St Patrick's Primary School

Overview

The inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning most teaching staff did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure... of the quality of education being provided.” The report notes that “no performance level available” for most evaluation areas, and the school is designated a “high priority for future inspection with no further notice.”

Strengths

• Year 7 children “read fluently with great interest” and use strategies to explain unfamiliar words.
• Another group of children use “competently and flexibly their knowledge of number and mathematical strategies to solve problems.”
• Year 6 children described opportunities to develop “teamwork and decision- making skills” through roles such as the Eco-Committee and ‘playground buddy system.’
• The school development plan is informed by consultation with staff, parents, and children.
• Governors outlined how they “support and challenge appropriately the school leadership.”

Areas to improve

• The report does not list specific areas for improvement because the ETI was “unable to evaluate” outcomes, provision, and leadership due to non-cooperation.
• The school must address the lack of assurance regarding the overall quality of education.

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.