St Patrick's Primary School

Overview

The inspection occurred during industrial action, meaning teachers did not cooperate with the team. Consequently, the ETI states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education being provided for the children.” Evaluations are based solely on limited evidence available from leadership, documentation, and discussions with pupils.

Strengths

• Questionnaire responses from parents and staff were “highly positive” and “wholly positive,” highlighting an “inclusive, welcoming and pastoral ethos.”
• Year 6 and 7 pupils read with “fluency, expression and understanding” and spoke “enthusiastically and maturely” about literature.
• Children demonstrated they “used accurately mental mathematics strategies” and enjoyed explaining their mathematical thinking.
• Pupils expressed enjoyment of extra-curricular activities and opportunities to develop “social responsibility and leadership skills.”
• The school development plan is “informed appropriately by wide consultation” and uses data to monitor learning.

Areas to improve

• The report notes it is “important that the employing authority, school governors and the staff plan for, and manage, issues related to the sustainability of the school provision and school budget.”
• Governors have identified the need to “develop further links with co-ordinators to strengthen their role in the school improvement process.”

Safeguarding

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