring "all children are reaching their potential."
• Lessons observed ranged from "very good to outstanding," featuring "well-paced, differentiated activities" and skilful questioning that extends critical thinking.
• Pupils in Year 7 used "innovatively a wide range of mental strategies" for complex mathematics and discussed literature with articulate enthusiasm.
• Literacy and numeracy are developed successfully through a team approach led by "highly effective co-ordinators."

Areas to improve

• The employing authority, governors, and staff must plan for and manage issues related to the "sustainability of the school provision and school budget."
• The school needs to "construct and consult on a Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) policy."
• There is a need for a "secure perimeter fence at an appropriate height to secure the premises."

Safeguarding

The report states that arrangements for safeguarding children "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education (DE)."